Khamsing Srinawk
Encyclopedia
Khamsing Srinawk is a writer
from the Isan
region of Thailand
. He writes under the pen-name Law khamhɔ̌ɔm . He was named a National Artist
in Literature in 1992 and is best known for his satirical short stories
published in his 1958 collection Fáa Bɔ̀ Kân [The Sky is No Barrier]. Benedict Anderson
argues that Khamsing is the best known short-story writer in the Kingdom of Thailand.
province, Khamsing was raised on a farm in the countryside. Khamsing read heavily during his childhood and was encouraged in his studies by his uncle, a Buddhist monk, and other members of his family. After completing schooling in the local Bua Yày government school he traveled to Bangkok and simultaneously enrolled in the faculty of Journalism at Chulalongkorn University and the faculty of Economics at Thammasat University. Unable to afford room and board, Khamsing lived in a Buddhist temple in Bangkok while attending night classes and working part-time as a journalist until he was overcome with illness and forced to drop out of school. From Bangkok, Khamsing took a job with the state forestry service, working in the far north as a forest ranger for three years (1953-1956).
and Pentagon supported Sarit Thanarat Thai writers and intellectuals were free to express their ideas. This atmosphere of free press quickly burgeoned after the September 16, 1957 coup that drove Phao and Plaek Pibulsonggram
into exile. Anderson agrues that Khamsing's Fáa Bɔ̀ Kân, a collection of many of his stories originally published in Piyamit, best symbolizes this period of intellectual freedom. Shortly after the publication of Fáa Bɔ̀ Kân, Sarit seized power and established an absolute regime. Sarit's regime instated strict censorship, ending the period of free-thought through imprisonment, exile and execution (only one or two cases) of Thai intellectuals, writers, and progressives. This crackdown on progressives and independent press forced Khamsing to abandon writing for a number of years, during which time he returned to Khorat and started a farm.
on October 14, 1973, Khamsing became politically active and was elected vice-chairman of the Socialist Party of Thailand
. It is said that on two occasions in the early 1970s, Khamsing sold off many of his milking cows to finance unsuccessful campaigns for election to Thai parliament. Khamsing's involvement with the Socialist party of Thailand continued throughout the early 70s, and after the second, bloodier military crackdown on student protesters at Thammasat on October, 6 1976 (known as the Thammasat University massacre), Khamsing fled into the jungles of Thailand with many of his fellow socialists. Due to his ideological differences with the Communist party of Thailand, however, Khamsing and his family fled to Sweden in 1977, where they remained in exile until a few years later. While in Sweden, Khamsing began again working on his novel ''ˈMɛɛw [Cat], which is a metaphor for Thailand itself. Khamsing first began working on ''ˈMɛɛw after the events of October, 14 1973, however, the manuscript was lost after the Thammasat massacre of 1976. Eventually, the novel was published in 1983 after Khamsing had returned to Bangkok.
Most recently (May, 2011), Khamsing has added his name to what has come to be called the 'Thai Writers' Manifesto,' a petition signed by 359 Thai writers and academics calling for drastic revisions to Thailand's Lèse majesté
laws (Article 112 of current Thai Criminal Code), under which numerous Thai and international citizens have been jailed.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
from the Isan
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
region of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. He writes under the pen-name Law khamhɔ̌ɔm . He was named a National Artist
Thailand National Artist
The National Artist is a title given annually by the Office of the National Culture Commission of Thailand, recognizing notable Thai artists in literature, fine arts, visual arts, applied arts and performing arts .Since 1985, the honors have been presented on...
in Literature in 1992 and is best known for his satirical short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
published in his 1958 collection Fáa Bɔ̀ Kân [The Sky is No Barrier]. Benedict Anderson
Benedict Anderson
Benedict Richard O'Gorman Anderson is Aaron L. Binenkorb Professor Emeritus of International Studies, Government & Asian Studies at Cornell University, and is best known for his celebrated book Imagined Communities, first published in 1983...
argues that Khamsing is the best known short-story writer in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Early Life
Born December 25th, 1930 in Bua Yày District of Thailand’s northeastern Nakhon RatchasimaNakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima or is a city in the north-east of Thailand and gateway to Isan. It is the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Nakhon Ratchasima district...
province, Khamsing was raised on a farm in the countryside. Khamsing read heavily during his childhood and was encouraged in his studies by his uncle, a Buddhist monk, and other members of his family. After completing schooling in the local Bua Yày government school he traveled to Bangkok and simultaneously enrolled in the faculty of Journalism at Chulalongkorn University and the faculty of Economics at Thammasat University. Unable to afford room and board, Khamsing lived in a Buddhist temple in Bangkok while attending night classes and working part-time as a journalist until he was overcome with illness and forced to drop out of school. From Bangkok, Khamsing took a job with the state forestry service, working in the far north as a forest ranger for three years (1953-1956).
