Puey Ungphakorn: Unesco names as key world figure

UN honours Dr. Puey Ungpakorn (1916-1999) for his achievements: Bank of Thailand governor, Thammasat rector, Magsaysay winner & WWII resistance fighter against Japanese.

HISTORY

Puey Ungphakorn: Unesco names as key world figure

20/11/2015
Post Reporters

Former economist and member of the Seri Thai (Free Thai) movement during World War II, the late Puey Ungphakorn  (1916-1999), has been named by Unesco as one of the world's most important people for his "impeccable ethics".

The honour, to mark what would-be his 100th birthday this year, was revealed by Thammasat University rector Somkit Lertpaithoon. He said Thursday Unesco approved the proposal on Wednesday, Puey's birthday.

It was in recognition of Puey's role in laying the foundations of Thailand's economic development. He was also "a prominent educator and civil servant of impeccable ethics", Mr Somkit said.

In 1965, Puey received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, for government service (see here).

Born in Bangkok in 1916, he started his career in 1933 as a teacher at Assumption College, and studied at Thammasat University.

Later he won a scholarship to pursue undergraduate and doctorate studies at the London School of Economics (LSE), which paved the way for his work at the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Thailand (BOT), where he was governor between 1957 and 1971 (see here).

During World War II, Puey joined the Seri Thai underground movement to fight the Japanese occupation of Thailand.

He was rector of Thammasat during the Oct 6, 1976 massacre of students on campus by right-wing forces.

Puey left for England where he lived in self-exile until his death in 1999, aged 83.

One of Dr. Puey Ungpakorn's most famous pieces of writing is "The Quality of Life of a Southeast Asian" or "From womb to tomb" in which he describes "the conditions for a good life that any decent human society should strive to achieve for its members" (read it here).

Regarding the media, book publishing and education, he wrote:

"As a human being, I would like inexpensive newspapers and paperback books, plus access to radio and TV (without too much advertising)." 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/770812/unesco-lauds-puey-for-ethics

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