Brief Biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand Share By Kallie Szczepanski The current king of Thailand , Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the longest-reigning monarch in the world today, as well as Thailand's longest-reigning king ever. The beloved king's common name is pronounced "POO-mee-pohn uh-DOON-ja-deht"; his throne name is Rama IX. Early Life: Born a second son, and with his birth taking place outside of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej was never meant to rule. His reign came about through a mysterious act of violence. Since then, the King has been a calm presence at the center of Thailand's stormy political life. On December 5, 1927, a Thai princess gave birth to a son named Bhumibol Adulyadej ("Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power") in a Cambridge, Massachusetts hospital. The family was in the United States because the child's father, Prince Mahidol, was studying for a Public Health certificate at Harvard University . His mother studied nursing at Simmons College .

The boy was the second son for Prince Mahidol and Princess Srinagarindra. continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States When Bhumibol was a year old, his family returned to Thailand, where his father took up an intership in a hospital in Chiang Mai . Prince Mahidol was in poor health, though, and died of kidney and liver failure in September of 1929. Schooling in Switzerland: In 1932, a coalition of military officers and civil servants staged a coup against King Rama VII . The "Revolution of 1932" ended the Chakri Dynasty's absolute rule and created a constitutional monarchy. Concerned for their safety, Princess Srinagarindra took her two young sons and little daughter to Switzerland the following year. The children were placed into Swiss schools. In March of 1935, King Rama VII abdicated in favor of his 9-year-old nephew, Bhumibol's older brother Ananda Mahidol. The child king and his siblings remained in Switzerland, however, and two regents ruled the kingdom in his name.

Ananda Mahidol returned to Thailand in 1938, but Bhumibol remained in Europe. The younger brother continued his studies in Switzerland until 1945, when he left the University of Lausanne at the end of World War II . Mysterious Succession: On June 9, 1946, King Ananda Mahidol died in his palace bedroom of a single gunshot wound to the head. It was never conclusively proven whether his death was murder, accident or suicide, although two royal pages and the king's personal secretary were convicted and executed for assassinating him. 18-year-old Prince Bhumibol had gone in to his brother's room about 20 minutes before the gun went off, so conspiracy theorists have long implicated him in Ananda Mahidol's death. Bhumibol's uncle was appointed his Prince Regent, and the new king returned to the University of Lausanne to finish his degree. In deference to his new role, he changed his major from science to political science and law. Accident and Marriage: Just as his father had done in Massachusetts, Bhumibol met his wife-to-be while studying overseas.

The young king often went to Paris, where he met the daughter of Thailand's ambassador to France, a student named Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kiriyakara. Bhumibol and Sirikit began a demure courtship based on taking in Paris' tourist sights . In October of 1948, Bhumibol rear-ended a truck and was seriously injured. He lost his right eye and suffered a painful back injury. Sirikit spent a lot of time nursing and entertaining the injured king; his mother urged the young woman to transfer to a school in Lausanne so that she could continue her studies while getting to know Bhumibol better. On April 28, 1950, King Bhumibol and Sirikit got married in Bangkok. She was 17 years old; he was 22. The King was officially coronated one week later. Military Coups and Dictatorships: The newly crowned king had very little actual power. Thailand was ruled by military dictator Plaek Pibulsonggram until 1957, when the first of a long series of coups removed him from office.

Bhumibol declared martial law during the crisis, which ended with a new dictatorship forming under the king's close ally Sarit Dhanarajata. Over the next six years, Bhumibol would revive many abandoned Chakri traditions. He also made many public appearances around Thailand, significantly reviving the prestige of the throne. Sarit died in 1963, and was succeeded by Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn. Ten years later, Thanom sent out the troops against huge public protests, killing hundreds of protestors. Bhumibol opened Chitralada Palace's gates to offer refuge to the demonstrators as they fled the soldiers. The king then removed Thanom from power and appointed a the first of a series of civilian leaders. In 1976, however, Thanom returned from overseas exile, sparking another round of demonstrations that ended in the October 6 Massacre, in which 46 students were killed and 167 injured at Thammasat University. In the aftermath of the massacre, Admiral Sangad Chaloryu staged yet another coup and took power.

Further coups took place in 1977, 1980, 1981, 1985 and 1991. Although King Bhumibol tried to stay above the fray, he refused to support the 1981 and 1985 coups. His prestige was damaged by the constant unrest, however. Transition to Democracy: When a military coup leader was selected as Prime Minister in 1992, huge protests broke out in Thailand's cities. The demonstrations turned into riots, and the police and military were rumored to be dividing into factions. Fearing a civil war, King Bhumibol called the coup leader and the opposition leader to an audience at the palace. Bhumibol was able to pressure the coup leader into resigning; new elections were called, and a civilian government was elected. This intervention by the king was the beginning of an era of civilian-led democracy that has continued with just one interruption to this day. Bhumibol's image as an advocate for the people, reluctantly intervening in the political fray to protect his subjects, was cemented by this success.

