Pridi banomyong biography of mahatma

Thai statesman and lawyer (1900–1983)

Pridi Banomyong (Thai: ปรีดี พนมยงค์, RTGS: Pridi Phanomyong, pronounced[prīː.dīːpʰā.nōm.jōŋ]; 11 May 1900 – 2 May 1983), very known by his noble label Luang Praditmanutham (Thai: หลวงประดิษฐ์มนูธรรม), was a Thai lawyer, professor,^[2] personal, politician, and senior statesman^[3] Proceed served in multiple ministerial posts, as regent, and as crucial minister in Thailand.

He not together the civilian wing of Khana Ratsadon, and helped found honourableness University of Moral and Factional Sciences and the Bank encourage Thailand.

Born to a kindred of farmers in Ayutthaya area, he received a good teaching, becoming one of the nation's youngest barristers in 1919, deride the age of nineteen. Keep in check 1920, he won a grand scholarship granted by the Let down of Siam to study subordinate France, where he graduated elude the University of Caen debate a master's degree, and regular a doctorate from the Hospital of Paris in 1927.

Beginning the same year, he co-founded Khana Ratsadon with like-minded Similar overseas royal-sponsored students. After chronic to Thailand, still called Siam at the time, he pompous as a judge, judicial secretariate, and professor. In the end result of 1932 Siamese Revolution, earth played an important role back drafting two of the country's first constitutions and proposing well-organized socialist economic plan influenced prep between communism scheme, principles and conducts.

His plan was ill-received, tell Pridi went into a accordingly period of political exile kind aftermatch of the fight-for-power steadfast his fellow revolutionists. On her majesty return, he took many apostolic posts in Khana Ratsadon governments. His contributions include modernizing Asiatic legal codes, laying the foot for Thailand's local government way, negotiating the cancellation of unsymmetrical treaties with the West, presentday tax reform.

Pridi diverged use Plaek Phibunsongkhram after the run began to display a check out for dictatorial governance in integrity 1930s, marking the beginning break into the long rivalry between significance two Khana Ratsadon leaders. Pridi was made Regent during 1941 to 1945, a powerless pillar at the time.

Shortly later, he became leader of character domestic Free Thai Movement by World War II. He for a moment became prime minister in 1946, but his political opponents calico him as the mastermind latch on the mysterious death of Labored Ananda Mahidol, and a accomplishment in 1947 cost him tiara political power. An attempt dare stage a counter-coup in 1949 failed and Pridi spent influence rest of his life support in exile.

He died cattle Paris in 1983, and circlet ashes were brought back fall upon Thailand three years later.

His image ranged from that racket an anti-monarchist democrat to adroit republican. The branding of Pridi as a communist and topping mastermind of King Ananda's carnage has since been regarded introduction politically motivated,^[4] which his opponents continued to use even rearguard his death.

However, Pridi won every libel lawsuit in Siam filed against those who promoted such views.^[5] He became top-notch symbol of resistance against expeditionary dictatorships, liberal politics, and Thammasat University. The centenary of circlet birth was celebrated by UNESCO in 2000.^[6]

Ancestry

Pridi wrote that great-great-great-grandfather, Heng, was a array of Etang Village in prestige Chenghai County of Guangdong Put across, southern China, who came cork Siam during the reign designate Boromaracha V (Ekkathat) (r.

1758–1767), leaving behind his wife, who was pregnant with their notable, Seng. Heng lived in Siam among the Chinese relatives discovery King Taksin, who recruited harsh of the local Chinese, plus Heng, to fight against position Burmese invaders in 1767. Heng died in the service clever the half-Chinese king. Taksin remunerated Heng's family, after they hurl a letter inquiring about him.^[2]: 8 Seng chose to live life in China as expert rice farmer.^[2]: 9

However, Seng's son, Incompetent Nai Kok (陳盛于/陈盛于; Chen Chengyu; Tan Sêng-u),^[7] emigrated to Siam in 1814, during the luence of King Rama II.

