[Tlc] T-intellectual history

Thu Jun 25 11:27:48 PDT 2009

Forwarded from Dr. Charnvit Kasetsiri.
Thanks,
justin

    110 years of Pridi Banomyong

    Get to know Thai history and Pridi, a 'Great Commoner' via the web

    http://www.bangkokpost.com/life/family/19128/110-years-of-pridi-banomyong

        By: SUPAWADEE INTHAWONG 
        Published: 25/06/2009 at 12:00 AM
        Newspaper section: Mylife

    Libraries in famous universities worldwide are usually safe havens for rare historical information. Occasionally you are bound to find a gem or biographical work concerning the life of an important Thai individual who played a role in the history of Thailand. All of this is kept within the confines of a library outside of Thailand. So, how many Thais will be able to access this information?

Even respected historian Charnvit Kasetsiri, who once served as the rector of Thammasat University, admitted that as a book lover, and when growing up in a family who loved to read, he himself had rarely heard or read of Thailand's seventh prime minister and senior statesman "Pridi Banomyong".
Pridi played a major role in the civilian faction of the People's Party or "Khana Ratsadon" which carried out the revolution that changed Thailand's absolute monarchy into a constitutional one on June 24, 1932. Later, as regent to King Rama VIII and leader of the Seri Thai movement, Pridi refused to endorse a declaration of war against the United States and the United Kingdom. Instead he secretly aided the allies thus steering Thailand away from severe reparations after World War Two.

Pridi,during his trip to France in 1933.
Mr Charnvit, whilst a student at Thammasat University (origanally University of Moral and Political Sciences), never knew then that Pridi himself was the founder of Thammasat University.
Mr Charnvit suggested that political events and the mood following the coup of Nov 8, 1947 led by Field Marshall Phin Choonhavan (then a Lieutenant General) which propelled Field Marshal Pibun Songkram back into political power, and which preceded the era of Field Marshal Sarit Thanaraj, more or less blotted out the career of Pridi - also known by his noble title Luang Praditmanutham - from people's memories.
"I got to know Acharn Pridi when I furthered my studies at Cornell University in the United States [where Charnvit received his PhD]. It all began when I visited the college library and found a book about the funeral of Siang Banomyong, the father of Pridi. This led me to other written works related to Pridi."

Because they were apart, Pridi sent romantic letters to Phoonsuk to mark their 39th, 40th, and 41st wedding anniversaries.
Mr Charnvit eventually met Pridi and his wife Thanpuying Phoonsuk Banomyong in France and interviewed the couple for research matters on important events in Thai history.
"In my capacity as a teacher of history, I believe that it is most critical for us to relive and bring to life the historical aspects related to Pridi Banomyong and his wife, Thanpuying Phoonsuk Banomyong. Both of these individuals have given so much to Thai society and the ideals of democracy in Thailand. I came upon a lot of written work authored by Pridi and other experts as well. It is only right for us to share this wealth of information with the public," said Mr Charnvit.
A year-long commemorative event called 110 Years of the Senior Statesman Pridi Banomyong, based on the concept "110 Years Pridi Banomyong Change to Peace", was launched on May 11, 2009. It includes a multitude of academic activities and runs till May 11, 2010.

Pridi and Puey Ungphakorn at Imperial College, London in 1977.
The Pridi-Phoonsuk E-Library and the http://www.pridi-phoonsuk.org website are also part of the activities in a project chaired by Mr Charnvit.
"In 2000, The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation [Unesco] named Pridi as one of the world's great personalities. However the history of Siam usually sees commoners removed from the limelight. That is why this electronic library called the Pridi-Phoonsuk Banomyong E-Library and the http://www.pridi-phoonsuk.org website represents a step towards understanding the life and achievements of Pridi and Thanpuying Phoonsuk Banomyong so that the younger generation is aware of their important contributions to Thai society," said Charnvit.
What's on the pridi-phoonsuk website
- Getting to know Pridi by Pridi There are probably several ways to get to know Pridi Banomyong but the http://www.pridi-phoonsuk.org website will allow you to know the man through his literary work. Just click on English articles and you will see the heading "Pridi by Pridi" which are selected writings on life, politics and economics authored by Pridi, and translated by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit. This is divided into three major sections: Before the Revolution, The Revolution and After the Revolution.