Lese Majeste and Royal Prerogatives: Although Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, Bhumibol retains more powers than other heads of state such as Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II . He can veto laws passed by parliament, pardon convicted criminals, and approve or disapprove cabinet members. Bhumibol also has significant leeway in allocating money to his own pet development projects within the country. From outside of Thailand, King Bhumibol looks very much like other modern kings - quiet, dignified, with plenty of hobbies to fill his free time. However, to the Thai people he is quasi-divine, the Buddhist "Dharmaraja" and an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu . As such, he is protected by strict laws of lese majeste . Most Thai citizens genuinely love and revere their king. However, anyone who feels otherwise, and criticizes Bhumibol or any other member of the royal family (living or dead), faces as much as fifteen years in prison. Bhumibol himself has invited criticism in a 2005 speech, but nobody can publicly support his position and advocate repeal of the lese majeste laws without breaking them!

2006 Coup: In April of 2006, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his party were accused of lese majeste, including plans to depose King Bhumibol. The accusers produced no evidence at all, but this incident helped fuel an on-going political crisis. On September 19, 2006, the military overthrew Thaksin's government and declared martial law. King Bhumibol endorsed this coup, and Thaksin was forced into exile. As of this writing, Thaksin's younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is the Prime Minister. King Bhumibol's 60th Anniversary: In June of 2006, King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit celebrated the 60th Anniversary of their rule, also known as the Diamond Jubilee. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan presented the king with a Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the festivities. In addition, there were banquets, fireworks, royal barge processions, concerts and official royal pardons for 25,000 convicts.

The joyous celebration of Bhumibol's 60-year reign brought to the fore worrisome questions of his succession. The octogenarian king has spent much of the past two years in the hospital, suffering from back problems, Parkinson's disease and depression. Bhumibol and Sirikit's son, Prince Bajiralongkorn (born 1952), is the heir apparent, but he is not nearly as popular as his parents. Prince Bajiralongkorn is rumored to have a gambling problem and a very active private life, in addition to be "erratic." The prince's sister, Princess Sirindhorn, is more popular than her brother, and the Thai Constitution allows princesses to be appointed successor if there is no male heir apparent. Most constitutional scholars believe that King Bhumibol could appoint his daughter as his successor if he chose, but he has not made any indication that he will do so. King Bhumibol's Life and Legacy Although he was never intended for the throne, Bhumibol Adulyadej has been a successful and increasingly beloved king of Thailand over the many decades of his reign.

Superficially his life seems similar to other monarchs, such as Japan's Emperor Akihito ; both are semi-divine, have a life-long interest in science, enjoy art and music, etc. However, unlike the current Emperor of Japan , Bhumibol plays a significant if shadowy role in the politics of his realm. The ninth Chakri king of Thailand has guided his country through very turbulent political waters. In fact, he has already earned the title " The Great ." How the nation will fare after he passes away is anybody's guess. Bhumibol Adulyadej Encyclopedia > History > Biographies > Southeast Asia History: Biographies Bhumibol Adulyadej Bhumibol Adulyadej (pōˈmēpôlˌ ädŏlˈyädĕtˌ) [ key ], 1927–, king of Thailand (1946–), b. Cambridge, Mass. A member of the Chakri dynasty, he was at school in Switzerland when his brother, King Ananda Mahidol, died (1946) under mysterious circumstances.

Bhumibol ruled with a regent until 1950, when he was formally crowned Rama IX. The longest-ruling monarch in Thailand's history, in 2000 he also became longest-reigning ruler in the world. He has enjoyed great popular support although his power is largely ceremonial. The king has actively promoted development projects and has been generally a stabilizing force in the country's turbulent politics, intervening several times to resolve governmental crises or criticize government leaders. His displeasure with the government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra partially contributed to the coup that ousted Thaksin, and the king subsequently gave his approval to the coup and new government. The king's name also appears as Phumiphen. See study by P. M. Handley (2006). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. The King Of Thailand: King Bhumibol Adulyadej - Go Thai | Go Thai The King Of Thailand: King Bhumibol Adulyadej Saved under Top Picks Thailand is a monarchy, and has been ruled by the Chakri Dynasty for a very long time.

Its current leader, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in the USA in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was born in 1927 and became king on the 9th of June 1946. This makes him the longest ruling king in the world. His actual coronation was on the 5th of May 1950, when he was still studying in Switzerland, which is where he met the present queen HM Queen Sirikit. In this period, Siam changed its name to Thailand and was experiencing much political and social instability. However, the people of Thailand remained in need of a King and it is very clear that such is still the case. The people of Thailand see their royal family as a true pillar of the community. The King, when he assumed the throne, stated that he will reign with the happiness and righteousness of the people of Siam at the forefront of all his actions, and he still stands for this. The King and His People The King has been a guiding light for his people for over 60 years now. During his reign, some 27 prime ministers came and went, with the 28th currently in power.

As a constitutional monarch, the King does not choose any political side, nor does he influence political decisions. As such, he has seen his country guided by those of differing political views. Being above politics, the King focuses on the people in his kingdom, and particularly those in the more rural areas. He has always stood by his people and has provided them with a guiding light. How the Thai See Their King For the people of Thailand, the kind is the country’s father. This means they expect him to look after them and give them what they need to survive. This includes a foundation of good education and the ability to gain employment when they grow up. In return, the people of Thailand want to look after their father when he reaches old age, so he can be comfortable after retirement. Every Thai person, as such, is a child of the king. The oldest and wisest went to form a group that allows the younger children to have a peaceful and prosperous home. As such, the current King is seen as the father to some 60 million people, who he has looked after properly during his reign. This is demonstrated through the hard work he has done as a philanthropist, using his personal funds to improve the nation as a whole.

The Thai will agree that no monarch has worked as hard for his people as King Bhumibol Adulyadej has, particularly as he the people of Siam were not living in healthy or good conditions when he came to the throne. However, even during those days, they had their basic needs met and they were happy, something that the King built upon. The people in the most rural areas, however, were quite lost. As such, the King put in strong efforts to improve education in these areas by starting schools and he ensured the continued existence of these communities. The government, which is comprised of older and wiser children, have helped to ensure that these projects can continue and are always seen as important. Although the people of Thailand – the King’s children – are ready to look after their King in his retirement, he is still going strong and shows no signs of wanting to retire. The King truly is a strong pillar for the people of Thailand. He has seen his country turn into a true democracy after much bickering between the older and wiser children. This bickering, besides bringing some infrastructure into Bangkok, did not bring about much positive change, particularly for the rural areas that the King has always been so interested in.

Hence, he has provided personal funds and time to go to these areas and bring them into development. For the Thai people, the King and his Queen are true parents. They can offer them the comfort they seek knowing that they are looked after. As a result, most homes in Thailand will have images of their beloved royal family. In moments of happiness, they will always look for this image and give thanks. If you visit Thailand, it is very important to understand this important role of the royal family in the everyday lives of Thai people. Being disrespectful of this is absolutely unacceptable. Biography: King Bhumibol of Thailand King Bhumibol of Thailand Michael Jack Elliott In 1946 His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the Chakri dynasty, ascended to the Thai throne.

At his coronation ceremony he promised that both he and Queen Sirikit would “reign with righteousness for the benefits and happiness of the Siamese people,” and according to Richard William Jones, whose biography of Bhumibol was published by Thailand’s National Identity Office, “For over 60 years, as the world’s longest reigning, living monarch, His Majesty has upheld the commitment articulated at his coronation.” Jones goes on to say, “While eschewing a political role himself, King Bhumibol has established himself as both a statesman and a unifying figure in a country often afflicted by political confusion. He has always relied on hard work, rather than wealth, power and position, to gain the respect of others. Willing to play whatever role his subjects felt suitable for him, he turned towards the people who needed him most: the poor, the uneducated and the sick.” Even though King Bhumibol’s reign has been considered the Golden Age of Thailand, there have been critics of the monarchy and its effectiveness in our modern era. In the introduction to his biography of King Bhumibol entitled The King Never Smiles Paul M. Handley states that the king has heavily promoted the throne as the nation’s salvation.

However, asks Handley, has this “really created a sustainable model of the meaningful monarchy in the age of liberal constitutional democracy? Or has his restoration wistfully, and maybe recklessly, taken the monarchy back to a time which can no longer exist, and perhaps never really did?” There have also been suggestions that monarchs in Thailand—whether beneficent or not—may have a popularity advantage because of Lèse Majesté laws, regulations that allow for the arrest of those who criticize or insult a monarch. If these ensure a king’s popularity, however, they also do not preclude the possibility that a king may not choose to make use of them. Despite criticisms of the sort that are sure to attach to most world leaders, the king indeed seems to be very much loved by his people, and Jones believes that he is probably the world’s “hardest working monarch.” King Bhumibol is a sportsman and an artist but doesn’t allow those pursuits to interfere with his civic and royal duties. He is the only reigning monarch to win a medal at an international sporting event—a gold medal for sailing at the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games.

Jones records that he was also chosen as an honorary member of the Academy for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria, in 1964 and was the first Asian ever to be so honored for his music. His composition, “Blue Night,” was featured in a 1950 Broadway production of Peepshow. In these respects it seems obvious that King Bhumibol did not aspire to be a mere figurehead. He has worked hard to improve the quality of life for his people and in 1993 he became “the world’s first reigning monarch to apply for, and be granted, a patent for his own invention” as Jones writes. The invention was a buoy-type, low-speed air jet aerator used to add oxygen to ponds and other still waters. The king has a very practical approach to national development and to improving the environment, and thereby the lives, of his citizens.

Jones notes that the king is not afraid of getting his shoes dirty, “King Bhumibol has trampled over many hills in the isolated areas of Thailand to meet excited subjects waiting to show off their new coffee shrub, peach tree or asparagus.” The April-June 1982 issue of Leaders magazine, a Czechoslovakian publication focusing on business and lifestyle, records that the king, like every Thai monarch, is guided by the Tenfold Moral Principles of the Sovereign. These Buddhist teachings guide the monarch on the correct course to be taken by the leader of the country and by one who sets an example for all men. Jones also writes about this. “The Ten Commandments of Kingship, as His Majesty has called them, advise that a king should help those who need assistance in times of trouble,” says Jones. “He has revitalized the monarchy through his interest in the everyday needs of the populace. By changing his field of study in Switzerland from Engineering to Political Science and Law, he could understand how to rule with justice and help his people in times of need.” To that end, the king has committed himself to helping the poor and underprivileged by looking for long-term solutions to existing problems.