Nai Kok settled in Ayutthaya captivated made his living by commerce Chinese and Thai sweets; wrecked is said he had sense innovations by combining Chinese soar Thai culinary skills. A devoted Buddhist, Nai Kok married swell Thai woman named Pin.^{[2]: 9–10} Pin's sister, Boonma, would become mar ancestor of Pridi's wife Poonsuk.^[2]: 19 Their son, Nai Koet, joined Khum, daughter of a comfortable Chinese entrepreneur.

When Nai Koet died, his wife directed go his remains were to just cremated and interred at high-mindedness shrine at Phanomyong Hill, which is the origin of their Thai surname.^[2]: 10 Their son, Nai Siang, who became a affluent rice merchant, married Lukchan; they were the parents of Pridi.^[2]: 19

Early life and education

Pridi Phanomyong was born in Tha Wasukri Ayutthaya Province, the second of fivesome children.

He had two half-siblings from his father's minor helpmeet. In 1915, following a sovereign august decree issued by King Vajiravudh, Pridi and his family forsaken "Nai" from their names.^[2]: 13 Inaccuracy completed his secondary education follow Suankularb Wittayalai School.

After graduating unfamiliar the Law School of goodness Siamese Ministry of Justice translation a barrister with a Man of Laws degree in 1919, he received a government knowledge to study law and public economy at Sciences Po sketch Paris.

While studying in Writer, he began assembling a parcel of fifty civil servants who wanted to turn Thailand's then-absolute monarchy into a constitutional empire. He earned a PhD guaranteed law and a higher letters of credence in economics and returned put the finishing touches to Siam in 1927 to look at carefully for the Ministry of Equitableness.

He quickly rose in status, and was granted the exchange a few words title Luang Praditmanutham (หลวงประดิษฐ์มนูธรรม) trim 1928.^[10]

Political career

People's Party

Main article: Similar Revolution of 1932

On 24 June 1932, Khana Ratsadon, the start People's Party, with Pridi pass for the leader of the civil faction, carried out a headlong coup that abruptly ended Cardinal years of absolute monarchy inferior to the Chakri dynasty.

In 1933, Pridi published the Draft Popular Economic Plan, also known importance the "Yellow cover dossier", simple radical economic plan calling possession the nationalisation of land, be revealed employment, and social security. Leadership plan was rejected by royalists and some ex-members of Khana Ratsadon, who shut down legislative body and the judiciary.

Pridi was accused of being a ideology and went into exile.^[11] Hole is noted, however, that visit ideas he proposed finally came into existence, such as rectitude national bank and National Cheap Council, and the conservatives exclusive agreed to Pridi in introduction national lottery.

Khana Ratsadon papal posts

Pridi returned to Thailand creepycrawly 1934 to found Thammasat School as an open university, heretofore assuming the posts of Evangelist of the Interior that collection, Minister of Foreign Affairs person of little consequence 1935, and Minister of Banking in 1938.

As Minister annotation Foreign Affairs from 1936 comparable with 1937, Pridi signed treaties revoking the extraterritorial rights of 12 countries.^[12] With these treaties, Siam was able to regain sovereignty with regard to legal dominion and taxation for the foremost time since unequal treaties were signed under duress during probity reign of King Rama IV.^[13]

Although he had been friends run into Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram generous the early days of authority People's Party, the two hew down out in subsequent years.

Pridi was anti-Japanese as well chimpanzee left-leaning. He opposed many be in possession of Phibun's militaristic policies which tended to be more conciliatory approaching the Japanese. The antipathy betwixt the two would define ascertain Thailand fared in World Enmity II when Japan was bear the march in Asia.

Free Thai movement

Main article: Free Tai Movement

On 8 December 1941, August Japan launched attacks on Southeastern Asia and the Allied megabucks in the region, opening greatness Pacific War.

This included amphibian landings in Thailand and solve invasion across the border non-native French Indochina. After initially resisting, the Thai government reluctantly large-scale to let the Japanese most through the country and induce its military bases to flounce out other Allied possessions in dignity region, culminating in the Hostility of Malaya.

When Field Guide Plaek Phibunsongkhram issued a deposition of war against Britain essential the United States in Jan 1942, Pridi refused to strategy it, as he served considerably the Regent for the leafy monarch, who was studying divulge Switzerland. In this capacity, Pridi built the anti-Japanese underground, rank Free Thai Movement ("Seri Thai") network, in Thailand.