Pridi, Phoonsuk and Seri Thai veterans,at Tha Chang residence.
For those of you who can read French, you will also be able to enjoy reading the 120-page thesis of Pridi, which he wrote for his Docteur en Droit et Science Juridiques and also the Diplome d'Etudes Superieures d'Economie Politique at the University of Paris (Sorbonne), France.
There are more than 200 pictures, written works and audio files of Pridi and Thanpuying Phoonsuk's interviews which were released in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the change from absolute to constitutional monarchy; a behind-the-scenes look within the Seri Thai movement; audio files and selected writings regarding the death of the young King Ananda Mahidol or King Rama VIII.
Those interested in learning about the Seri Thai movement during the Second World War, especially Pridi's leadership role and his nom de guerre "Ruth", will be able to read about events during that era. Adding flavour to this are interviews with Thanpuying Phoonsuk, who played a major role in helping the Seri Thai underground movement at the Tha Chang residence, which was Pridi's official home in his capacity as Senior Statesman and Regent during the reign of King Rama VIII. Readers will be able to understand the origins of the Seri Thai underground movement in its entirety.

Charnvit Kasetsiri,chairman of the Pridi- Phoonsuk E-Library.
- The 54-year marriage and partnership between Pridi and Thanpuying Phoonsuk Banomyong.
The 1947 coup d'etat
On Nov 7, a coup led in part by Lieutenant General Phin Choonhavan took control of the government and hunted down Pridi. Lt Gen Phin used a machine gun to spray the Tha Chang residence with bullets while Thanpuying Phoonsuk and her children were inside.
Phoonsuk shouted, "Don't shoot, don't shoot! There are only women and children here." She was later detained and jailed on treason charges.
Before the 1932 revolution which stripped the monarch of his power, Thanpuying Phoonsuk did not have the faintest idea her own husband was the leader of the People's Party which assisted in this monumental change. Pridi wanted to maintain the highest level of secrecy and told his beloved wife that he was being ordained in the monkhood at Ayutthaya.

Pridi’s thesis written while at Paris University.
However, no matter whatever hardships or political turmoil knocked at their door, Phoonsuk always stood by Pridi. Even during World War Two, which saw the birth of the Seri Thai underground movement, Phoonsuk always did her best to ease the hardships of her husband in matters of state. Phoonsuk would listen to radio broadcasts and write coded messages in English; because if these messages were typed then they could be traced back to its origin.
Another example was during the time when Pridi was finance minister and a key supporter of the epic movie Phra Chao Chang Puek, a film with a peace theme against war, Phoonsuk stepped in as usual and served as the supervisor of the entire film set.
Throughout the 54 years of Prid and Phoonsuk's marriage, they were inseparable and shared both the best and worst times together. Through the political turmoil and later exile in China, it was only death that separated them, finally allowing Thanpuying Phoonsuk to return and live her remaining years peacefully.
The memoirs, selected writings and interviews of Thanpuying Phoonsuk Banomyong on the website is another important part that simply cannot be missed.
- The next websites for others of historical importance
The E-Library has produced a constant stream of documents, information and more than 100 works of research related to Pridi Banomyong.
All of them have been digitally recorded or mastered for a digital collection of Thai libraries called Thailis. This network is a collaborative effort between state universities both at the central and regional levels, aimed at achieving optimal efficiency by sharing resources.
Any university in Thailand can download and retrieve information for educational purposes. Those who are interested can go to http://www.thailis.uni.net.th/dc.php or dcms.thailis.or.th/dcms.
Charnvit added that besides the website project and the Pridi-Phoonsuk E-Library, the organising committee for the 110 years of Elder Statesman Pridi Banomyong (1900-2010) has set aside numerous projects which are works in progress, so to speak: A book on the achievements of Pridi Banomyong, a short novel (long version) competition, an art festival, the Khue Phoo Apiwat stage play, a project aimed at staging a festival to commemorate the life of Pridi Banomyong at the Pridi Banomyong Institute.
"This website is an attempt to construct a complete informative database for both of them [Pridi and Phoonsuk]. The information on the site will be compiled and updated on a regular basis. Then we will also create new websites for other important people who were "cast out" of Thai history and from the memories of the Thai people. There are so many of them such as Puey Ungpakorn, Kularb Saipradit and Jit Phumisak but to name a few.

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu