His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand: Father of Water Resources

Rivalni Septiadi
Jul 29, 2017
5 min read

The death of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej was not unexpected, as the 88-year-old monarch had been in poor health for some time, but it was nonetheless a shock to his people and we can see the grief and anguish on their faces. While his political power was limited, Bhumibol was not only seen as a stabilizing force but was, in fact, a very important influence on the military, bureaucracy and all other segments of the society, helping to ensure stability over his 70-year reign, which spanned many changes and at times turmoil not only in Thailand but throughout the world.

Bhumibol Adulyadej, the name means ‘Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power’ was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1927, making him a rare example of a foreign monarch who is technically eligible to become President of the United States. The Chakri dynasty was then at a low ebb. Absolute monarchy reached its peak during the long reign of King Chulalongkorn (1868–1910), Rama v, who emulated European powers by subordinating his subjects under a centralized modern bureaucracy, and was popularly credited with averting the direct colonization of Siam. But the vagaries of primogeniture then threw up the fickle and profligate Rama vi, who frittered away the monarchy’s financial and political capital, while failing to produce an heir. When he died in 1925, his successor King Prajadhipok, Bhumibol’s uncle, proved at best a half-hearted dhammaraja. Modernization was generating new political demands. As early as 1885, members of Siam’s Western-educated elite had petitioned for a parliamentary constitution. In the ‘revolution’ of 1932 the absolute monarchy was challenged head on. In its wake the 42-year-old Prajadhipok, unable to grasp the nature of Siam’s changing society, abdicated a year before Edward viii and retired to Surrey.

The unprecedented abdication abruptly elevated Bhumibol’s older brother Ananda to the throne. The boys were only half-royal, since their doctor-father Prince Mahidol had married a commoner. After Massachusetts, they spent much of their early life in Switzerland, receiving a European education at an elite Catholic school in Lausanne. They learnt French, English, Latin and German, but could barely speak Thai. Handley describes photographs of Ananda and Bhumibol showing ‘two slight, cheery and curious boys’, though Bhumibol’s robust health contrasted with Ananda’s frequent illnesses. As they entered adulthood, he notes, ‘both were better suited for the life of well-heeled bon vivants in Europe than golden-robed, sacral princes in an impoverished tropical Asian state.’ Handley offers some nice images of Bhumibol’s pre-lapsarian youth after the family returned to Bangkok for Ananda’s coronation in December 1945.

Bhumibol’s life of leisured frivolity was brought to an abrupt end in June 1946, when Ananda was found dead in Bangkok’s Grand Palace, killed by a single bullet to the head. The incident has never been satisfactorily explained, and though Handley lays out various theories he concludes that there is insufficient evidence to support any of them. From the outset, the reign of Rama ix has been framed by tragedy perhaps one reason why the King of Asia’s ‘land of smiles’ is rarely seen to smile in public.

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is a supreme example of Human Values. His entire life is dedicated to the welfare of his subjects. His adherence to Truth and Righteousness makes him a model for the Thai people to follow. His demeanour of peace, his unconditional love and compassion earn him the revered title of “Father of the Nation”.

On March 17, 1986 His Majesty King Bhumibol declared the following in a speech delivered at Chitralada Palace “We must realize the importance of water. We need it to drink, for daily use and for agriculture. Where there is water, there is life. If there is water, we can survive. If there is no electricity, we can still survive. However, if there is no water but there is electricity, we will perish” Based on this concept, a large proportion of the Royal Projects are concerned with water issues.

The development of water sources for cultivation or irrigation is essential for the majority of the country’s population as it enables them to produce crops all the year round. At present, most of the cultivated land nationwide, is outside irrigated areas. His Majesty the King gives priority to all projects concerning the development of water resources as he considers water to be “life”.

The projects on the development of water sources under His Majesty’s initiatives can be divided into five categories as follows:

For cultivation and consumption such as reservoirs and dykes.
For preserving water sources and streams.
For electricity generation.
For water drainage from low lying areas.
For relief of flooding.

His Majesty takes a personal interest in every detail in the process of water development. Many of the water development projects supply water for agriculture as well as for daily consumption. They help rectify the problem of acidicity which is presently an obstacle in crop cultivation. His Majesty is meticulous in every detail when making plans for water development. The benefit of the Thai people is always foremost in his mind.

The Chaipattana Aerator is a mechanical aerator invented by His Majesty. It is a device for treating wastewater. During operation, the machine adds oxygen to the polluted water. It is an organic process using water hyacinths to filter and treat wastewater.

The village of Ban Saladin in Nakhon Pathom province once seriously suffered from river pollution caused by farm chemicals and community irresponsibility. Waste and garbage was dumped into the waterways. Thick mats of water hyacinth blocked water flow and air-water interface, turning the water putrid and toxic.

The Ban Saladin community used SEP inclusive decision-making to identify the problems and pool resources to clean up the river together. Their community efforts included comprehensive dredging of canals, the use of solar aerators to add oxygen in the waterways, community-wide use of household grease traps, and systematic water quality monitoring. The Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute provides Ban Saladin community with technical advices and support with appropriate technology to clean up the river.

Now water pollution at Ban Saladin is history. Regular water flow has reduced old problems of frequent flooding. The river water is now safe for household use and farming, resulting in better community well-being. Ban Saladin has become a learning centre on community water development. So far, more than 500 villages nationwide have adopted the Ban Saladin model by using SEP inclusive decision making framework and appropriate technology to tackle their own problems.

After 50 years of devoting His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej to help his people cope with modern challenges and political turmoil, as well as improving the lives of his subjects through His Royal Projects. His Majesty the King has become Thailand’s “Guiding Light”. He is truly living the Human Values and is an example for the entire world.