Download or read book The King Never Smiles written by Paul M. Handley and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2006-01-01 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej, the only king ever born in the United States, came to the throne of his country in 1946 and is now the world's longest-serving monarch. This book tells the unexpected story of his life and 60-year rule: how a Western-raised boy came to be seen by his people as a living Buddha; and how a king widely seen as beneficent and apolitical could in fact be so deeply political, autocratic, and even brutal. Paul Handley provides an extensively researched, factual account of the king's youth and personal development, ascent to the throne, skilful political maneuverings, and attempt to shape Thailand as a Buddhist kingdom. Blasting apart the widely accepted image of the king as egalitarian and virtuous, Handley convincingly portrays an anti-democratic monarch who, together with allies in big business and the corrupt Thai military, has protected a centuries-old, barely-modified feudal dynasty. When at nineteen Bhumibol assumed the throne after the still-unsolved shooting of his brother, the Thai monarchy had been stripped of power and prestige. Over the ensuing decades, Bhumibol became the paramount political actor in the kingdom, crushing critics while attaining high status among his people. The book details this process and depicts Thailand's unique constitutional monarch in the full light of the facts.

Download or read book The Revolutionary King written by William Stevenson and published by Constable & Robinson. This book was released on 1999 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The truly extraordinary life story of Bhumibol, King of Thailand, who for the last fifty years has been the monarch of one of the most troubled and exotic kingdoms of the modern world has sold over 6,000 copies in hardback and is now available for the first time in an affordable paperback edition. Brought up in the west, Bhumibol acceded to the Thai throne when his brother King Ananda was assassinated, and was immediately confronted, at the age of 19, with a task that was dangerous and almost unimaginably difficult. Not only was his position insecure - he was suspected both domestically and internationally of engineering his brother's murder - but the country he hardly knew was a crucible of conflicting ideas and influences.

Download or read book Rama the Steadfast written by Valmiki and published by Penguin UK. This book was released on 2006-06-01 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Warrior-prince Rama is about to be crowned Young King, when he hears the devastating news that his father, King of Ayodhya, has been tricked into banishing him to the forest. His devoted wife Sita insists on accompanying him in exile, but the evil ten-headed lord Ravana has fallen deeply in love with the beautiful princess and steals her away. Aided by Hanuman, mighty captain of the monkeys, Rama sets out across the world to find her and destroy Ravana in a deadly battle. Rama the Steadfast was composed in the oral tradition in about the fifth century BC and has been retold over the generations ever since. With its fantastical characters ranging from monsters to apes, a very human hero and its profound moral purpose, it is one of the greatest of all Indian tales.

Download or read book Coronation of King Rama X written by and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 99 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Thailand s Buddhist Kingship in the 20th and 21st Centuries written by Marie-Sybille de Vienne and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2022-03-31 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on two decades of fieldwork, including over a hundred interviews with various political and economic actors at different social levels, as well as documentary and media analysis, this volume presents an account of the Buddhist monarchy in Thailand, offering a sociology of elites, an analysis of the economic influence of the Crown and an examination of the magic and ritual dimension of kingship. An exploration of the role and status of the Palace over the last century, whether as a guarantor of democracy, a symbol of stability, a source of power or an object of popular discontent, Thailand’s Buddhist Kingship in the 20th and 21st Centuries will appeal to scholars of sociology and anthropology with interests in material religion, politics and Southeast Asian studies.

Download or read book Monarchy in South East Asia written by Roger Kershaw and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2002-01-04 with total page 580 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This title is the first study to relate the history and contemporary role of the South East Asian monarchy to the politics of the region today. Comprehensive & up-to-date, Monarchy in South East Asia features an historical and political overview of *Cambodia *Thailand *Malaysia *Brunei *Indonesia *Laos *as well as the region in general. The excellent coverage of this fascinating subject should be of interest to general reader as well as to specialists focusing on region.