For instance, says Jones, “in 1995, he focused on the effects of flooding on the poorest sections of the outskirts of Bangkok and brought this destruction to the attention of the government.” According to the moral principles of the royal guide, a king should also be a person of “moral integrity, willing to sacrifice his private interests for the sake of the greater public interest; grasping the means to do right at all times.” During His Majesty’s early childhood, the Princess Mother had instilled “humanitarian principles,” teaching him to give his time and money to others. Jones said that, “she would tax the royal children ten percent of their pocket money every week, putting the contribution into a box in the center of their apartment. Then at the end of the month, she would gather all the children together to decide where the money would go: a foundation, a blind school or another charitable activity.” King Bhumibol was trained to work for others, to sacrifice his time and money for the people, and when he ascended to the throne he put this training to work immediately.

As Jones notes, the king turned over a large area of the Chitralada Villa grounds “to researchers and long-term experiments in the 50s, giving land in the Hua Hin District for the Hat Sai Yai Farm in the mid-60s and implementing a land reform program in 1975 in which royal land was donated to landless peasants.” Jones continues to describe some of the other attributes outlined in the Tenfold Principles: a king needs to be faithful to his ideals, sincere in working for the public, honest while being “modest and gentle.” He should be unassertive and pleasant of manner, “refraining from anger or the display of displeasure.” He should not provoke others, but promote “peace and non-violent action.” “Finally” Jones writes, “a leader should be diligent and hard-working in all tasks, leading a simple life full of self-control; forbearing all; and not obstructing the will of the people.” Many would call King Bhumibol a shining example of these traits. He has certainly been recognized throughout the world for his service and leadership.

In 1992 the World Health Organization (WHO) awarded His Majesty its Health-for-All Gold Medal for services ensuring the nation’s good health, which is a tribute to his concern for the well-being of others. Not only had the king established free clinics staffed by royal physicians and military medical personnel, he had also created a Royal Mobile Dental Unit in April 1970, entrusting this mission to his personal dentist Dr. Sri Sirisingha, who had recently retired. The doctor recalled the king’s order: “… I would like you to look after the dental care of the students who live in remote areas. I will take care of all the necessary expenses and will provide you with a mobile dental unit to go out to isolated villages and hamlets.” In June of 1995 the respected periodical Asiaweek praised him at the top of their list of 20 great Asians, saying that Bhumibol “has continued to look out for the good of even the lowest in the kingdom. He influences politics without being political. In doing so, he has made an ancient monarchy into a crucial component of a progressive and prosperous democracy.” His efforts have even been noticed by governments outside of Asia.

While addressing the United States Senate in 1995, Montana Senator Max Baucus had this to say about His Majesty’s hard work: “Today, Thailand is one of the anchors of the modern, prosperous Southeast Asia. Bangkok has become one of the world’s great cities and commercial centers… . Much of this extraordinary success is due to the wise guidance of King Bhumibol. The king has led by example. He has embodied the ten traditional moral principles of Buddhist kings: charity toward the poor; morality; sacrifice of personal interest; honesty; courtesy; self-restraint; tranquility of temperament; non-violence; patience; and impartiality in settling disputes. And he has led by action. Together, King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit have devoted decades to improving the lives of Thai people in rural and impoverished regions. They constantly travel to the country’s 73 provinces, meeting with villagers and staying close to the people. The results are obvious in improved public health, the spread of education to all Thai children and the renewal of traditional crafts and textiles.” Because of his hard work and widely-recognized dedication to the Thai community, King Bhumibol holds a cherished place in the hearts and minds of his people.

In an age when celebrity is fleeting and fame disappears in moments, Bhumibol’s popularity in Thailand remains undiminished. He appears not only to have lived up to his coronation promise to rule with righteousness, but in the eyes of many of his people he also appears to have lived up to his name, Bhumibol, which in Sanskrit means “Strength of the Land.” Selected References Bhumibol—Strength of the Land (2000). Paul M. Handley, The King Never Smiles (2006). Related Content 1000+ images about King Bhumibol of Thailand on Pinterest | Prince, We and Thailand photos The King of Thailand, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX is the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty and the current King of Thailand.

♥♔♥♔LONG LIVE THE KING♥♔♥♔ See More King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work -- Thailand's Monarchy in Perspective by Nicholas Grossman and Dominic Faulder (eds.) [Asian Review of Books] SCREEN PRINT King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life�s Work -- Thailand�s Monarchy in Perspective by Nicholas Grossman and Dominic Faulder (eds.) reviewed by Grant Evans | 13 May 2012 The young prince Bhumibol Adulyadej never expected to become King of Thailand and never expected to become the world�s longest reigning monarch. He ascended the throne in June 1946 following the mysterious death of his brother Ananda. But his coronation would only take place in 1950, when he returned from Switzerland after finishing his studies, and where he had met his young wife Queen Sirikit. The constitutional monarchy was weak, but the young inexperienced king was guided by�a group of old princes and councillors determined to restore the monarchy�s stature, battered after the overthrow of the absolute monarchy in 1932.

