Hi, today I want to tell you a little about our regretted King Rama 9 named Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of the Kingdom of Thailand, who has passed away a year from now on the 13 of October 2016. So in an effort to prevent bad message or misunderstanding from the international community about the love Thais people and foreigners living in Thailand have for him. Tomorrow will be the first anniversary of his death so, it is possible that few or many Thais will give respect to the king by writing an article about him. But we will start with a little history.
Young Bhumibol Adulyadej (right) with his brother Ananda Mahidol
Bhumibol Adulyadej was born on 5 December 1927 in Cambridge Hospital, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, he was the youngest son of the Prince of Songkla, Mahidol Adulyadej and his wife Princess Srinagarindra. At that time the Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, father of Bhumibol Adulyadej, was following a public health program at Harvard University. Which is the reason why Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in the USA. A year later, after Prince Mahidol Adulyadej obtained a certificate from Harvard, the all family came back to the Kingdom of Siam (today Thailand). A year later in September 1929, his father the Prince Mahidol Adulyadej died of kidney failure. Bhumibol Adulyadej was the third and last child of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the oldest of the three children was the Princess Galyani Vadhana (1923-2008), the Prince Ananda Mahidol (1925-1946). The whole family was descendant from the Chakri dynasty.
The young Bhumibol Adulyadej
In 1933, Princess Srinagarindra the mother of the three children took her family to Switzerland, where the children attended school at the École nouvelle de la Suisse Romande in Lausanne. Two years later, the King Prajadhipok (Rama 7) abdicated from the throne due to political quarrels with the new democratic like government and also for a health problem. On 2 March 1935, the young Prince Ananda Mahidol was elected by the National Assembly and the Thai government to succeed his uncle the King Prajadhipok. At that time Prince Ananda Mahidol was only nine years old and he was studying in Switzerland. The National Assembly chooses two military officers and a civilian to be his regents until his return. During the world war II the family was in Switzerland where the three children were attending school. In 1939 the kingdom of Siam became the Kingdom of Thailand. In December 1945 the King Ananda Mahidol returned to Thailand with a degree in laws. In June 1946, just six months after his return as King Rama 8, he was found shot dead in his bedroom at the Grand Palace, he was only 21 years old.
Coronation audience of Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama 9
After the sudden death of his older brother, Bhumibol Adulyadej was the only one of the Chakri Dynasty to be the next King. But, as his older brother, he wants first to finish his study in Switzerland. Bhumibol Adulyadej receives a Bachelor degree in French and Greek literature and another one in Sciences. During his study, Bhumibol Adulyadej often visited France, as he was speaking French to the perfection. In Paris, he met Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, the daughter of the Thai Ambassador to France. She was training to be a concert pianist and Bhumibol Adulyadej was also a great jazz musician, playing saxophone and clarinet. They get engaged in July 1949 and married in Thailand on 28 April 1950, just one week before his coronation. Bhumibol was crowned King of Thailand on 5 May 1950 and became Rama 9.
The young King Bhumibol Adulyadej
King Bhumibol Adulyadej was one of the rare King in the world history who was so close to the people. He has devoted his entire life to make Thailand a better place for his people. He was a King always involved in every fields and subject regarding Thailand and its people. He was listening to police radio from his room in the palace and always get tells them how to manage things, as well for the military. He travels all around Thailand for decades to try to help peoples in remote areas, whatever he has to travel under the rain, in the jungle, walking, on a donkey back, on an elephant, on a tiny boat, there is no place he wouldn't go. He develops many Royal projects to help people farming. With his background in sciences, he invents and owns many patents like the rain-maker, some ways to make desertic farming, how to make a family with a small land self-sufficient. Where ever he was going he always carries a camera and take as much as a possible picture and take notes of the problem people are facing and always came back with solutions.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej in a remote village with his camera and notebook
King Bhumibol Adulyadej was also an accomplished artist. He has many passions such as photography, writing, painting, playing music, composing. He was renowned in the world of professional jazz players as one of them. He has jammed with all the biggest names of jazz musicians such as Benny Goodmans, Kenny Alford and His Dixie Cats, Miles Davis and so many others. In 2006 for the Diamond Jubilee of the 60th year's Accession to the Throne of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, many of the top world Jazz figures came to Thailand to play for the King and at a Festival. He was playing saxophone, clarinet, piano, drums, guitar.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej playing Jazz music on a little boat
Most of the foreigner who is visiting Thailand don't understand why Thais are venerating the King so much. But after a little search and questions to Thais, they can start to understand. But still, this is a long story. For every Thai and even foreigners who are living here and understanding the culture and history of Thailand, it becomes clear. Always Thais are saying he was their father and after seeing and witnessing all he has done for the country and its people, he gets my full respect. I always say to foreigners if western leaders have done only a quarter they would get the same kind of respect, I tell them western leaders must take the example of this great man. He has fought against Monsanto like companies, against the power of the drug lords in the golden triangle, against the abusive power of the big pharma. So, today if I have to say I respect one leader in the world he is the only one who deserves my full respect. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, we will never forget you as a father of Thailand and as an example for the world. He was also the longest monarch to reign on a country, his reign last 70 years.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej greets a loyal subject
People gathering after the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Photo credits
http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/world-news/life-of-king-bhumibol-the-world-s-longest-reigning-monarch/photo-ZbTcBAZt4dix4GWpjgcPJK.html
http://sea-globe.com/king-bhumibol-adulyadej-photos/
photo Kiccha Buranond
