Sanan kid: To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Chao Phraya Thammasakmontri, or "Kru Thep," a key figure who laid various foundations for Thailand, the Chao Phraya Thammasakmontri Foundation has produced the book "Sanan Khit: Stories Through the Ages, From Siam to Thailand."

According to Thai News Agency, through an interview with Pirada Uttamote (Jasmine), one of the writers, interesting perspectives that many may not yet know were revealed, as follows:

1. During the reign of King Rama VI, there was a plan to establish a "prostitution district" in the Pathumwan area to create order and distance it from the urban communities of that time. However, Teacher Thep pushed and suggested that the area should be used for education instead, which became the starting point for the founding of Chulalongkorn University. He was also one of the pioneers in establishing Uten Thawai Construction School later on.

2. Despite growing up in a male-dominated era, Kru Thep holds very progressive views on gender. He viewed women as "life partners" and encouraged his daughters to pursue their education and work according to their own preferences. For example, opening Chulanak Girls' School for his daughter to manage. He also used a pseudonym to write articles in women's magazines to teach men how to respect and treat their wives equally.

3. During the era when Thailand faced the Spanish Flu outbreak after World War I, which resulted in numerous deaths, Kru Thep used his role as a thinker to write articles criticizing and campaigning for "hygienic" practices. He emphasized that cleanliness and waste management in the city are crucial, and that all sectors must cooperate to overcome the pandemic.

4. Kru Thep was elected as the first Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand. Although he was a civil servant from the old regime, his neutral personality and abilities earned him respect from both the conservative and the People's Party factions. In addition, he served as Minister of Education in several governments, continuously advancing educational initiatives.

5. Kru Thep's works are spread across many fields, especially in music and literature. He composed "Krao Kila" (Sports Anthem) to teach young people about winning and losing and to reduce conflict. And in the transitional period following the 1932 revolution, he was also commissioned to compose a provisional version of the Thai national anthem, using the melody of "Mahachai," to be used temporarily while awaiting the official version. Furthermore, the poem "Even the dark clouds have a silver border" is a masterpiece that continues to inspire and give hope to people to this day.

The story from the book "Sanun Kid" is therefore more than just a biography; it's a dissection of every aspect of the progress of Kru Thep, who "runs every field" and whose impact on Thai society is profound, even more than 150 years later.