Field Marshall Plaek Pibulsonggram
“Victory through Unity”
Studied at the Royal Thai Army Cadet School and at the Fontainebleau Artillery Academy, Field Marshal P. Pibulsonggram was the dominant figure of Thailand’s constitutional government. First elected in 1938, he is Thailand’s longest serving Prime Minister. During World War II he maintained the country’s independence and in 1939 changed the country’s name from Siam to Thailand
Pibulsonggram’s key policies were to speed modernisation, promote a national identity and accelerate infrastructure building. Initiatives established the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Universities of Medicine, Agriculture, Fine Arts, Education and the faculties of Social Welfare and Public Administration at Thammasat University. Other developments included the creation of national identity cards, Bhumibol irrigation dam the country’s first hydroelectric project, and oil refinery
His administration issued guidelines impacting the Thai way of life, including the use of western dress, eating with a fork and spoon, greeting one another with “sawasdee”, and respect for the flag and the Royal and national anthems
Born Plaek Kittasangkha on 14th July 1897 in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand
Died on 11th June 1964 in Japan
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