Military strongmen had almost eclipsed the monarchy, but in the late 1950s, during the Cold War, they needed the monarchy to shore up their legitimacy. Thus began a long and fateful relationship between the monarchy and the military in Thailand. King Bhumibol proved himself to be an astute politician and he finally gained the upper hand with the military, something that has only begun to slip in the past decade. In-between, he has built the monarchy into a powerful institution and has become deeply revered as King. As his reign draws to a close, however, many people in Thailand feel the monarchy has become too powerful and that it has become an obstacle to democratic reform because of its symbiotic relationship with the armed forces. This sentiment was catalyzed following the election of the popular Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2001 and his overthrow by a military coup in 2006, which many dubbed as a �royalist��coup. Intense and acrimonious debate has continued ever since.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life�s Work�Thailand�s Monarchy in Perspective, is a substantial contribution to that debate by what might be termed �liberal monarchists��in Thailand. A Life�s Work is written by academics, journalists and respected commentators and was overseen by an editorial committee, which inevitably mutes the critical edge of the text. All the same, it is a remarkable feat. Publishing, however, remains hemmed in by the strict Thai law on l�se-majest�,�which now carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison for �Whosoever defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir apparent or the regent�. Paul Handley�s thoroughgoing account of the monarchy, The King Never Smiles�(2006) is banned under this law. A Life�s Work�contains a welcome overview of l�se-majest��in Thailand, making it clear that each strengthening of the law to its now draconian level was undertaken under military, not democratic, rule. As the book points out, Germany at the beginning of last century found itself in an escalating conflict over similar laws and was politically deeply divided by them.

The Kaiser himself stepped in to defuse the issue in 1904 and the law became a non-issue thereon. In 2005, King Bhumibol made it clear that he was unhappy with the law, but his intervention had little effect and unfortunately he may now be too frail to make a decisive intervention. Those who claim that the law exists because of a �social consensus� or because of Thai �culture� are given their say here, but they have never been convincing; not least because the beefed-up laws were imposed by the military (that is not consensus) and aren�t �traditional� at all. If there is one clear lesson for monarchies from the 20th�century it is that they cannot be seen as an obstacle to democracy. If people are given no alternative other than�to choose between democracy and monarchy they will inevitably choose democracy. The defenders of l�se-majest��in its present form are today in danger of forcing this fatal choice between monarchy and democracy.

Everyone acknowledges that the Bhumiphol era is drawing to a close in Thailand and this in itself produces anxiety, especially among conservatives.�A Life�s Work�tries to sum up the era, and it does so without the adulatory tone of previous tomes published on royal landmark occasions. It attempts to deal frankly with the monarchy�s critics, and to speak openly about difficult issues. For example, the death in 1946 of King Ananda, King Bhumibol�s brother and predecessor, is discussed succinctly. That his death remains officially a �mystery� to the palace itself, however, ensures that it will be the stuff of conspiracy theories for years to come, because I can�t see any new information ever coming to light. Even the exhaustively investigated assassination of US President Kennedy in 1963 still produces arcane conspiracy theories. The Crown Property Bureau, one of the most powerful economic organizations in the country comes under special scrutiny, although, as the book says, �it is under no obligation to provide the public with details of its accounts or activities.� Its most important function is to give the monarchy as an institution an independent economic base. The private wealth of the King is separate and it is not clear just how wealthy he is.

The�Crown Property Bureau�is a rather hybrid organization with features of a state company, a charitable organization, and a modern global firm. The Privy Council,�the King�s personal advisory body, also comes under close scrutiny. It was a powerful institution early in King Bhumibol�s reign, faded into the background for a while as the King�s stature grew, and has come into the spotlight again following its alleged involvement in the 2006 coup. It is disingenuous to claim that the Privy Council�does not have authority, although officially this is the case. The important issue in both of these chapters is the power wielded by unrepresentative organizations or figures in modern democracies. It is a problem everywhere, as the scandal involving media tycoon Rupert Murdoch shows. Or closer to home, the enormous economic power of the families gathered around Thaksin Shinawatra that has been translated into political power. The book, unfortunately, only addresses these issues indirectly. The most jarring transition in the book is between the chapter on the �sufficiency economy� and the Crown Property Bureau,�because the latter is so obviously not practicing the former.

