The Revolutionary King by William Stevenson

The Revolutionary King by William Stevenson (published in 1999)

My prelude: Special thanks to Sirichai who lent me the book many years ago. I only found time to read it now. I’m glad I did it albeit late but it’s better late than never.  My first close contact with Thailand and its people took place in 1997 when I was sent to work in Bangkok for two weeks a month over a six-month period. My contact with Thailand was renewed in 2003 when I was closely involved in Bangkok’s business operation as part of my job in Hong Kong.  Throughout these years, I’m awed by how Thai people adore dearly their King Bhumibol and see him as God-like.  I was amused on my first visit to the local cinema – the Royal Anthem is played prior the start of the movie and everybody is expected to stand out of respect for the King.  To me, the King is just a human being whose pictures are seen everywhere and often carry a blank facial expression. I heard he is a great engineer and has initiated many agricultural projects which vastly improved the lives of Thai people. But that much I know. My impression is totally changed after reading the book, I am won over.  You may watch a brief 45 minutes documentary by History Channel “The People’s King” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khl3YMfwn0w but nothing beats reading the book which offers rare insights and untold secrets.   I’m grateful for the wonderful friendship of numerous friends and colleagues in Thailand. Once again, thanks Sirichai for introducing the book.

King Bhumibol, Rama the 9^th, the World’s longest reigning monarch, is truly a great king and Father of the Thai Nation. If not for a strong sense of duty instilled by the King’s father (Prince Mahidol) and the wisdom and enormous courage of Bhumibol’s grandmother and mother, his uncle Rangsit, his Elder Brother Ananda and of course Bhumibol in 1930s and 1940s, Thailand could have become part of Britain or Japan, or the Chinese in Thailand could have been severely persecuted.

In December 1932, a revolution overthrew absolute monarchy in Thailand. However, Rama the 7^th remained as a puppet king to prevent a mass uprising as the revolutionaries knew that most Siamese feared living without a king.   Meanwhile, the British government and Nazi Germany were constantly trying to win over the 7^th Rama.  Nazi Germany told him stern measures were required to solve the economic woes caused by international Jewry, thinking this would appeal to a monarch whose predecessor had written “The Chinese are the Jews of the East”.    Fortunately, the 7^th Rama was repelled by Nazism. Finally in 1935, Rama the 7^th moved to England and abdicated.

Britain, in its plan to run Siam through a king of its own choosing without the bother of administering a colony, then pushed its own candidate – Prince Chula Chakrabongse.   Prince Chula’s father (another son of King Chulalongkorn) was in line to succeed the 5^th Rama until he married a Russian who gave birth to Chula. Chula made matters worse by marrying an Englishwoman. Siamese Kings were forbidden to have foreign wives.  

On the other hand, Pibul who led the revolution, now controlled the country.  He was influenced by the ideology of Hitler and dreamed of restoring Greater Siam where neighbouring Cambodia, Laos, Burma, parts of Southern China used to pay tributes to Siam.  The Japanese promised to help but secretly meant to turn the territories into Tokyo’s tributaries, not Bangkok’s.   Pibul also wanted Siam to play a part in the German-Japanese pact against communism.

Galyani (Bhumibol’s elder sister), Ananda (elder brother) and Bhumibol were born and bred in the west (United States, Switzerland).  Their father, Prince Mahidol (another son of King Chulalongkorn) and their mother (an orphaned commoner) were working and living in United States in 1910s and 1920s.  Prince Mahidol did not want the crown but was suddenly Heir Presumptive - the 6^th Rama died without a heir and the kingship went to a brother who had neither sons or daughters. Prince Mahidol moved the family back to Siam but he died shortly when Bhumibol was only 2 year-old. After the 1932 revolution, Bhumibol’s mother decided to move her children to Lausanne, Switzerland for education and also to escape the royal hierarchies. However, shortly after the 7^th Rama’s abdication in 1935, Pibul’s regime requested 9 year-old Ananda to become King as it needed a boy king whose strings they could pull.  The request was turned down initially but Ananda finally accepted – he was reminded of his father’s teachings: that Siamese lucky enough to study abroad had an absolute duty to go back and make the best of what they had learned.   Ananda’s uncle, Prince Rangsit acted as the family guardian, reasoned that so long as Ananda existed as king, the Japanese would be cautious, whereas his mother was reminded that the people will feel lost and unprotected without a godhead and thought it will help the country. With someone else, there might be trouble.   Fortunately, at the mother’s request, the young King Ananda and his siblings were allowed to stay in Lausanne to complete their studies.