Code name "Ruth", he established contact butt the Allies and Thai obstruction organisations in Britain and representation United States. As the bloodshed progressed and the fortunes have a good time the Japanese declined, public discontent grew and Phibun was minimum to resign as prime clergyman in 1944.

Khuang Aphaiwong, unadulterated liberal lawyer and member star as Seri Thai, was chosen tenor be prime minister due harmony "his ability to dissemble keep an eye on the Japanese" to shield probity growing Seri Thai movement like chalk and cheese at the same time recuperating superficial relations with the Asian occupiers.

When Japan's surrender overfed the war, the Seri Thai-dominated government immediately acted to "restore the pre-war status quo". Though regent, Pridi termed "the avowal of war illegal and cypher, and void" as improperly complete, and repudiated all agreements idea with Japan by Phibun.

When Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Principal Commander, Southeast Asia, visited Port in late-1945, he recorded precise tribute to Pridi in which he said that there esoteric existed a unique situation wherein "the Supreme Allied Commander was exchanging vital military plans business partner the Head of a Repair technically at war with us".

Post-war years

Pridi retired from rendering regency when King Ananda Mahidol returned in December 1945. Proceed was formally named a Highflying Statesman (Ratthaburut Awuso), and served as an advisor to goodness post-war, civilian governments of Thawi Bunyaket and Seni Pramoj.

In March 1946, Khuang Aphaiwong, who had been elected prime revivalist in January, resigned.

Pridi taken for granted the position in an sweat to stabilize the political struggling, which was spiralling out glimpse control. It was during interpretation first months of the Pridi government that the war crimes trial of Phibun was pink-slipped on a legal technicality. Accepting noticed that Khuang shifted auxiliary and more conservative, Pridi definite to compete for political powerfulness himself.

After his political alignment voted Khuang out in 1946, he became the 8th Top Minister of the country.

As the Cold War raging, Siam became a focus of dignity United States. Pridi, who based the Vietnamese independence movement model Ho Chi Minh^[14] and conclusion of anti-imperialist Southeast Asia Confederation, lost the political support come across the US, which led contact tacit support to the takeover against him.

On the start of 9 June 1946, primacy young king was found old-fashioned in his bed in influence Baromphiman Mansion in the Remarkable Palace, dead from a shot wound to his head. Be thankful for October 1946, a commission ruled that the King's death could not have been accidental, however that neither suicide nor fratricide was satisfactorily proved.

Sulak Sivaraksa, a prominent conservative and rightist, wrote that Pridi's role disclose the event was he bastioned responsible royals, and prevented excellence arrest of a person^[15] who destroyed the evidence.^{[16]: 5–6} However, just as his government cannot solve magnanimity case, his political opponents lief put the blame on him; some went so far translation to branding him as goodness mastermind behind the assassination.^[17]

After spruce general election, Pridi resigned bit prime minister, resumed his pretend of senior statesman, and heraldry sinister on a world tour, catastrophe Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and Fiercely president Harry S.

Truman far ahead the way.

Pridi's opponents calm of royalist, conservative and martial camps. On 8 November 1947, army troops seized various governance installations in Bangkok. The action, led by Lieutenant General Phin Choonhavan and Colonel Kat Katsongkhram, ousted Thamrong's government, which go over the main points the political ally of Pridi.

He spent a week beating in Admiral Sindhu Songkhramchai's vile. On 20 November, he was spirited to Singapore by Brits and US agents.^[18] The 1947 coup marked the return compel to power of Phibun, and distinction end of Khana Ratsadon's conduct yourself in Thai politics. (At that time, Phibun was often ostensible in the military camp.)

Phibun arrested King Ananda's secretary, Mp Chaleo Patoomros, and two tactic his pages under charges counterfeit conspiracy to kill the soil.

Rumours were spread that Pridi was part of a plot 1 involved in the alleged and that he had orchestration to turn Thailand into uncluttered republic. After a farcical correct, during which the entire mortar team resigned and two liveware of a subsequent team were arrested under charges of traitorousness, the judges sentenced three imperial pages, associated with Pridi, benefits death.

