Cover
story: 25 Nov. 06 / Vol.23
No.16
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Birthday
& National Father's Day
5 December |
By
Rachawadi / Photos by royal courtesy
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Thailand had a National Mother's Day as early as 1950,
but did not have a National Father's Day until 30 years later.
One of the reasons for setting a day apart to emphasize the
role of father in the family is this: In 1976, the government
decided to move the date of Mother's Day from the 15th of
April to the 12th of August to coincide with Her Majesty Queen
Sirikit's birthday, since the Queen was regarded as a model
mother, having done her role as the mother of four children
superbly.
Later, an idea occurred to many people that there should be
a National Father's Day to go with National Mother's Day,
and that the most appropriate date to be fixed as Father's
Day would be His Majesty King Bhumibol's birthday on the 5th
of December, because the King is a role model not only as
a king, but also as a father.
For the well-being of his subjects,
H.M. the King always works closely
with the officials to monitor the
progress of his projects.
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A formal proposal
to this effect was put forward by Khunying Nueathip Semorathip,
chairman of the Educational Volunteers Association, and was
adopted by the Council of Ministers. And the 5th of December
1980 was celebrated as National Father's Day for the first
time.
To understand why King Bhumibol is held as a role model, here
is a brief story of his life.
The King was born in 1927 at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where
his father Prince Mahidol of Songkla was studying medicine
at Harvard. At that time there seemed little likelihood of
his ever becoming king, since King Prajadhipok, though heirless
then, was still young at 34 years of age. So, ahead of Prince
Bhumibol in the line of succession were any children the King
might have, Prince Mahidol himself and his elder son Prince
Ananda.
H.M. King Bhumibol likes to do
everything by himself even
reaping the rice planted in the
experimental plot in his Chitrlada Villa.
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However, Prince Mahidol died prematurely in 1929, and King
Prajadhipok abdicated in 1935 still without a son. Prince
Ananda, then a 10-year-old pupil in Switzerland, was chosen
as king. A few months after his return to Thailand in 1946,
the young King tragically died in the Grand Palace, still
unmarried. Thus, Prince Bhumibol, then 19, became the 9th
King of the Chakri Dynasty.
After attending his brother's funeral, the young
King went back to Lausanne and changed his university studies
from natural science to political science and law to prepare
himself for his new duties.
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By
visiting his people in every corner of the country,
more than 3,000 development projects have been initiated
by H.M. King Bhumibol to improve his people's living
conditions in the remote areas. |
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Two years later in 1948 while on a visit to Fontainebleau, he
met his future wife, the lovely Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara,
the daughter of the then Thai Minister to France.
Their friendship became more intimate after the King met with
a road accident in Geneva. Then on 19 July 1949 they became
engaged.
The Royal Couple
were married in Bangkok on 28 April 1950 and seven days later
His Majesty was crowned. During the coronation he took the Oath
of Succession to the Throne: "We will reign with righteousness
for the benefit and happiness of the Thai people". Those
words have been borne out by his activities ever since.
Although a revolution in 1932 changed Thailand's absolute monarchy
into a constitutional monarchy, this has in no way diminished
the reverence the Thai people have traditionally held for their
kings. In fact, the great respect, admiration and love they
have for His Majesty King Bhumibol have increased with the time
since his coronation.
Such deep affection has in large part been inspired by the King's
gracious concern for the welfare of his subjects as evidenced
by more than 3,000 "Projects Undertaken Through Royal Initiative",
ranging from the hilltribe crop substitution to artificial rainmaking
through which the King is eulogised as Father of Royal Rainmaking*,
from reafforestation to irrigation, from medical care to natural
disaster relief.
His Majesty's
deep interest in the well-being of his people is also shown
by his frequent personal contact with them in order to keep
in touch with as many of his subjects as possible.
In addition to his kindness and benevolence, King Bhumibol has
many other good qualities that justify the reverence held for
him by his people. For example, he has exercised a stabilizing
influence in Thai politics and has shown his sagacity during
national crisis. He has many-sided talents for arts, science,
sports and languages. He is an accomplished composer and musician.
His Falling Rain, The Candle Light Blues,
Near Dawn and Love at Sundown are among the
most popular songs of this country. He won the gold medal in
yachting in the Southeast Asia Peninsula Games in 1967. He speaks
English, French and German fluently.
In recognition of the great services His Majesty had done to
his country and people, the Thai government in 1960 named His
Majesty's birthday on 5 December as National Day.
It is celebrated most enthusiastically throughout the country
every year, especially in Bangkok with thousands of well-wishers
presenting thir deep love for their monarch. Buildings along
Ratchadamnoen Avenue and the other main roads are decorated
with thousands of colourful lights, flags and portraits of the
King for several days. There are all-night festivities at Sanam
Luang next to the Grand Palace on the eve of the King's birthday,
joined by Bangkokians and provincials numbering hundreds of
thousands. And next year, when the whole nation is due to celebrate
jubilantly the 80th birthday of His Majesty, be prepared to
witness the grand celebration in Bangkok.
*On October 12, 2005, the European Patent Office (EPO)
issued a patent in weather modification by royal rainmaking
technology to His Majesty the King, the world's longest-reigning
monarch.
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