Kukrit Pramoj | |
|---|---|
| คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช | |
.jpg) Kukrit in 1974 | |
| 13thPrime Minister of Thailand | |
| In office 14 March 1975 – 20 April 1976 | |
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej |
| Preceded by | Seni Pramoj |
| Succeeded by | Seni Pramoj |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office 8 January 1976 – 20 April 1976 | |
| Prime Minister | himself |
| Preceded by | Seni Pramoj |
| Succeeded by | Boonteng Thongsawat |
| 12th President of the National Assembly of Thailand | |
| In office 29 December 1973 – 7 October 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Siri Siriyothin |
| Succeeded by | Praphas Ouchai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1911-04-20)20 April 1911 |
| Died | 9 October 1995(1995-10-09) (aged 84) |
| Cause of death | Heart disease andhigh blood pressure[1][2] |
| Political party | Social Action Party |
| Other political affiliations | Democrat (1946–1948) |
| Spouse | M.L. Pakpring Thongyai(Separated) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | The Queen's College, Oxford |
| Profession |
|
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Thailand |
| Branch/service |  Royal Thai Army |
| Rank | Major General[3] |
| Commands | Royal Thai Aide-De-Camp |
| Battles/wars | Pacific War |
Mom Rajawongse Kukrit Pramoj (Thai:คึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช,RTGS: Khuek-rit Pramot,pronounced[kʰɯ́k.rítprāː.môːt]; 20 April 1911 – 9 October 1995) was a Thaipolitician, author, scholar andprofessor. He was Speaker of theHouse of Representatives of Thailand between 1973 and 1974. He was the thirteenthPrime Minister of Thailand, serving in office from 1975 to 1976 between his brotherSeni Pramoj's terms. Being the great-grandson of KingRama II, he was a member of the Thai royal family.He also portrayed the Prime Minister of the fictional country of Sarkhan in the 1963 motion pictureThe Ugly American withMarlon Brando.
He was born on 20 April 1911 inSing Buri Province into a cadet branch of theChakri Dynasty with Chinese ancestry.[4] The son of Brigadier General Prince Khamrob and his wife Daeng (Bunnag), his older brother was M.R.Seni Pramoj[5] while his great-grandmother, Ampha, was of Chinese descent and was a consort ofRama II.[6] He served as a corporal during theFranco-Thai War in 1940. As was common for members of Thailand's upper classes at the time, he was educated abroad; he attended school in England atTrent College, before readingphilosophy, politics, and economics atThe Queen's College, Oxford.
Upon returning to Thailand, he began his career in banking, but his truevocation was his mastery of many forms of arts, including politics and journalism. Put off by Hollywood's portrayal ofKing Mongkut in the 1946filmAnna and the King of Siam (based on the semi-fictionalbiographical novel ofthe same name) Kukrit and his brother,Seni Pramoj, wroteThe King of Siam Speaks in 1948. They sent their manuscript to the American politician and diplomat Abbot Low Moffat[7] who drew on it for his biography entitledMongkut the King of Siam (ISBN 974-8298-12-4), and in 1961, donated the Pramoj manuscript to the Southeast Asian Collection, Asian Division,Library of Congress.[8] He wrote forSiam Rath, the newspaper that he founded.
As a means of showing how Thai society adjusted to life in modern society, in 1953 Kukrit began a series of stories on the life and times of fictional Mae Ploy (Thai:แม่พลอย). who as a young girl enters the service of a princess ofRama V's Royal Household, and dies the same day asRama VIII.[9] This story was to be one of many that were published in the Kukrit'sSiam Rath. His satirical sense and unique sense of humour offered an incisive view of the times Kukrit chronicled. As a scholar, he also wrote many non-fiction works ranging from history and religion to astrology. Most notable are his epics and many short stories portraying various aspects of life and documenting contemporary history. HisMany Lives (หลายชีวิต,Lai Chiwit) was also translated into English. He was a leading authority on traditional Thai culture and had apolymathic range of interests from Thailand's classical dance to literature. Most famous for his literary works, he was named aNational Artist of Thailand for literature in 1985, the inaugural year for the honour. And he received The Special Commemorative Prize ofThe Fukuoka Asian Culture Prizes in 1990, the inaugural year for the prizes again. His works encompass many subjects from humour to drama. He was also known as a staunch royalist and served the monarchy for his entire life. He is considered one of the great statesmen ofThailand. His former home is now aheritage museum which is preserved; paying homage to his life and Thai traditions.