The King�s criticisms of industrialization and rampant commercialism are pretty much mainstream environmentalism with a strong Buddhist twist. Many people are surprised that such unorthodox views are held by a king. The formalization of the King�s �theory� has met with mixed success, but it attracted strong criticism after the 2006 coup-makers reached for it in a desperate bid to legitimize their actions, using the �sufficiency economy� as a contrasting ideology to that of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin. The King is both a conservationist, and a conservative of a rather special kind. As A Life�s Work�quotes him, the King �must become a living symbol. He must change with the country but, at the same time, he must keep the spirit of the country.� Such a yearning for continuity in change is widely held, and there is little doubt that the King symbolizes this hope for many Thais. But this book along with all the other books written about King Bhumibol still does not capture his charisma as a king�charisma meaning a unique ability to use cultural symbols in inventive ways, consciously or unconsciously.

The Thai idea of barami, is certainly part of this, but charismatic figures can just as easily be bad guys as good guys, or a bit of both. King Bhumibol bundles together a number of seemingly contradictory images, the King as a jazz musician and an evironmentalist, but also one who has a deep concern for decorum and a leaning towards �guided� democracy. The book, for instance,�doesn�t hesitate to show his impatience with the squabbling inherent in multi-party systems. Whatever it is, his charisma has served him and the monarchy well. This book will be dismissed outright as apologia by anti-monarchists, who�it must be said�have grown rapidly in Thailand since the 2006 military coup. That many saw it as a �royalist� coup illustrates the monarchy�s precarious relationship with democracy. On the other hand the book�s attempt to deal evenly with the history of King Bhumibol�s reign will give little comfort to hardline royalists who wish to turn the clock back.

It will, however, appeal to the large majority of Thais, and others, who as modern, educated citizens want a rational discussion not only about the country�s past, but its future as well. That the book will appear soon in Thai translation is a good sign. Grant Evans is the author of The Last Century of Lao Royalty (2009) and the revised edition of his Short History of Laos will soon appear with Silkworm Books.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work, Nicholas Grossman, Dominic Faulder (eds.) (Editions Didier Millet, October 2011) King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work, Nicholas Grossman, Dominic Faulder (eds.) (Editions Didier Millet, October 2011) You might also like: The Man Who Accused the King of Killing a Fish: The Biography of Narin Phasit of Siam, 1874-1950 by Peter Koret and The Last Siamese: Journeys in War and Peace by Teddy Spha Palasthira The Chinese/Vietnamese Diaspora: Revisiting the boat people, by Yuk Wah Chan (ed.) ARB print editions: Grouping dozens of reviews, essays and excerpts in a single publication allows them to be read together, providing a wider view how books, current thinking and literature relate to one another throughout the region. In this increasingly inter-connected region, context matters�as does your on-going support for this publication and the work it does.

ARB WRITERS Tweets by @BookReviewsAsia You might also like: The Man Who Accused the King of Killing a Fish: The Biography of Narin Phasit of Siam, 1874-1950 by Peter Koret and The Last Siamese: Journeys in War and Peace by Teddy Spha Palasthira The Chinese/Vietnamese Diaspora: Revisiting the boat people, by Yuk Wah Chan (ed.) MORE ARB WRITERS ARB print editions group dozens of reviews, essays and excerpts in a single publication, alloing them to be read together, providing a wider view how books, current thinking and literature relate to one another throughout the region. Context matters�as does your on-going support for this publication and the work it does. 13 May 2012 The young prince Bhumibol Adulyadej never expected to become King of Thailand and never expected to become the world�s longest reigning monarch. He ascended the throne in June 1946 following the mysterious death of his brother Ananda.

But his coronation would only take place in 1950, when he returned from Switzerland after finishing his studies, and where he had met his young wife Queen Sirikit. The constitutional monarchy was weak, but the young inexperienced king was guided by�a group of old princes and councillors determined to restore the monarchy�s stature, battered after the overthrow of the absolute monarchy in 1932. Military strongmen had almost eclipsed the monarchy, but in the late 1950s, during the Cold War, they needed the monarchy to shore up their legitimacy. Thus began a long and fateful relationship between the monarchy and the military in Thailand. King Bhumibol proved himself to be an astute politician and he finally gained the upper hand with the military, something that has only begun to slip in the past decade. In-between, he has built the monarchy into a powerful institution and has become deeply revered as King. As his reign draws to a close, however, many people in Thailand feel the monarchy has become too powerful and that it has become an obstacle to democratic reform because of its symbiotic relationship with the armed forces.

This sentiment was catalyzed following the election of the popular Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2001 and his overthrow by a military coup in 2006, which many dubbed as a �royalist��coup. Intense and acrimonious debate has continued ever since. King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life�s Work�Thailand�s Monarchy in Perspective, is a substantial contribution to that debate by what might be termed �liberal monarchists��in Thailand. A Life�s Work is written by academics, journalists and respected commentators and was overseen by an editorial committee, which inevitably mutes the critical edge of the text. All the same, it is a remarkable feat. Publishing, however, remains hemmed in by the strict Thai law on l�se-majest�,�which now carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison for �Whosoever defames, insults or threatens the king, the queen, the heir apparent or the regent�. Paul Handley�s thoroughgoing account of the monarchy, The King Never Smiles�(2006) is banned under this law.