Download or read book The New World Disorder and the Indian Imperative written by and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Law and Kingship in Thailand During the Reign of King Chulalongkorn written by David Engel and published by U OF M CENTER FOR SOUTH EAST ASIAN STUDI. This book was released on 1975-01-01 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This essay originated in an attempt to bring together the study of law and Thai history in a description of the transformation of Thailand during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as seen from a legal point of view. The resulting work is based for the most part upon those royal enactments from 1873 to 1910 which seemed most crucially to affect the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of the king and the rights of private citizens. [ix]

Download or read book Absolute Dreams written by Stephen Lyon Wakeman Greene and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Worshipping the Great Moderniser written by Irene Stengs and published by NUS Press. This book was released on 2009 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An examination of social imaginary surrounding Thai kingship and Thainess that yield an intriguing amalgam of ideas concerning popular religion, Buddhist kingship, nationalism, and material culture. It explores the contemporary appeal of King Chulalongkorn and considers what this ruler's unprecedented popularity says about Thai society.

Download or read book Coup King Crisis written by Charles F. Keyes and published by . This book was released on 2020-11-23 with total page 379 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The prospects of the inevitable end of the Bhumibol era loomed large over 21st century Thailand. Events have now taken their course, and King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been crowned. The new King is beginning to make his presence felt, but in important ways Thailand is still in an interregnum: a time when the old order is dying but a new one struggles to be born. The prospects of the inevitable end of the Bhumibol era loomed large over 21st century Thailand. Events have now taken their course, and King Maha Vajiralongkorn has been crowned. The new King is beginning to make his presence felt, but in important ways Thailand is still in an interregnum: a time when the old order is dying but a new one struggles to be born. This volume examines the royal transition in Thailand, from the 2014 coup through to the 2017 Constitution and the 2019 election. The royal transition sparked a crisis that pressured important institutions of the nation, from the politicized judiciary to the troubled Sanga or priesthood. The period of waiting has influenced all aspects of Thai governance, from foreign policy to economic management, to human rights and the spread of self-censorship. This volume, which brings together some of the leading writers on Thailand, is the first book-length analysis of this deep transition.

Download or read book Praetorian Kingdom A History of Military Ascendancy in Thailand written by Paul Chambers and published by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. This book was released on 2024-08-28 with total page 720 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This is one of the most comprehensive studies of contemporary Thai politics seen through the careers of Thai military leaders since 1932 up until now. It is of vital importance if one is to understand present-day Thai politics.” —Kullada Kesboonchoo-Mead, Chulalongkorn University (retired), author of The Rise and Decline of Thai Absolutism “Paul Chambers has written, arguably, the most comprehensive and detailed book on the evolution of Thailand’s military power from the post–World War II era to the present day. This lucid book is a compelling read for anyone seeking to gain insight into the transformation of the country into a praetorian kingdom, where the monarchy and the military are the most powerful institutions. His delicate exploration of the various plots, methods, strategies, twists and betrayals provides readers with valuable perspectives on the inner workings and dynamics of Thailand’s praetorian system. One of the book’s strengths lies in its use of declassified and leaked documents from the US administrations, adding a sense of excitement and credibility to the analysis.” —Puangthong Pawakapan, Chulalongkorn University, author of Infiltrating Society: The Thai Military’s Internal Security Affairs “This study on the Thai military does not merely add to the existing critical understandings about its role in the country’s politics, it tackles the subject in a new light and challenges us to reexamine our appraisal of each military regime.” --- Dr. Chaiyan Rajchagool, University of Phayao, author of The Rise and Fall of the Thai Absolute Monarchy “This book does two significant things; first, cultivating large amounts of primary resources, and second, providing a sophisticated interpretation of Thai military ascendancy until 2023. Based on these reasons, the book is important for insightful and untold stories about the Thai military.” —Ukrist Pathmanand, Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand “Monumental in scope and wondrously researched, Praetorian Kingdom is much more than the systematic study of the Thai military that has long been needed. For it is a volume that will compel readers not only to understand crucial episodes in Thailand’s modern history in new ways but also to appreciate the continuities in the country’s military politics as never before.” —Michael Montesano, Associate Senior Fellow, Thailand Studies Programme, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute

Download or read book A Kingdom in Crisis written by Andrew MacGregor Marshall and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-11-15 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Perhaps the best introduction yet to the roots of Thailand's present political impasse. A brilliant book.' Simon Long, The Economist Struggling to emerge from a despotic past, and convulsed by an intractable conflict that will determine its future, Thailand stands at a defining moment in its history. Scores have been killed on the streets of Bangkok. Freedom of speech is routinely denied. Democracy appears increasingly distant. And many Thais fear that the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is expected to unleash even greater instability. Yet in spite of the impact of the crisis, and the extraordinary importance of the royal succession, they have never been comprehensively analysed – until now. Breaking Thailand's draconian lèse majesté law, Andrew MacGregor Marshall is one of the only journalists covering contemporary Thailand to tell the whole story. Marshall provides a comprehensive explanation that for the first time makes sense of the crisis, revealing the unacknowledged succession conflict that has become entangled with the struggle for democracy in Thailand.

