Vibhavadi Rangsit
Encyclopedia
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Her Royal Highness Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit (20 November 1920-16 February 1977, ; ) was a Thai
royal well known for her fiction writing and her developmental work in rural Thailand.
School, Bangkok. After graduation, she worked as a secretary for her father, who at the time was known as one of the most respected poets of the Ratanakosin era and wrote under the pseudonym “Nor. Mor. Sor.” (NMS). Princess Vibhavadi inherited her father’s gift for writing and displayed her ability at the early age of fourteen, when she began writing children's novels. She is well known by her pen-name V. na Pramuanmarg . Her first famous novel, “Prisana”, was begun when she was eighteen years old and was followed by two sequels and many other novels, as well as historical novels.
(Rama VIII).
and Queen Sirikit
of Thailand. In 1957, she began accompanying them when they toured the country and was appointed a Lady-in-waiting
to Her Majesty the Queen when their Majesties went on their first State Visit abroad in 1960. Altogether, Princess Vibhavadi accompanied their Majesties on seven occasions, visiting a total of twenty-five countries.
The last ten years of her life were dedicated to rural development in Southern Thailand
under the direction and sponsorship of His Majesty the King. Her involvement began when the King asked her to go to a remote area called Phrasaeng
in Surat Thani Province
. From that initial visit in 1967, she was committed to developing the hitherto neglected areas and to improving the living standards of the villagers. Sponsored by His Majesty, she led a medical team on countless missions to distribute medical supplies, schooling equipment, blankets and other necessities to villagers in neglected and inaccessible parts of the southern provinces.
Wherever she went, the grievances of the villagers were noted and subsequently rectified by the authorities. In this manner, rural development followed in Princess Vibhavadi’s path: roads were built, new health centres and schools established, and electricity brought to new destinations. At H.M. the Queen's request, she also promoted local handicrafts to enable women to earn extra income.
of Surat Thani. Whilst travelling in an army helicopter
to her destination, she heard a radio
message that two Border Patrol policeman had been wounded by a landmine explosion. She immediately ordered the flight to divert to pick up the wounded men and rush them to hospital. As they were flying at low altitude over Ban Nua Khlong in Surat Thani, the helicopter was attacked from the ground by insurgents
. A burst of heavy machine gun
fire not only crippled the helicopter but also fatally wounded the Princess. She died an hour later.
Prior to her royally sponsored cremation
at Ratchabophit temple, on April 4, 1977, in recognition of her services to the country and the people, H.M. the King elevated her to the rank of Phra Chao Worawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (Her Royal Highness) and awarded her the highest level of the most Illustrious Order of the House of Chakri
.
, was also named in her honour.
The Vibhavadi Rangsit Foundation was founded by her husband, HSH Prince Piya Rangsit, to ensure the continuity of her charitable work in the southern provinces.
Vibhavadi Rangsit Road
, which runs from Phrayathai
in Bangkok
to Lamlukka Distric
in Pathumthani is named in her honour.
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Her Royal Highness Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit (20 November 1920-16 February 1977, ; ) was a Thai
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
royal well known for her fiction writing and her developmental work in rural Thailand.
Early life
HRH Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit was born Mom Chao (Her Serene Highness) Vibhavadi Rajani. The daughter of His Royal Highness Prince (Krom Muen) Bidyalongkorn and Mom Chao (HSH Princess) Pornpimolpan Rajani (Voravarn), she has one younger brother, HSH Prince Bhisatej Rajani. She was educated at the Mater DeiMater Dei
Mater Dei is Latin for "Mother of God", referring to the Virgin Mary as Theotokos. The term has been used to name various institutions, often Catholic, including:-Educational institutions:*Mater Dei Academy, a Catholic K-8 school in Wickliffe, OH...
School, Bangkok. After graduation, she worked as a secretary for her father, who at the time was known as one of the most respected poets of the Ratanakosin era and wrote under the pseudonym “Nor. Mor. Sor.” (NMS). Princess Vibhavadi inherited her father’s gift for writing and displayed her ability at the early age of fourteen, when she began writing children's novels. She is well known by her pen-name V. na Pramuanmarg . Her first famous novel, “Prisana”, was begun when she was eighteen years old and was followed by two sequels and many other novels, as well as historical novels.
Marriage
Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit married Mom Chao (HSH Prince) Piyarangsit Rangsit (Prince Piya Rangsit), the eldest son of His Royal Highness Prince Rangsit Prayurasakdi, Prince of Chainat, on May 6, 1946. They were the only couple to have been married by H.M. King Ananda MahidolAnanda Mahidol
Ananda Mahidol was the eighth monarch of Thailand under the House of Chakri. At the time he was recognized as king by the National Assembly, in March 1935, he was a nine-year-old boy living in Switzerland. He returned to Thailand in December 1945. Six months later, in June 1946, he was found shot...
(Rama VIII).
