Pattaya will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Princess Prem (Ngarmchit) Purachatra with a week-long celebration beginning Sunday June 14 at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh presided over planning for the celebration, which ties in with UNESCO’s celebration of the centennial anniversary, at a May 22 meeting. He said HRH Princess Soamsawalee has agreed to serve as honorary president of the event, which begins at 5 p.m.
Similar celebrations are being planned nationwide.
Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai and Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome will open the commemoration with speeches, followed by dance performances, art exhibitions and the recitation of the princess’s biography.
The historical exhibition will be on display on the mall’s sixth floor until June 20. After that, it will move to the education centers at each of the Pattaya public schools, spending a week at each institution.
Born June 7th, 1915, Princess Prem (Ngarmchit) Purachatra was a granddaughter-in-law of King Chulalongkorn, the grandfather of HM the King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great.
Princess Prem had a notable impact on Thailand, particularly in the communication and culture sectors, as well as contributing to overall societal well-being. Her work to establish a leading English-language newspaper was an important development in modern journalism in Thailand.
With a patriotic heart for religion and the monarchy, Princess Prem (Ngarmchit) together with her husband HH Prince Prem Purachatra launched a weekly English newspaper ‘Standard’ to promote the understanding of Thailand among the international community. The newspaper was to introduce Thailand and Thai culture to foreigners, as well as to accurately inform them of domestic events and updates. Princess Prem (Ngarmchit) was the newspaper’s editor.
On the regional and global stage, she was an outstanding advocate for the role of women, serving as president of the International Council of Women during 1976-1979 (the first and only Thai woman, and the second Asian ever elected to the position).
Some of the institutions that she founded, such as the Asian Handicraft Promotion and Development Association, continue to be partners in delivering UNESCO’s work to this day, which demonstrates their relevance and importance.
It would be advantageous for UNESCO to associate with the anniversary and to endorse a positive female role model who has made positive contributions to her country in general, and to some extent to the region.
The princess passed away in 1983.