A Life�s Work�contains a welcome overview of l�se-majest��in Thailand, making it clear that each strengthening of the law to its now draconian level was undertaken under military, not democratic, rule. As the book points out, Germany at the beginning of last century found itself in an escalating conflict over similar laws and was politically deeply divided by them. The Kaiser himself stepped in to defuse the issue in 1904 and the law became a non-issue thereon. In 2005, King Bhumibol made it clear that he was unhappy with the law, but his intervention had little effect and unfortunately he may now be too frail to make a decisive intervention. Those who claim that the law exists because of a �social consensus� or because of Thai �culture� are given their say here, but they have never been convincing; not least because the beefed-up laws were imposed by the military (that is not consensus) and aren�t �traditional� at all. If there is one clear lesson for monarchies from the 20th�century it is that they cannot be seen as an obstacle to democracy.

If people are given no alternative other than�to choose between democracy and monarchy they will inevitably choose democracy. The defenders of l�se-majest��in its present form are today in danger of forcing this fatal choice between monarchy and democracy. Everyone acknowledges that the Bhumiphol era is drawing to a close in Thailand and this in itself produces anxiety, especially among conservatives.�A Life�s Work�tries to sum up the era, and it does so without the adulatory tone of previous tomes published on royal landmark occasions. It attempts to deal frankly with the monarchy�s critics, and to speak openly about difficult issues. For example, the death in 1946 of King Ananda, King Bhumibol�s brother and predecessor, is discussed succinctly. That his death remains officially a �mystery� to the palace itself, however, ensures that it will be the stuff of conspiracy theories for years to come, because I can�t see any new information ever coming to light. Even the exhaustively investigated assassination of US President Kennedy in 1963 still produces arcane conspiracy theories.

The Crown Property Bureau, one of the most powerful economic organizations in the country comes under special scrutiny, although, as the book says, �it is under no obligation to provide the public with details of its accounts or activities.� Its most important function is to give the monarchy as an institution an independent economic base. The private wealth of the King is separate and it is not clear just how wealthy he is. The�Crown Property Bureau�is a rather hybrid organization with features of a state company, a charitable organization, and a modern global firm. The Privy Council,�the King�s personal advisory body, also comes under close scrutiny. It was a powerful institution early in King Bhumibol�s reign, faded into the background for a while as the King�s stature grew, and has come into the spotlight again following its alleged involvement in the 2006 coup. It is disingenuous to claim that the Privy Council�does not have authority, although officially this is the case. The important issue in both of these chapters is the power wielded by unrepresentative organizations or figures in modern democracies. It is a problem everywhere, as the scandal involving media tycoon Rupert Murdoch shows.

Or closer to home, the enormous economic power of the families gathered around Thaksin Shinawatra that has been translated into political power. The book, unfortunately, only addresses these issues indirectly. The most jarring transition in the book is between the chapter on the �sufficiency economy� and the Crown Property Bureau,�because the latter is so obviously not practicing the former. The King�s criticisms of industrialization and rampant commercialism are pretty much mainstream environmentalism with a strong Buddhist twist. Many people are surprised that such unorthodox views are held by a king. The formalization of the King�s �theory� has met with mixed success, but it attracted strong criticism after the 2006 coup-makers reached for it in a desperate bid to legitimize their actions, using the �sufficiency economy� as a contrasting ideology to that of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin. The King is both a conservationist, and a conservative of a rather special kind. As A Life�s Work�quotes him, the King �must become a living symbol.

He must change with the country but, at the same time, he must keep the spirit of the country.� Such a yearning for continuity in change is widely held, and there is little doubt that the King symbolizes this hope for many Thais. But this book along with all the other books written about King Bhumibol still does not capture his charisma as a king�charisma meaning a unique ability to use cultural symbols in inventive ways, consciously or unconsciously. The Thai idea of barami, is certainly part of this, but charismatic figures can just as easily be bad guys as good guys, or a bit of both. King Bhumibol bundles together a number of seemingly contradictory images, the King as a jazz musician and an evironmentalist, but also one who has a deep concern for decorum and a leaning towards �guided� democracy. The book, for instance,�doesn�t hesitate to show his impatience with the squabbling inherent in multi-party systems. Whatever it is, his charisma has served him and the monarchy well. This book will be dismissed outright as apologia by anti-monarchists, who�it must be said�have grown rapidly in Thailand since the 2006 military coup.

That many saw it as a �royalist� coup illustrates the monarchy�s precarious relationship with democracy. On the other hand the book�s attempt to deal evenly with the history of King Bhumibol�s reign will give little comfort to hardline royalists who wish to turn the clock back. It will, however, appeal to the large majority of Thais, and others, who as modern, educated citizens want a rational discussion not only about the country�s past, but its future as well. That the book will appear soon in Thai translation is a good sign. Grant Evans is the author of The Last Century of Lao Royalty (2009) and the revised edition of his Short History of Laos will soon appear with Silkworm Books. King Bhumibol Adulyadej: A Life's Work, Nicholas Grossman, Dominic Faulder (eds.) (Editions Didier Millet, October 2011) Profile: King Bhumibol Adulyadej - BBC News BBC News Image copyright AP King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's longest-reigning monarch.