During those times in 1940s, Japan stepped up its presence in Siam, Japan waged wars in Asia and Nazi Germany in Europe.  The Japanese were building up their strength in Siam to prepare for the most ambitious stage in their military adventures – the advance to meet Nazi Germany’s forces in the Middle East. This required building the infamous Death Railway from Bangkok into Burma so that troops could be transported overland, rather than be exposed to Allied submarines.  Meanwhile, the Allied agents in Siam were operating actively in secret. Japan lost the war, Pibul lost favour among the people and a British’s agent, Pridi was appointed as prime minister.

The yet to be crowned 20 year-old King Ananda was summoned to return to Bangkok.  His mother agreed to let Ananda made a brief trip with the intention to leave again.  Unfortunately, King Ananda was murdered before he could leave.  In 1946, 18-year-old Bhumibol took over the kingship in fulfilment of his royal duty.   The Coronation took place on 5^th May 1950 when Bhumibol was 23.    

Bhumibol, like Ananda, was a western school boy, flung back in time to a feudal court.  He chose to wear a blank expression so that people will read into his face whatever they want.   The royal palace (just like dynasties in ancient China) is rife with gossips, jealousies and conspiracies.   After the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, prime minister, police general, military etc. flex muscles and fight for supremacy under the new system of democracy.  The need to balance between the great external powers (like Britain, America, Japan etc.) adds to the challenges, not to mention the uprising communism insurgents.  To buy time, he settled upon silence rather than the role of a stammering fool (adopted by Emperor Claudius), with the purpose of concealing his growing wisdom. 

Not willing to be a salaried ornament, King Bhumibol vowed to make kingship to serve the people but how was he to do this without becoming a slave to superstition?     The King is saddled with elaborate superstitious ceremonies/processions/rituals – both private and public – the latter is necessary to maintain the respect of the masses which have an innate love and respect for all forms of royal pageantry.   The king also felt pushed into playing a god considering he is in a land of gods and demons.  For example, to save the rice crops, perhaps a king would wave a long-handled fan toward the sea to summon flood-demons to drain the waters. The imagery, thought the King, would make country folk more receptive to the construction of dams and reservoirs.    I thought that is very wise of the King!   The King also believed, to modernise Siam, he was obliged to use its old beliefs.

Turbulence continued in 1950s through 1970s, the King, his wife Queen Sirikit and King’s mother, worked hard to protect and serve the nation.   Many royal projects were initiated to relieve poverty and improve lives of country folks as the King believed it was the way to disarm the communists.    While the King worked hard to get agricultural technical assistance and equipment from Japanese and US, he was firm as he told US President Johnson a line had to be drawn between US aid and US control. In 1960, the King made his first overseas state visit with the Queen to US and Europe.  In that trip, the Jazzy King wooed the Americans when he played spontaneously with the world renowned jazz musician Benny Goodman and his orchestra.   Apart from an accomplished Jazz musician and composer, the King is also an artist and was once a monk.  In 1956, the King shaved his head to the scalp and put on the single rust-coloured robe of poverty following the footsteps of his great grandfather King Mongkut.  

While the King and Queen worked tirelessly for the people, it was a struggle bringing up the royal children who grew up in strange isolation. Eldest daughter, Princess Ubol was stifled, felt suffocated, finally married a young American and renounced all her titles and privileges.   Only son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn showed an imperious sense of destiny.  When he was young, he defied a reprimand from a courtier by saying “Don’t talk like that to your future king!”.  He was a bit of a Don Juan - women find him interesting and he finds women even more interesting.  Second daughter, Princess Sirindhorn was their greatest consolation.  Princess Sirindhorn who made it known she would never marry, passionately continued the royal projects of his parents and grandparents. She also learned the Chinese language, wrote children’s stories and drew witty cartoons.  

Happy Birthday to King Bhumibol!  The King just celebrated his 87^th birthday on 5^th December 2014 and has been king for over six decades now.  He is truly a great man, a great People’s King who has outlasted numerous constitutions, prime ministers, military coups , political crises, turmoils and uprising  which continued in 1980s to present.  I wish King Bhumibol good health and wish Thailand could soon set aside its political differences so as to remain a free, happy and prosperous country.