37 Facts About Pridi Banomyong

Pridi Banomyong led Thailand while serving in multiple ministerial posts, as regent, and as prime minister.

Pridi Banomyong led the civilian wing of Khana Ratsadon, and helped found the University of Moral and Political Sciences and the Bank of Thailand.

Pridi Banomyong's plan was ill-received, and Pridi went into a short period of political exile.

Pridi Banomyong's contributions include modernizing Thai legal codes, laying the foundation for Thailand's local government system, negotiating the cancellation of unequal treaties with the West, and tax reform.

Pridi Banomyong was made Regent during 1941 to 1945, a powerless post at the time.

Pridi Banomyong briefly became prime minister in 1946, but his political opponents painted him as the mastermind behind the mysterious death of King Ananda Mahidol, and a coup in 1947 cost him his political power.

An attempt to stage a counter-coup in 1949 failed and Pridi Banomyong spent the rest of his life living in exile.

Pridi Banomyong died in Paris in 1983, and his ashes were brought back to Thailand three years later.

Pridi Banomyong's image ranged from that of an anti-monarchist democrat to a republican.

However, Pridi Banomyong won every libel lawsuit in Thailand filed against those who promoted such views.

Pridi Banomyong became a symbol of resistance against military dictatorships, liberal politics, and Thammasat University.

Pridi Banomyong Phanomyong was born in Tha Wasukri Ayutthaya Province, the second of five children.

Pridi Banomyong had two half-siblings from his father's minor wife.

Pridi Banomyong completed his secondary education at Suankularb Wittayalai School.

Pridi Banomyong earned a PhD in law and a higher diploma in economics and returned to Siam in 1927 to work for the Ministry of Justice.

Pridi Banomyong quickly rose in rank, and was granted the royal title Luang Praditmanutham in 1928.

In 1933, Pridi Banomyong published the Draft National Economic Plan, known as the "Yellow cover dossier", a radical economic plan calling for the nationalisation of land, public employment, and social security.

Pridi Banomyong was accused of being a communist and went into exile.

Pridi Banomyong returned to Thailand in 1934 to found Thammasat University as an open university, before assuming the posts of Minister of the Interior that year, Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1935, and Minister of Finance in 1938.

Pridi Banomyong opposed many of Phibun's militaristic policies which tended to be more conciliatory toward the Japanese.

When Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram issued a declaration of war against Britain and the United States in January 1942, Pridi Banomyong refused to sign it, as he served as the Regent for the young monarch, who was studying in Switzerland.

Pridi Banomyong retired from the regency when King Ananda Mahidol returned in December 1945.

Pridi Banomyong was formally named a Senior Statesman, and served as an advisor to the post-war, civilian governments of Thawi Bunyaket and Seni Pramoj.

Pridi Banomyong assumed the position in an attempt to stabilize the political situation, which was spiralling out of control.

Pridi Banomyong, who supported the Vietnamese independence movement of Ho Chi Minh and establishment of anti-imperialist Southeast Asia League, lost the political support from the US, which led to tacit support to the coup against him.

Pridi Banomyong spent a week hiding in Admiral Sindhu Songkhramchai's headquarters.

Rumours were spread that Pridi Banomyong was part of a conspiracy involved in the alleged regicide, and that he had plans to turn Thailand into a republic.

Biographer William Stevenson has said that King Bhumibol Adulyadej did not believe that Pridi Banomyong was involved in his brother's death.

Pridi Banomyong secretly returned in 1949 in order to stage a coup d'etat against Phibun's dictatorship.

When it failed, Pridi Banomyong left for China, never to return to Thailand.

Pridi Banomyong died on 2 May 1983, at his home in the suburbs of Paris.

Nevertheless, Pridi Banomyong held the position of regent when Rama VIII ascended to the throne.

Pridi Banomyong was accused of being the leader of a plot to assassinate the popular young monarch.

Pridi Banomyong wanted to remove Phibun from power, and the war offered an opportunity to do so.

However, Pridi Banomyong recognised well before the war that Thailand's alignment with the Axis powers would work to Phibun's advantage and enable him to strengthen his dictatorship.

Sulak led efforts to rehabilitate Pridi Banomyong which achieved significant results.

Pridi Banomyong received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:.