Download or read book Valmiki s Ramayana written by Anant pai and published by Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd. This book was released on 1971-04-01 with total page 99 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ramayana is the story of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya. Poet Valmiki describes Rama as a dutiful son, loving brother, devoted husband, fierce warrior and wise statesman, of pleasant manners and speech. Rama is above all an upholder of Dharma so it is no wonder that he is hailed as an avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Download or read book Miracle in the Cave written by Liam Cochrane and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2019-01-08 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Featuring never-before-reported details and exclusive interviews with the boys and their coach, the inspiring true story of how twelve members of the Wild Boar Academy Football Club and their coach survived nine days in a labyrinthine cave in Northern Thailand, and of the incredible men and women who pulled off one of the greatest rescues of all time. For nine days twelve young soccer players and their coach were confined in the dark by rising waters in the caverns of Tham Luang in Chang Rai, Thailand. With no food or drinking water except the condensation found on the cave walls, their survival seemed unlikely. Yet against the odds, a team of determined divers traversed monsoon floodwaters and narrow passageways to find Coach Ek, a stateless orphan devoted to Buddhism, and his young players alive and hopeful. Liam Cochrane spent more than two weeks on the scene, and was stationed outside of the cave entrance in daily contact with divers and other key members of the rescue team, reporting the story for the Australian Broadcast Corporation. In this mesmerizing and inspiring book, he recounts this ultimate race-against-the-clock event. Filled with never-before-reported details based on exclusive access to both the rescue team, Coach Ek, and members of the soccer team and their families, Miracle in the Cave chronicles the Wild Boars’ ordeal in the cave, and the rescue plan that unfolded outside—including the contentious political negotiations, the early misadventure that halted the operation for crucial hours, and the death of Thai Navy SEAL diver Saman Kunan. Going deep inside the area between the Thai and Myanmar border, better known for methamphetamines and illegal wildlife trade, Cochrane guides us through every aspect of the adventure-turned-nightmare-turned miracle: the team’s agonizing wait in the darkness; the rescuers’ battle against the forces of nature; the work of international experts who pooled their skills to help. Chochrane evokes the rollercoaster of emotions every step of the way—the terror, optimism, sadness, and joy of this indelible experience. Filled with a spirit of true grit, Miracle in the Cave is a courageous tale of perseverance and a celebration of an inspiring moment when the world came together in hope.

Download or read book The English Governess at the Siamese Court written by Anna Leonowens and published by Applewood Books. This book was released on 2009-08-19 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Such was Chow Phya Sri Sury Wongse when I was first presented to him: a natural king among the dusky forms that surrounded him, the actual ruler of that semi- barbarous realm, and the prime contriver of its arbitrary policy. Black, but comely, robust, and vigorous, neck short and thick, nose large and nostrils wide, eyes inquisitive and penetrating, his was the massive brain proper to an intellect deliberate and systematic. Well found in the best idioms of his native tongue, he expressed strong, discriminative thoughts in words at once accurate and abundant. His only vanity was his English, with which he so interlarded his native speech, as often to impart the effect of levity to ideas that, in themselves, were grave, judicious, and impressive.

Download or read book The Secret of the Rosary written by Saint Louis de Montfort and published by Aeterna Press. This book was released on 2015-02-20 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: BIOGRAPHERS have already told us much about St. Louis De Montfort and the Rosary; now, with this first English edition of THE SECRET OF THE ROSARY, we can listen to Montfort speaking for himself. Drawing upon his own experience as well as upon the experience of others, he endeavors to bring home to the reader, “in a simple and straightforward manner,” as he himself tells us, the authentic message of the Rosary; namely, that it is a veritable school of Christian life. He sees it as including essentially the meditation of the mysteries of the life, death and glory of Jesus and Mary, with a view not only to honoring but especially imitating their virtues as held up to our consideration in each mystery. Aeterna Press