by Carolyn Schachtel ’18, Staff Writer

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand assumed the throne at the age of 18, following the end of World War II and the sudden death of his brother, King Anada Mahidol. With little experience and very few guidelines on how to lead Thailand’s monarchical government, King Adulyadej overcame all odds and developed what would become the longest and one of the most transformative monarchies in Thai history.  

Thailand has changed dramatically over the 70-year course of the King’s reign. He facilitated the country’s transformation from the kingdom of Siam to the influential world power that it is today. When King Bhumibol came to power in 1946, the Thai economy was strictly agrarian-based. However, throughout his monarchy, industrialism and tourism replaced this dependence on agriculture, increasing wealth and prosperity across the nation. Additionally, the King used his influence to keep the country peaceful and stabilized. He attempted to remain distanced from partisan politics throughout his rule, only intervening when he felt it was truly necessary.

Many people in the NA community recognize King Bhumibol’s success as a monarch, mostly due to the press coverage surrounding his legacy in the aftermath of his death. When asked about his knowledge regarding the king, Mr. Hawk responded, “Everything I know about him is coming from what I read about him in the New Yorker, because Thailand has never loomed large in my imagination. [The New Yorker] essentially said that he was a stabilizing positive feature early in his career, and he worked aggressively on social development projects that helped his country tremendously.” Similarly, Amanda Cohen ‘18 commented, “I don’t know much about him, but I’ve heard only positive things about his time as King.”

King Bhumibol contributed much more to his nation than just political, social, and economic policies. In Thailand, he was a symbol of unity and stability, and he was beloved by the majority of the population. As Julia Tarnow ‘17 commented, “The aftermath of the King’s death is unlike anything I have read about before. The effect that it has had on the people of Thailand is crazy.”

Jenny Tarin, a Thai-American 11th grader living in Bangkok, shared how the King’s death affected her. As she explained, “He wasn’t just a king: he was the father figure to the Thai people. Every street, every shop, and every restaurant had his portrait hanging high. Every morning, every afternoon and before every movie in the cinema his anthem would play and everyone would stop what they were doing and stand. The Thai population is in a year-long mourn: within this time period, all celebrations and events within my school have been canceled without a single complaint, with nothing but complete empathy and respect.” For most of the country, the Bhumibol monarchy was all they knew: having reigned since 1946, he was, at the time of his death, the world’s longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. Clearly, the King’s death has affected many on a deeply personal level.

King Bhumibol’s son, 64-year-old Prince Vajiralongkorn, will most likely take the crown after the loss of the king is properly mourned. However, the crown prince has asked for a delay, stating that he needs “time to prepare before being proclaimed as the new king”. Unlike his father, the prince is largely unpopular in Thailand and has expressed little interest in political affairs. However, King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be long remembered by the Thai people, and his legacy will continue to live on through the growth and success of his country.