may 20th, 2008

'soft power' in action.

buddhism is the way to the hearts and minds of 'greater india', what is otherwise known as ASEAN today.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The

Princess From Ayudhya

Author: Seema Sirohi on Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
Publication: Outlook
Date: May 5, 2008
URL: http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20080505&fname=Thai+princess+%28F%29&sid=1

Introduction: She's Thai royalty, and a scholar in Indic lore. Also, a keen student of things modern.

She is certainly not in the Princess Diana mould, nor in the jet-setting mode of European royalty who ski in the Alps and waltz down the Danube for pleasure.

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand practises her Sanskrit, reads Pali scriptures and traipses around rural India looking at development projects to emulate for her people. And she goes to Tata Motors to check out the Nano. In her spare time, she writes poetry and children's books. She can discuss different versions of the Ramayana prevalent in Southeast Asia, play three instruments and speak four languages.

In an era when adulation of royals isn't automatic, Princess Maha Chakri, 53, has earned it in spades. A winner of the Magsaysay award for public service and the Indira Gandhi Prize for her work on sustainable development, she is an inveterate traveller, seeking and learning so she can teach her people. From the benefits of amla to the IT revolution, she is a sponge for all information that may benefit her country. (In fact, the Indian government gifted her amla saplings for the royal nursery.)

She is seen as the real successor to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch and known to be a devout, diligent ruler endowed with political acumen as well as moral authority. Princess Maha Chakri follows in his footsteps and far outshines her brother Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, who may be first in line of succession but whose reputation leaves a lot to be desired. Currently, his passion is flying planes to new airports around the world. Given their divergent personalities, it is no surprise that the Thai constitution was changed to allow for female accession to the throne. It is Princess Maha Chakri who will most likely accompany her father the king, who is expected to visit India later this year. It would be his first foreign visit in 40 years, a decision surely influenced by his daughter's interest in India.

On a recent trip to India, a country the princess visits often, Maha Chakri spoke of the ancient ties binding Thailand and Southeast Asia to India. "Most scholars in Thailand study Pali, the language of the word of Buddha. My ancestors did it and my grandmother studied Pali and Sanskrit," she said. Dressed simply in a black skirt and jacket with not a hint of make-up, Maha Chakri said learning the Devanagari script was the toughest. Her teacher at university was Satyavrat Shastri, an Indian scholar who had gone to Thailand to teach Sanskrit. He has since returned and on her visits to India, the princess always makes it a point to meet him.

"He would talk a lot about philosophy and literature. When we talked, he would cite Sanskrit verses to illustrate his point. He could remember everything," the princess recalled. Shastri studied the Thai version of the Ramayana and composed it in Sanskrit verse. Many episodes in the Thai version are different-a big demon abducts Ram and takes him to the nether world from which Hanuman rescues him. Ravana is an extremely important character, shown as wise and a victim of a certain unfairness by the gods.

Ravana in his former life had served them but they inflicted pain upon him and he wanted to avenge his honour in the next life. "It is the story of revenge. It is difficult to say who is evil and who is right in battle. It is the same today," Maha Chakri noted. All Thai children grow up with the story of the Ramayana, and some episodes of the Mahabharata also are part of the Thai cultural milieu.

Her quiet but significant forays to India help rev up these old bonds that seemed so natural and organic once upon a time. It was in the first century AD that Indian merchant princes from our eastern and southern shores reached what are today Thailand, Indonesia, Laos and Cambodia, carrying textiles and other goods. The locals adopted their culture, building vast temple cities bearing names and statues of Hindu gods. A fascination for Indian culture developed, and people closely followed and absorbed aspects they found interesting. It was a time when India was seen as a more affluent and powerful country, worthy of emulation. In those days, the Thai word for kingdom was 'suvarnabhumi', and the ancient capital of Thailand was called Ayudhya (its impressive remains still stand).

Elements of Hindu culture have survived in Thailand and other countries through festivals, royal religious practices, music and language. Royal Thai priests come to India to learn the rituals, and many Hindu deities can still be seen in Thai temples. The king himself is considered an avatar of Vishnu.

Besides the vast Hindu influence in the region, the mighty thread of Buddhism ties the two peoples together. Princess Maha Chakri's master's thesis was on the Tenfold Virtues of Theravada Buddhism which sent her to delve into the scriptures for research. She later discovered Sanskrit writings in Buddhist temples and translated them. Such is her devotion to the language, she organised a Sanskrit conference in 2005, attended by 400 scholars, including some from India. The University of Bangkok has a Sanskrit study centre.

But she is equally interested in the achievements of modern India. On every visit to India-and she has made nine since 1987-she tries to visit a significant technology centre or milk cooperative or a research foundation. "You have a very big country. And as India progresses, we are establishing more scientific and academic ties." Just like the old times.