Service to the country
Besides a busy home life bringing up two daughters, and a full writing career, the Princess embarked on another course which would occupy her to the tragic ending of her life: that of serving their Majesties the King Bhumibol AdulyadejBhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...
and Queen Sirikit
Sirikit
Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat , is the queen consort of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand. She is the second Queen Regent of Thailand...
of Thailand. In 1957, she began accompanying them when they toured the country and was appointed a Lady-in-waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
to Her Majesty the Queen when their Majesties went on their first State Visit abroad in 1960. Altogether, Princess Vibhavadi accompanied their Majesties on seven occasions, visiting a total of twenty-five countries.
The last ten years of her life were dedicated to rural development in Southern Thailand
Southern Thailand
Southern Thailand is a distinct region of Thailand, connected with the Central region by the narrow Kra Isthmus.-Geography:Southern Thailand is located on the Malay Peninsula, with an area around 70,713 km², bounded to the north by Kra Isthmus as the narrowest part of the peninsula. The...
under the direction and sponsorship of His Majesty the King. Her involvement began when the King asked her to go to a remote area called Phrasaeng
Amphoe Phrasaeng
-Geography:The district is located in the south of the province. Neighboring districts are Phanom, Khian Sa, Wiang Sa of Surat Thani Province, Tham Phannara, Thung Yai of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Chai Buri of Surat Thani Province again, Khao Phanom and Plai Phraya of Krabi Province.At the...
in Surat Thani Province
Surat Thani Province
Surat Thani is the largest of the southern provinces of Thailand, on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Surat Thani means City of Good People, the title given to the city by King Vajiravudh ....
. From that initial visit in 1967, she was committed to developing the hitherto neglected areas and to improving the living standards of the villagers. Sponsored by His Majesty, she led a medical team on countless missions to distribute medical supplies, schooling equipment, blankets and other necessities to villagers in neglected and inaccessible parts of the southern provinces.
Wherever she went, the grievances of the villagers were noted and subsequently rectified by the authorities. In this manner, rural development followed in Princess Vibhavadi’s path: roads were built, new health centres and schools established, and electricity brought to new destinations. At H.M. the Queen's request, she also promoted local handicrafts to enable women to earn extra income.
Death
Princess Vibavadi often visited soldiers and Border Patrol police stationed in areas where communist insurgency then existed. On the morning of February 16, 1977, she set off on what was to be a routine visit to villagers and to boost the morale of troops at Wiang Sa districtAmphoe Wiang Sa, Surat Thani Province
-Geography:Wiang Sa is located in the southeast of Surat Thani province. Neighboring district are Phrasaeng, Khian Sa and Ban Na San of Surat Thani, and Phipun, Chawang and Tham Phannara of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province....
of Surat Thani. Whilst travelling in an army helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
to her destination, she heard a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
message that two Border Patrol policeman had been wounded by a landmine explosion. She immediately ordered the flight to divert to pick up the wounded men and rush them to hospital. As they were flying at low altitude over Ban Nua Khlong in Surat Thani, the helicopter was attacked from the ground by insurgents
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
. A burst of heavy machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
fire not only crippled the helicopter but also fatally wounded the Princess. She died an hour later.
Prior to her royally sponsored cremation
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
at Ratchabophit temple, on April 4, 1977, in recognition of her services to the country and the people, H.M. the King elevated her to the rank of Phra Chao Worawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao (Her Royal Highness) and awarded her the highest level of the most Illustrious Order of the House of Chakri
Chakri
Chakri may refer to:* Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, King of Thailand from 1782 to 1809* The Chakri Dynasty, the royal house of Thailand* Chakri , a form of folk music in Kashmir* Chakri , Tollywood music director...
.
Legacy
Today, February 16 is known in Surat Thani as Vibhavadi Day, when civil and religious ceremonies are held in her honour at monuments dedicated to her. Vibhavadi Rangsit Highway, in Bangkok which connects Don Muang with central BangkokBangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, was also named in her honour.
The Vibhavadi Rangsit Foundation was founded by her husband, HSH Prince Piya Rangsit, to ensure the continuity of her charitable work in the southern provinces.
Vibhavadi Rangsit Road
Vibhavadi Rangsit Road
Vibhavadi Rangsit Road or Thailand Route 31, often informally called Vibhavadi Road , is a highway in Thailand. It is part of Thailand Route 301....
, which runs from Phrayathai
Phaya Thai
Phaya Thai is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also the name of a major road, as well as a BTS Skytrain station, both of which are in the nearby Ratchathewi district....
in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
to Lamlukka Distric
Amphoe Lam Luk Ka
Lam Luk Ka is a district of Pathum Thani Province, central Thailand.-History:The name Lam Luk Ka originates from a fertile pond in the district named Bueng Lam Luk Ka. When the government created the district Lam Luk Ka in 1904, they cut the word Bueng off.-Geography:The district is located in a...
in Pathumthani is named in her honour.
Titles and styles
- 20 November 1920 – 6 May 1946 : Her Serene Highness Princess Vibhavadi Rajani
- 6 May 1946 – 16 February 1977 : Her Serene Highness Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit
- 4 April 1977 : Her Royal Highness Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit (Posthumous Name)