Luang Wichitwathakan - Early Life

Early Life

Wichitwathakan was born Kim Liang (Chinese: 金良), the son of a merchant in Uthai Thani Province,.

Luang Wichitwathakan was prominently engaged in politics and the modernization of Thailand. He played an important role in establishing the Thai national identity and in changing the name of the country from Siam.) He was also a prolific writer and playwright.

He received his primary education in a Buddhist temple school in Uthaithani. He continued the Buddhist education at Wat Mahathat in Bangkok. He excelled in Buddhist studies, reaching a high stage of Prien and graduating first in the kingdom. He received an award from King Vajiravudh for academic excellence.

While still a monk in Wat Mahatat, Wichitwathakan wrote extensively in papers which he circulated among the monks. The papers were written in English, French, or German and were sometimes inflammatory regarding temple rules and regulations. This was finally stopped by the abbot, who prohibited the use of western languages . In 1913, Wichitwathakan adopted the surname Wathanapreeda (which literally means development of happiness), following the royal decree issued by King Vajiravudh for all Thais to have surnames.

Wichitwathakan had a keen interest in English and French, and translated some original Thai literary works into English, which he published through a Chinese curator, but which met with little commercial success. Between 1921-1927 Wichit studied at the University of Paris.

At the age of 20, Wichitwathakan decided to leave the monkhood in favor of secular life and was admitted to the Ministry of Foreign affairs as a junior clerk. From this position in 1918, Wichitwathakan rose, through his own exceptional capability and diligence, to become Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1942.