My favorite Thai writer is Khamsing Srinawk. Here I give a brief introduction to his life and work
Khamsing Srinawk – photo Wikipedia – 2T (Jitrlada Lojanatorn) –
In recent years, 14 short stories by Khamsing Srinawk have appeared on this beautiful Thailand blog, partly translated by Erik Kuijpers and partly by the undersigned. Most of these stories were published between 1958 and 1973, a time of great change in Thai society, with two stories written in 1981 and 1996.
Brief Biography of Khamsing Srinawk
Khamsing was born in 1930, the sixth of seven children of Isan farmers, in Bua Yai, not far from Khorat. After training there, he went to Bangkok where he studied journalism at Chulalongkorn University and economics at Thammasaat University, mostly in evening studies. Due to a lack of income, he lived in a Buddhist temple and worked part-time as a journalist. From 1953 to 1956 he got a job as a forest ranger in Northern Thailand.
In addition to his writing life, he led an active socio-political life, for example he was vice-chairman of the Socialist Party of Thailand. The chairman of this party, Boonsanong Punyadyana, was assassinated on February 28, 1976. Right-wing extremist groups continuously attacked his farm in Bua Yai where many more left-wing groups and young writers gathered. In 1976 he fled to the jungle where he joined the communist guerrillas, but after a falling out with the Communist Party of Thailand in 1977 he began a nomadic life abroad. He first stayed in Laos and then spent quite some time as a refugee in Sweden. He was helped by the Swedish ambassador in Laos. His wife Prawee had previously obtained asylum there with their three children (1 to 4 years old).
The four years in Sweden were very difficult for Khamsing. He didn't like the weather or the food. He never learned the language, unlike his wife who also looked for and found work. The children attended Swedish schools and, to their father's disgust, behaved more Swedish than Thai.
They all returned to Thailand in 1981, aided by a general amnesty. In May 2011, he, along with 358 others, signed the 'Thai Writers Manifesto' to revise Article 112 of the Criminal Code (the lese majeste article), now a hot topic in Thai politics again.
His work
Khamsing Srinawk wrote between 1956 and 1996, under the pseudonym Law Khamhoom ('The Lao with the Fragrant Words'), a number of short stories entitled ฟ้าบ่กั้น 'Faa Bo Kan (tones: high, low, falling), Isan for : 'Heaven has no boundaries' and published in English translation as 'Khamsing Srinawk, The Politician and other stories', Silkworm Books, 2001. He dedicated the book to 'my mother who could not read'. It was translated into eight other languages.
These often satirical and humorous stories, virtually his only work, have become famous. They were first published in magazines in the relatively free period of 1956-1958, then suppressed, but rediscovered and published in the period 1973 to 1976. During those liberal years (part of) this work was included in the school curriculum to to emphasize 'the ordinary person' in Thai society. Previously, Thai literature spoke almost exclusively about the elite.
After the horrific massacre at Thammasaat University (October 6, 1976, a day etched in the memories of many older Thais), the book was banned. But it was reinstated as part of the national curriculum in the XNUMXs, at the same time that Khamsing also received, with royal support, the title of 'National Artist of Thailand in Literature'.
A socially committed man, who gave voice and face to the miserable situation of Thai farmers and advocated social justice in Thai society. Although not a prolific author, Khamsing is credited with starting a shift in Thai literary style and subject matter. While the majority of Thai literature before 1950 was dominated by royal and elite authors writing for the kingdom's nobility, Khamsing, in a departure from typical Thai literary subjects, created the image of the Thai peasant as hero. By giving a voice to the common peasant, often in the common vernacular, Khamsing's writings, especially Fa Bo Kan, worked to democratize Thai literature. In his works, Khamsing has depicted the plight of the Thai farmer and thus sought social justice and improvement of Thai society in general. His writings are seen as a leading example of the 'life as art' movement advocated by Jit Phumisak. His work has been listed as one of the best in the era of the Thai short story.
His portrait of the Thai farmer in his stories is perhaps still partly valid, except that fortunately the Thai farmer has abandoned his submissive attitude, although this has not yet dawned on everyone. I enjoyed his stories, they are very worthwhile.
Source ao:
Teddy Spha Palasthira, The Last Siamese, Journeys in War and Peace, 2013
Khamsing Srinawk, The Politician & Other Stories, Silkworm Books, 2001
All Kamsing's short stories on Thailandblog:
The Carabao with Red Horns – a short story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thailand blog
Congratulations grandfather! – a short story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thailand blog
Sunglasses, a short story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thai blog
Beastly Behavior, A Short Story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thai blog
The Tenant Farmer and the White Man, a short story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thai blog
The Owners of Paradise, a short story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thai blog
The Quack, A Short Story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thai blog
Breeding animals:
'The Golden-Legged Frog' and 'Breeding Animals', two short stories (part 2) (thailandblog.nl)
The Golden-legged Frog:
'The Golden-Legged Frog' and 'Breeding Animals', two short stories (part 1) – Thailandblog.nl
The Shelf, a short story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thai blog
The Gods in Thai Paradise – Short Story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thailand blog
Water buffalo pie – A short story by Khamsing Srinawk (1960) | Thailand blog
'I lost my teeth' – short story by Khamsing Srinawk | Thailand blog
A new story from Khamsing | Thai blog
About this blogger
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Born in 1944 in Delfzijl as the son of a simple shopkeeper. Studied in Groningen and Curacao. Worked as a doctor in Tanzania for three years, then as a general practitioner in Vlaardingen. A few years before my retirement I married a Thai lady, we had a son who speaks three languages well.
Lived in Thailand for almost 20 years, first in Chiang Kham (Phayao province) then in Chiang Mai where I liked to bother all kinds of Thai with all kinds of questions. Followed Thai extracurricular education after which a diploma of primary school and three years of secondary school. Did a lot of volunteer work. Interested in the Thai language, history and culture. Have been living in the Netherlands for 5 years now together with my son and often with his Thai girlfriend.
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