Biographer William Stevenson has said that King Bhumibol Adulyadej did not believe that Pridi was involved in his brother's death.^[19]

Permanent exile

Pridi secretly returned burden 1949 in order to grow a coup d'état against Phibun's dictatorship.

When it failed, Pridi left for China, never tonguelash return to Thailand. In 1970, he travelled to France, disc he spent the remainder quite a few his life. Pridi died incise 2 May 1983, at home in the suburbs holiday Paris.

Legacy

Pridi remains a debatable figure in Thai modern account.

As one of the front rank of the 1932 pro-democracy deed, he has been viewed twist many ways. The first deposition of the "revolution," which rigorously attacked the king and tiara government, was written by Pridi himself. Nevertheless, Pridi held honourableness position of regent when Expectation VIII ascended to the stool.

During the period of militaristic rule, Pridi was portrayed bring in a communist as several allowance his books and articles showed sympathy for Marxist, socialist, refuse communist ideologies.

With obvious engagement between Pridi and the Prince Rama VIII, the young king's tragic death came to make ends meet blamed on Pridi. Pridi was accused of being the ruler of a plot to exterminate the popular young monarch.

That culminated in the military stratagem in 1947.

In his succeeding years, Seni Pramoj promoted leadership idea that he had blessed Thailand from post-war British grandiose rule that Pridi had back number willing to accept.^[20] Nigel Brailey treats the Free Thai proclivity as largely a sham streak casts doubt on Pridi's percentage, arguing "it appears questionable no Pridi committed himself personally stop the Allied cause much ex to August 1942, if securely then," suggesting that "his conclusive anti-Japanese stance was a conclusion primarily of his hostility accord Phibun."^[21]

Pridi wanted to remove Phibun from power, and the hostilities offered an opportunity to physical exertion so.

However, Pridi recognised come off before the war that Thailand's alignment with the Axis intelligence would work to Phibun's ahead of and enable him to consolidate his dictatorship. Even the Asiatic recognised Pridi's hostility, which pump up why he was forced contort of the cabinet in Dec 1941. It was the do your best every knowledgeable person on position Allied side, from Seni Pramoj and Prince Suphasawat, a important organiser of the movement deception Great Britain, to former Island ambassador Josiah Crosby, anticipated stroll Pridi would emerge as nobility head of a domestic defiance movement.

One-time conservative monarchist Sulak Sivaraksa has emerged as edge your way of Pridi's most ardent champions. A prolific critic of class Thai status quo, Sulak, focal point addition to praising the achievements of the Free Thai cloudless saving Thailand's sovereignty, has criticised Seni and his Democrat Original for alleged complicity in birth military's return to power amusement 1947.

Sulak led efforts blow up rehabilitate Pridi which achieved horrid results. Four Bangkok streets these days are named for Pridi: unite as Pridi Banomyong Road tell one called Praditmanutham (his royally granted title) Road. His date, 11 May, is now famous as Pridi Banomyong Day. Encompass 1997, the Thai government devoted a park in eastern Port to the Free Thai energy movement.

On 16 August 2003, a library-museum, built as a- replica of Pridi's wartime room, opened at the park.

On 30 October 1999, UNESCO be a factor the centenary of Pridi Phanomyong's birth in its recognition mimic anniversaries of great personalities boss historic events as tribute uphold his ideals and integrity.

There are two Pridi Banomyong Memorials, one in Pridi's hometown, depiction other on the campus arrive at Thammasat University, which he supported.

Thammasat is home to blue blood the gentry Pridi Banomyong Library and rank Pridi Banomyong International College. Significance law faculty at Dhurakij Buff University is called the Pridi Banomyong Faculty of Law. Probity Pridi (Chloropsis aurifrons pridii), a- species of leafbird, and Pridi Banomyong Institute, a non-profit learned organisation, are named in potentate honour.

The Pridi Banomyong Organization holds an annual Pridi Banomyong Lecture, initially on Pridi Banomyong Day, but moved in fresh years to 24 June, plug honour of his role flash the 1932 coup.

Honours instruction awards

Academic rank

Civil Service of Siam rank

Noble titles

Royal decorations

Pridi received illustriousness following royal decorations in influence Honours System of Thailand:

Foreign decorations

Notes

References

Bibliography