Bangkok Post

Memories and mementos

Thais are finding solace in precious items that remind them of the late King Bhumibol and his reign

- SAKCHAI LALIT AP

As the royal crematoriu­m for King Bhumibol Adulyadej arrives, memories of him and his reign live in mementos dear to many Thais. The king’s image is depicted on coins, amulets, statues and pins, and his works on Thailand’s behalf are immortalis­ed in art showing him visiting rural areas and working on developmen­t projects he supported. Millions of mourners have prostrated themselves before King Bhumibol’s body, which has lain in state at a Bangkok palace for a year. We asked Thais about their thoughts on King Bhumibol and what mementos they’ve kept to honour the monarch hailed as “Father”. Here are their responses:

SOMBOON CHAISITTIP­ORN Insurance agent, 48

Somboon keeps a heavy bronze statue of Bhumibol in his home. He spoke about the relationsh­ip between the king and his mother, Princess Srinagarin­ra, before she died in 1995.

“I, as one of father’s children, want to follow his footsteps by rememberin­g the loyalty he had for his mother. His Majesty would eat with his mother every day. He would hug and kiss her and pay her visits when she became sick. His loyalty makes me feel like I want to follow his path. From now on, we are almost at a time where he will be sent off to heaven. I am ready to volunteer for His Majesty’s event. I want all Thais to have love and harmony, as father intended for us.’’

NARUEMON TANANYAPIS­UT Businesswo­man, 47

Naruemon keeps a collection of commemorat­ive coins featuring Bhumibol’s image to remind her of the advice and life lessons the king offered during his public speeches.

“What about King Rama IX impressed me? Nothing more than his teachings that taught us moral and worldly values — sufficienc­y and loyalty. They are simple things that we can always abide by.’’

TASSANEE KEENGUEN Flight attendant, 47

Tassanee has over a dozen pins with Bhumibol’s image and brings at least one of them along with her on flights abroad to remind her of home.

“My job takes me to many different countries. Once, I went to a country that also has a king. I walked through its shops and homes and I did not see a single picture of their king in these places. At that time, I felt that our king is truly in our hearts, and in our homes. Every time I come back [to Thailand], no matter where I go — if it’s Bangkok or other provinces — we would see pictures of His Majesty in everybody’s homes.’’

LADDA KLAISANSOM Hopkeeper, 73

Thailand is predominan­tly Buddhist and the faithful often wear Buddhist amulets for protection. Ladda has a collection of amulets with Bhumibol’s image. She wears a necklace bearing one of the king’s amulets daily, to keep the king she loves closest to her heart.

“I’m proud to have been born as His Majesty’s servant. I’ve believed in him since I was a young child, I’m not just showing it now. I can’t find words for it, it suffocates my heart.’’

“As for my actions, I will follow His Majesty’s teachings, but I can’t do everything. I really can’t, but I can do certain things. I will conduct myself to be in line with what he taught and I will tell my children and grandchild­ren to also do the same if they can.’’

SAKDA SAJJAMITR Textile manufactur­er, 68

Sakda, who is a Sikh of Indian descent, has a large collection of government-issued stamps that feature Bhumibol. He feels loyal to the late king for his indiscrimi­nation toward Thailand’s minority religions.

“I’m very lucky to have been born in the reign of King Rama IX and I want to thank my ancestors for choosing to live in Thailand, where we have always lived happily because of His Majesty’s graciousne­ss. His Majesty has always looked after every religion in Thailand. He believed that the Thai population were his children, no matter what religious beliefs they held.”

METHAS LIEMSOMBAT University student, 21

Methas keeps a tiny bag of rice he received as a souvenir from the royal palace when he went to pay his respects at Bhumibol’s coffin. He keeps the palm-sized bag — meant to symbolise Bhumibol’s philosophy of sustainabi­lity — on a miniature pedestal that is protected by a glass cover.

Methas recalled a day that, to him, proved Bhumibol’s divinity, when he waited on a roadside to catch a glimpse of the king.

“That day the sun was very hot and I was sitting next to a grandma. I thought to myself, ‘I’m a teenager wearing long jeans and the road is already this hot’, I turned to look at the grandma. She was 80 and she said, ‘Don’t think that it’s hot, son, think that it’s cold. His Majesty has done more than us, he’s gone through much more than us’.”

“The image that popped into my head was the picture of His Majesty sitting up against a car tyre. I thought to myself, ‘He is the king, why did he have to sit like that? How did he endure so much for us? And why can’t we be tough for him?’ And then, someone signalled that the king is coming. And then the sun, which was so hot, had a cloud from nowhere come over it.”

“Then the grandma said, ‘You see, son? Angels walk the earth’. It made such an impression, it was the first and only time in my life that I got to witness His Majesty’s graciousne­ss.”

I’M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE REIGN OF KING RAMA IX

 ??  ?? A visitor looks at a photo exhibition of King Bhumibol in Bangkok.
A visitor looks at a photo exhibition of King Bhumibol in Bangkok.
 ??  ?? Sakda Sajjamitr.
Sakda Sajjamitr.
 ??  ?? Tassanee Keenguen.
Tassanee Keenguen.
 ??  ?? A small bag of rice that student Methas Liemsombat, 21, received as a souvenir from the royal palace.
A small bag of rice that student Methas Liemsombat, 21, received as a souvenir from the royal palace.
 ??  ?? A collection of commemorat­ive coins.
A collection of commemorat­ive coins.
 ??  ?? An amulet bearing the image of King Bhumibol.
An amulet bearing the image of King Bhumibol.

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