He was married to M.R.Pakpring Thongyai with whom he had two children, a son and daughter. He died on 9 October 1995.[10]
WhenGeorge Englund decided to use Thailand as the location for the fictional country portrayed in his filmThe Ugly American, Kukrit was appointed as cultural advisor to make sure the film accurately portrayed monarchy in a Buddhist country. Englund had difficulty casting the part of the fictional Prime Minister, but he was so impressed by Kukrit's cultural refinement and mastery of English that he offered him the part, saying, "I can't think of anyone who could play it better." Kukrit accepted, saying, according to Englund, "We are all actors anyway, and I think you're right that I could play it better than anyone." Probably because of this, after he became a real-life Prime Minister of Thailand in 1975, the word "Sarkhan" has entered the Thai language as a nickname of Thailand itself, often with a slight self-deprecating or mocking tone.
The home that M.R. Kukrit built for himself in Bangkok has been registered by the Department of Fine Arts as 'Home of an Important Person'. It is open to the public on Saturdays, Sundays and official Thai holidays. Standing in 2 acres (8,100 m2) of land, surrounded by landscaped gardens, the house is a similar concept to theJim Thompson House in Bangkok. Five small traditional Thai houses were dismantled and reassembled at the present site to make one house. The house is filled with artefacts and books collected by the owner. Additions to the original house include air conditioning, a modern bathroom, and a lift was installed when the owner became too frail to climb up and down stairs. The M.R. Kukrit Heritage Home is situated at 19 Soi Phra Pinit,South Sathorn Road,Sathon District, Bangkok 10120.
Kukrit Pramoj is perhaps best known in Thailand for his literary production, particularly his novelFour Reigns, which was published as a serial in his newspaperSiam Rat in 1950.Four Reigns tells the story of "Mae Ploi," a young girl who grew up in the court ofKing Chulalongkorn (Rama V) where she was an attendant to one of the princesses. Kukrit extends her story after her marriage during the reign ofRama VI, and in the process tells the story of mid-twentieth century Thailand through Mae Ploi's eyes. The story includes the reigns of four Kings of theChakri dynasty (thus the title "Four Reigns"), and the 1932 Revolution against the absolute monarchy.[12]Four Reigns was translated into English by Tulachandra. The Thai version ofFour Reigns continues to be well known to Thais in the twenty-first century because it has been used in Thai schools, and has been produced as a well-known films.
Only two other of Kukrit's many novels,Many Lives, andRed Bamboo are translated into English. In addition, there is a compilation of a few of Kukrit's English language writings and interviews,M. R. Kukrit Pramoj, His Wit and Wisdom, compiled by Vilas Manivat, and edited by Steve Van Beek. However, Kukrit's writings in the Thai language are voluminous, and include both fiction and non-fiction. Much of Kukrit's writing was first published as either columns or serials in theSiam Rat. A number of the books serialized and later turned into books includingFour Reigns.[13] A wide range of subjects were addressed in these books, including contemporary politics, Kukrit's love of dogs, Thai history, Southeast Asian history, elephants, a history of the Jews, and many other subjects.[14] A review of his book comparing feudalism in Thailand calledsakdina and Britain was recently published in English. Kukrit's essay is called "Farang Sakdina." The article describes Kukrit's views about good governance, monarchy, and democracy in Thailand and Britain.[15]
Thailand :_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of The Most IllustriousOrder of Chula Chom Klao_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most ExaltedOrder of the White Elephant_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most NobleOrder of the Crown of Thailand_ribbon.svg)
Victory Medal -Pacific War_ribbon.svg)
Freeman Safeguarding Medal, 1st Class.svg)
Dushdi Mala Medal Pin of Arts and Science (Civilian)_ribbon.svg)
Boy Scout Citation Medal of Vajira, First Class_ribbon.svg)
King Rama IX Rajaruchi Medal, Gold Medal_ribbon.svg)
King Rama IX Royal Cypher Medal, First Class_ribbon.svg)
King Rama IX Coronation Medal_ribbon.svg)
25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal.svg)
Red Cross Medal of Merit
Denmark :
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Dannebrog
Francoist Spain :
Grand Cross of theOrder of Civil Merit[16]
Netherlands :
Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of Orange-Nassau
Philippines :
Grand Collar of theOrder of Sikatuna
Indonesia :_Bintang_Republik_Indonesia_Adipradana.png)
Star of the Republic of Indonesia, 2nd class
Mexico :
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Aztec Eagle
Portugal :
Grand Cross of theOrder of Prince Henry
Belgium :
Grand Officer of theOrder of the Crown
France :
Grand Officer of theOrder of the Black Star
Luxembourg :
Grand Officer of theOrder of Adolphe of Nassau
Italy :
Grand Officer of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic
Malaysia:_-_SMN.svg)
Honorary Grand Commander of theOrder of the Defender of the Realm
Norway :
Commander with Star of theOrder of St. Olav
Sweden :_-_Grand_Officer_BAR.png)
Commander 1st Class of theOrder of the Polar Star
Japan: Recipient of theFukuoka Prize, 1990Seni and Kukrit Pramoj, The King of Siam Speaks.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Thailand 1975–1976 | Succeeded by |
