The Gods in Thai Paradise – Short Story by Khamsing Srinawk
Preface
This short story will have been written in the period around 1975 after the military dictatorship came to an end in October 1973 and a democracy was experimented with. The American troops left Thailand after the fall of Saigon in April 1975 when the Thai government, not entirely without resistance, asked the Americans to leave Thailand in May 1975, a process which was completed in 1976. Thailand first established relations with Mao's China at that time. Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj traveled to Beijing for this.
This story is an ironic and sometimes sarcastic view of all kinds of rulers in Thailand as befits this writer.
Paradise
And so it is. Paradise still exists in Thailand. At least that's the view of leading experts who took part in a panel discussion on Thailand's economic problems at Chulalongkorn University earlier this month.
The reason that so many things in society are a bit uncertain and of not the best quality, the honored panelists blamed our Thai gods. Listening to them, I was hesitant to completely agree with them. When I recalled the colorless faces of my friends from different backgrounds, whom I saw almost daily, I had to conclude that Paradise was already lost. Although I'm not a staunch believer, these experts seemed more impressive than house lizards and geckos.
As I examine the lives of my friends and others, I begin to agree with the opinions of these experts, especially where they refer to the gods. I must admit that I witnessed several events that support these kinds of ideas.
The neighbour
One of these was the fate of a former neighbor that almost turned him into a brothel owner. But a god saved him in the nick of time.
It seems that another god has been added to the existing Thai stock.
This is the story. My neighbor was originally a schoolteacher. For twenty years he diligently worked in that profession. His standing was as might be expected for a common official of his age. He had his own house. As the number of children increased, his house became overcrowded and crowded, and his expenses increased to the point that he struggled to make ends meet. So he started looking for a job. He decided to resign as a civil servant so that he could receive his pension. He had calculated that the amount should be sufficient to build a new and larger house. He then applied for a job at a US Army base.
His income went up considerably. At the same time, the town where he lived grew and prospered. It exploded in vibrancy and color. But the cost of living also increased considerably, so that the dreamed Paradise gradually disappeared into the distance. Fortunately, he could rely on his new friends (who were also masters or gods in fact) and that helped. He split his house and rented a room to one of his new friends.
Brothel owner
Over time, however, my old neighbor began to feel a little uncomfortable with the way his lodger spent his free time while his children were just entering puberty. He could evict his new friend, but on the other hand, he could also use the rent. Finally he decided to return to their old home with his wife and children, where the new home became a meeting place for the descendants of the god Mars and the cherubs from the neighboring villages. My humble friend now had the honor of owning a carnal Paradise.
Everything went well until the brave American troops withdrew. My friend's Paradise collapsed. I saw him occasionally during that time. When I mentioned the changing circumstances he looked serious. But to convince himself (and me), a trace of a smile appeared on his face as he tried to explain to me that the situation was not yet critical. A large part of the soldiers had left, but there were also many replacements. "An ally doesn't abandon his friends, does he?" he assured in a firm voice. The big house still had residents, then this one, then that one. The girls just stayed there to look after his business interests. Only when all bases had been completely closed did the happiness and satisfaction completely disappear from his face. In this state of disorder and panic it was not quite clear to what part of the Dharma he took refuge as his Paradise crumbled before his very eyes.
Many months later we saw each other again. He was now driving a taxi with a black and illegal license plate. He came over and we had a conversation about his relapse.
“The youngest had to leave school. The eldest finished vocational education but she still can't find a job and she acts like she hates her home," he said.
I asked him about the house he was renting out. He shook his head. 'It's closed. I didn't do it myself but the authorities. I could keep it open if I would regularly give them some money, but I really didn't like that. That's why I'm trying this. He meant his taxi. 'But there's little money left after all the payments for the queue, the garage, the toll and then also the tips to the gods. I've applied for another civil service job!'
The New Gods
It's true what the experts said. There are indeed gods in Thai society.
The last time I saw my friend, he had changed so much—for the better, that is. His thin face had plumped up and was glowing with health. His voice was strong with an undertone of authority. A reborn man.
The change was quite a surprise, but if you dig a little deeper you will understand that power and authority in this society have mysterious sources.
My friend said that his search for a new government job brought him into contact with an important person who can also be considered a kind of god, a member of parliament from the 'We Can!' side. Those who believe in this will say that it must have been his favorable zodiac sign because at the time he went to see the MP an election campaign was just starting.
Because of his teaching experience, my friend was eloquent. It was this talent that perhaps gave the Venerable Representative the idea of using him for the forthcoming campaign. His request to return to government service was immediately accepted.
Every time I think about my friend's life, the words of a writer come to my mind: 'Life is a journey'. I'm not sure if my friend knew these words, but if you see how he behaved, it seems so. Since that first day he took up his new duties of taking files from the MP's home to his department, he's done nothing but travel. The distances he traveled between his office and that of the MP, with assignments for departments, for schools and universities (to admit certain students), covered half a continent. The more he walked back and forth the more he became the center of power and the more he gained influence.
As the MP's husband, he is now respected and feared in and outside the district. If human society were turned into an animal world, he would be the crow in a herd of cattle pecking the maggots from the wounds on the backs of the cows. But because this is the human world, he now has the status of a superman. For now I call him a man who casts a shadow that is not his own.
About the writer
Khamsing Srinawk wrote a number of short stories between 1958 and 1996, under the pseudonym Law Khamhoom, entitled ฟ้าบ่กั้น 'Fàa bò kân, Isan for: 'Heaven knows no bounds' and published in English translation as 'Khamsing Srinawk, The Politician and other stories', Silkworm Books, 2001. He dedicated the book to 'my mother who couldn't read'. It was published in a number of other languages.
These stories, virtually his only work, have become famous. During the liberal years between 1973 and 1976 (part of) this work was included in the school curriculum to emphasize 'the common man' in Thai society. After the horrific massacre at Thammasaat University (October 6, 1976, a day etched in the memory of many elderly Thais), the book was banned but reintroduced as part of the national curriculum in the XNUMXs, at the same time that Khamsing also, with royal support, received the title of 'Thailand's National Artist in Literature'.
Khamsing was born in 1930 in Boea Yai, not far from Khorat, the son of Isan farmers. In addition to his writing career, he led an active political and social life, for example he was vice-chairman of the Socialist Party of Thailand. (The chairman of this party was assassinated in 1975, along with so many others, and the party became defunct). In 1976 he fled to the jungle where he joined the communist guerillas but after a falling out with the Communist Party of Thailand in 1977 he started a wandering life abroad with a longer time as a refugee in Sweden, together with his wife. He returned to Thailand in 1981, aided by a general amnesty. In May 2011, he signed, with 358 others, the 'Thai Writers Manifesto' revising Article 112 of the Penal Code (the lese-majeste article). A socially committed man, who gave voice and face to the plight of the Thai farmers and pleaded for social justice in Thai society. His portrayal of the Thai farmer in his stories may still be partly valid, except that the Thai farmer has fortunately abandoned his submissive attitude, although this has not yet reached everyone. I enjoyed his stories, they are very worthwhile.
See further for his biography and work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khamsing_Srinawk
Five other stories by him are here: https://www.thailandblog.nl/?s=khamsing&x=18&y=9
Nice article!