The entire Pattaya Mail
staff joins the Kingdom of Thailand in humbly wishing HRH Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn a long, healthy and happy life on this occasion of the
Royal Anniversary of Her Birth. (Photo courtesy Bureau of the Royal
Household)
The Kingdom of Thailand on April 2 celebrates the
most auspicious occasion of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn’s 57th birthday. We at the Pattaya Mail join in with
our most humble wishes for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for a
long, healthy and happy life.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
was born on April 2, 1955, the third child of Their Majesties the King
and Queen of Thailand.
HRH the Princess studied from kindergarten to high
school at Chitralada School in Bangkok. She ranked first in the National
School Examinations in the primary level (grade 7) in 1967 and in upper
secondary level (grade 12) in 1972.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn pushes the button to officially open the new multi-purpose
building at Pattaya Redemptorist Vocational School on February 15, 2007.
HRH the Princess then laid the foundation stone for the HRH Princess
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Building at the Pattaya Redemptorist School for
the Blind, which is under the patronage of Her Royal Highness. (Photo
courtesy Bureau of the Royal Household)
Ranked fourth in the National University Entrance
Examination, HRH the Princess enrolled in the Faculty of Arts,
Chulalongkorn University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree,
first class honor, and a gold medal in History in 1976.
She continued her studies in two graduate programs
concurrently, obtaining an M.A. in Oriental Epigraphy (Sanskrit and
Cambodian) from Silpakorn University in 1978, and an M.A. in Pali and
Sanskrit from Chulalongkorn University in 1980. She enrolled in a
doctoral program at Srinakharinwirot University (former College of
Education) in 1981, and was awarded a doctoral degree in Developmental
Education in 1987.
The principle of using education as a means for
community and social development, which HRH the Princess acquired during
her doctoral studies along with her former experiences in the field, has
provided her with a solid base for her subsequent involvement in
community development activities.
In addition to her formal degree programs, HRH the
Princess has attended several training courses and workshops to enhance
her knowledge and skills in effective integrated development. These
subjects include computer, cartography, meteorology, survey and
photogrammetry, remote sensing and geographic information system and
nutrition.
HRH the Princess holds honorary degrees in Geography,
Chinese Studies of Humane Letters, Agriculture, Botany, Chinese,
Pharmacy, Information Technology, Rural Technology, Public Health,
Humane Letters, Regional Development Strategies, Environmental Science,
Veterinary Medicine, Physics, and Laws.
HRH the Princess has acquired first-hand experiences
in working on development projects initiated by Their Majesties the King
and Queen. These projects involve a number of diversified fields
including health and hygiene, education, water resource development,
agriculture and cottage industry by regularly accompanying Their
Majesties on visits to remote areas since the age of sixteen.
From these experiences, HRH the Princess has
developed special interests in agricultural extension to improve school
children’s nutritional conditions; supports education from pre-school to
tertiary levels; and mother and child care. She has also concentrated on
helping the handicapped, especially in using information technology (IT)
to develop independent living and learning skills.
HRH the Princess runs several philanthropic
organizations and foundations. She has been Executive Vice President of
the Thai Red Cross Society since 1977; Executive Chairman of the
Chaipattana Foundation (in charge of His Majesty’s development and
environmental preservation projects), Ananda Mahidol Foundation (to
promote higher education), the King Rama II Foundation (to conserve and
promote Thai Culture); President of the Sai Jai Thai Foundation (to
support disabled veterans), Prince Mahidol Award Foundation (to award
prizes annually to members of the international community for
outstanding performances in the fields of medicine and public health);
and Adviser of the Committee of Thai Junior Encyclopedia Project by
Royal Command of H.M. the King.
HRH the Princess began her teaching career in 1979
when she started teaching the General Education Program at Chulalongkorn
University. A year later, she joined the Department of Law and Social
Sciences, in the Academic Division of Chulachomklao Royal Military
Academy. Presently she is Director of the Department of History, and has
played an active part in revising its curriculum. She also supervises
the Thai Music Club at the Academy. Occasionally HRH the Princess gives
special lectures at several other institutions and regularly attends
academic conferences and seminars both in and outside the country.
In addition, HRH the Princess represents Their
Majesties in various royal functions. She also presides over ceremonies
as well as other social and charity functions all through the year. In
1991, HRH the Princess was awarded the Magsaysay Award for Public
Service.
HRH the Princess likes to travel around the Kingdom
and abroad to obtain knowledge of physical geography and peoples’ varied
lifestyles. One of her favorite pastimes is writing articles, poetry and
short stories. Proceeds from her written accounts of her overseas
travels are the main source of income for the Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn Foundation which was set up in 1979 to support needy students
in schools, vocational colleges and universities.
In March 2005, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
received the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador title for the “Empowerment of
Minority Children through Education and through the Preservation of
Their Intangible Cultural Heritage” from UNESCO Director-General
Koichiro Matsuura.
HRH the Princess loves Thai literature and studies
literature of other countries. She enjoys playing classical Thai
instruments and practicing Thai classical dancing. She also paints and
is keen on sports, including jogging, swimming, biking and trekking -
which gives her an opportunity to learn about plants, trees and
geographical features of the areas.
In addition to her knowledge of Pali, Sanskrit and
Cambodian, HRH the Princess is communicative in both English and French
and has been learning Chinese, German and Latin.
On March 7, 2010, HRH the Princess was selected by
Chinese people to receive the ‘Chinese Connection - Top Ten
International Friends of China’ Award. Chinese people on line voted HRH
the Princess as one of the ten best international friends of China. The
survey was arranged by the state-run CRI. HRH the Princess is the only
figure in the Southeast Asian region to receive such an award and is
among the few living awardees. She has visited China 28 times since 1981
and she has been playing a vital role in fostering relationships between
Thailand and China.
On June 27, 2010, as part of the opening of the 60th
Meeting of Nobel Laureates, the Foundation Lindau Nobel Prizewinners
Meetings at Lake Constance admitted three new members into its Honorary
Senate, which brings together personalities from science, business and
politics and advises the Foundation Board. The Foundation, whose
Founders Assembly includes 232 Nobel Laureates, honored Her Royal
Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Dr. Christof Bosch and Prof.
Dr. Annette Schavan for their commitment to promoting science and
research, as well as dialogue between the scientific community and
society.
On July 15, 2010, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn was presented with the “Fulbright Caring Leader Across
Cultures Award” by Ms. Alina Ramonowski, Deputy Assistant Secretary,
U.S. Department of State, in honor of Her Royal Highness’ dedication to
the peoples of different cultures, serving as an excellent example to
the world community at large. The presentation was held during the
“International Symposium on Caring Leaders across Cultures” in
celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Fulbright Program in
Thailand, presided over by Her Royal Highness and co-hosted by the Thai
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, and the
Thailand-United States Educational Foundation (TUSEF/ Fulbright
Thailand), at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