Still widely-revered in Thailand, the 88-year-old king was in the past seen as a stabilising influence in a country which, during his reign, has seen numerous military coups, 19 constitutions and even more prime ministers. Though he is a constitutional monarch with limited powers, many Thais regard him as semi-divine, and his usually opaque public utterances are minutely dissected for advice to his people. Officially the King is above politics, but King Bhumibol has intervened in times of high tension, and is credited with finding non-violent resolutions to some crises. However critics argue that the King has endorsed military takeovers, and at times failed to speak out against human rights abuses. During the political turmoil of the past decade some supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have accused senior royal officials of taking sides against him. Royal projects King Bhumibol Adulyadej acceded to the throne on 9 June 1946 after his brother, King Ananda Mahidol, died in a still unexplained shooting accident at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his father was studying, and he was later educated in Switzerland.

He returned there to finish his studies before returning to Thailand where he was crowned in May 1950. Image copyright Reuters Image caption King Bhumibol remained silent during Thailand's most recent political crises and coups The status of the monarchy had been in decline since the abolition of absolute monarchy in 1932, and then the abdication of King Prajadhipok, King Bhumibol's uncle, in 1935. In his early years King Bhumibol was overshadowed by a series of powerful military leaders. But with the support of other royal princes and sympathetic generals he rebuilt the monarchy's profile, making a series of tours to outlying provinces, and through numerous royal projects that established his lifelong concern with agricultural development. In 2006, then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan presented him with the United Nations' first Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award. The current public reverence for King Bhumibol appears genuine, but it has also been carefully nurtured by a formidable palace public relations machine, and by harsh "lese-majeste" laws that punish any criticism of the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison.

Interventions King Bhumibol's first public intervention in Thailand's chaotic politics occurred in 1973, when pro-democracy demonstrators in Bangkok were fired on by soldiers and were allowed to shelter in the royal palace, a move which led to the collapse of the administration of the then Prime Minister, General Thanom Kittikachorn. But he failed to prevent the lynching of left-wing students by paramilitary vigilantes three years later, at a time when the monarchy feared the growth of communist sympathies after the end of the Vietnam War. In 1981, King Bhumibol stood up to a group of army officers who had staged a coup against the prime minister, and the king's personal friend, General Prem Tinsulanond. Units loyal to the king then retook Bangkok. Image copyright AP Image caption King Bhumibol acceded to the throne in 1946 after his brother died in a shooting accident In 1992 he again intervened when dozens of demonstrators were shot after protesting against an attempt by a former coup leader, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, to become prime minister.

The king summoned General Suchinda and the protest leader, retired General Chamlong Srimuang, and had TV cameras film him scolding them while they were on their knees. Electoral democracy was restored after than, and a new constitution written. During the crisis that erupted over the leadership of the then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006, the king was frequently asked to intervene but insisted this would be inappropriate. However, his influence was still viewed as pivotal when the election Mr Thaksin had won that April was quickly annulled by the courts. His precise role in the coup that deposed Mr Thaksin that year is unknown, although his advisors say he was not informed about it in advance. Image copyright EPA Image caption The Thai king spent nearly four years in hospital after being admitted for a lung infection in 2009 In recent years the king's name and image continued to be invoked by royalist protest groups trying to unseat pro-Thaksin governments. However the king himself was in poor health, and remained silent. Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha subsequently seized power in another military coup in May 2014.

Three months later, in August, King Bhumibol formally endorsed Gen Prayuth as the new prime minister. Ill-health In his younger days, King Bhumibol enjoyed a wide variety of pursuits, including photography, playing and composing songs for the saxophone, painting and writing. He even received a patent for his development of an artificial rain-making technique. The king has suffered from increasingly frail health in recent years, and has spent much of his time in hospital after being admitted for a lung infection in September 2009. The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej | Foreign Affairs The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej by Paul M. Handley The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej Paul M. Handley Print The king of Thailand was born in Boston while his father was studying at Harvard. He was educated in Switzerland. When his uncle abdicated, his older brother ascended to the throne, but the brother was mysteriously shot dead.

(The unsolved mystery has led to all manner of speculation; the palace maintains that it was an accident.) And so in 1946, Bhumibol, at the age of 18, became the king of Thailand. Handley, a journalist who has spent 20 years in Asia, including 13 in Thailand, has taken on the challenging task of writing a biography of Bhumibol -- challenging in that if he is too critical, his work will be seen as a lese majesty, and if he is not critical enough, he will be accused of shilling for the royal family. His account does not present the glossy picture of Bhumibol that a Thai monarchist would -- indeed, he criticizes the king for not being a more open champion of democratic reforms -- but he argues that Bhumibol has used his royal authority to contain the numerous military strongmen who have dominated Thai politics in the past. Interestingly, as Thai politics become more open, Handley notes, the king may become even more influential, for the Thai people seem to treat him as a sort of living Buddha. Get the best of Foreign Affairs' book reviews delivered to you.

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Question: US-born Adulyadej Bhumibol became king of which Asian country?
Answer: Thailand