Star literateur Khun Nilawan passes away at 101
Khun Nilawan Pintong, one of the country’s talents in the field of literature and former editor of the legendary Satree Sarn magazine, died yesterday. She was 101.
Born on Dec 6, 1915, Khun Nilawan was a veteran editor and writer, serving as the chairwoman of PEN International ThailandCentre Under the Royal Patronage of HM the King.
She also won a Magsaysay award for public services in 1962 and was bestowed the title of “Khun”, an equivalence of “Khunying” for an unmarried woman.
Khun Nilawan graduated from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Arts in 1934. She was a teacher for a year before joining Khrom Kosanakan, which later became the Department of Public Relations.
After nine years as a state official, she quit and turned to editing. In 1948 she became the editor of Satree Sarn magazine. A year later she also served as the editor of two other magazines, Darun Sarn, a magazine for youngsters, and Sapda Sarn, a weekly news publication.
Satree Sarn won a prestigious award from Chulalongkorn University for its promotion of the Thai language in 1987 before it was closed in 1996.
Khun Nilawan also worked for the Foundation of Siamese Association of University Women under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, where she formed a readers’ club to discuss and select books for self-help and development.
Her funeral rites, which are royally sponsored by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, will be held at Wat Debsirindrawas from today onward.