Publication of Fáa Bɔ̀ Kân
A year after his time in the forest, Khamsing began publishing short stories in the newspaper Piyamit [Dear Friend]. This corresponded with the relatively free press Thailand enjoyed during the years of 1955-58. Due to the growing political power-struggle between CIA backed Phao SriyanondPhao Sriyanond
Phao Sriyanond was a director general of Thailand's national police who was notorious for his excesses against political opponents. He eventually fled the country and died in exile.-Rise to power:...
and Pentagon supported Sarit Thanarat Thai writers and intellectuals were free to express their ideas. This atmosphere of free press quickly burgeoned after the September 16, 1957 coup that drove Phao and Plaek Pibulsonggram
Plaek Pibulsonggram
Field Marshal Plaek Pibunsongkhram , often known as Phibun Songkhram or simply Phibun in English, was Prime Minister and virtual military dictator of Thailand from 1938 to 1944 and 1948 to 1957.- Early years :...
into exile. Anderson agrues that Khamsing's Fáa Bɔ̀ Kân, a collection of many of his stories originally published in Piyamit, best symbolizes this period of intellectual freedom. Shortly after the publication of Fáa Bɔ̀ Kân, Sarit seized power and established an absolute regime. Sarit's regime instated strict censorship, ending the period of free-thought through imprisonment, exile and execution (only one or two cases) of Thai intellectuals, writers, and progressives. This crackdown on progressives and independent press forced Khamsing to abandon writing for a number of years, during which time he returned to Khorat and started a farm.
Travels Abroad and Return to Thailand
The popularity of Fáa Bɔ̀ Kân gained Khamsing rising celebrity, which brought with it invitations to travel to Europe, Africa, and the United States in order to lecture on his own work, and Thai literature in general. Khamsing spent the years 1967-68 in America on a Time-Life grant, after which point he returned to Thailand and began contributing regular articles to Sǎŋkhommasàat Pàríthát [Social Science Review]. These articles, many of which were concerned with social injustice in rural Thailand, were compiled in a 1975 publication known as Kamphɛɛŋ [Walls].Political Action and Exile
Khamsing continued writing and working on his farm in Khorat until the beginning of the 1973 student democracy movement. After the military and police crackdown on student demonstrations at Thammasat UniversityThammasat University
Thammasat University , or in brief TU , is Thailand's second oldest university. Officially established on 27 June 1934, the university was originally named by founder Pridi Banomyong, University of Moral Science and Politics , reflecting the political fervor of the time...
on October 14, 1973, Khamsing became politically active and was elected vice-chairman of the Socialist Party of Thailand
Socialist Party of Thailand
The Socialist Party of Thailand was political party in Thailand, active in the 1970s. SPT was led by its general secretary Boonsanong Punyodyana.SPT won 15 out of 269 seats in the 1975 parliamentary elections....
. It is said that on two occasions in the early 1970s, Khamsing sold off many of his milking cows to finance unsuccessful campaigns for election to Thai parliament. Khamsing's involvement with the Socialist party of Thailand continued throughout the early 70s, and after the second, bloodier military crackdown on student protesters at Thammasat on October, 6 1976 (known as the Thammasat University massacre), Khamsing fled into the jungles of Thailand with many of his fellow socialists. Due to his ideological differences with the Communist party of Thailand, however, Khamsing and his family fled to Sweden in 1977, where they remained in exile until a few years later. While in Sweden, Khamsing began again working on his novel ''ˈMɛɛw [Cat], which is a metaphor for Thailand itself. Khamsing first began working on ''ˈMɛɛw after the events of October, 14 1973, however, the manuscript was lost after the Thammasat massacre of 1976. Eventually, the novel was published in 1983 after Khamsing had returned to Bangkok.
Influence on Thai Literature
Even though he is not the most prolific of Thailand's celebrated authors, Khamsing is credited with beginning a tectonic shift in Thai literary style and focus. While the majority of Thai literature before the twentieth century was dominated by royal and elite authors writing for the kingdom’s gentry, it has been argued that Khamsing’s divergence from typical Thai literary subject matter has created the concept of the Thai peasant as a literary hero. By giving literary voice to the common peasant, often in vernacular voice and within the village setting, Khamsing's writings, most notably Fáa Bɔ̀ Kân, have worked to democratize Thai literature. With literature, Khamsing has attempted to depict the plight of the Thai peasant, and in doing so seek social justice and the betterment of Thai society in general.Most recently (May, 2011), Khamsing has added his name to what has come to be called the 'Thai Writers' Manifesto,' a petition signed by 359 Thai writers and academics calling for drastic revisions to Thailand's Lèse majesté
Lèse majesté
Lese-majesty is the crime of violating majesty, an offence against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.This behavior was first classified as a criminal offence against the dignity of the Roman republic in Ancient Rome...
laws (Article 112 of current Thai Criminal Code), under which numerous Thai and international citizens have been jailed.