Pridi Banomyong

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ปรีดี พนมยงค์
Pridi in 1945
7th Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 24 March 1946 – 23 August 1946
Monarchs	Ananda Mahidol Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by	Khuang Aphaiwong
Succeeded by	Thawan Thamrongnawasawat
Regent of Thailand
In office 16 December 1941 – 5 December 1945
Monarch	Ananda Mahidol
Prime Minister	Plaek Phibunsongkhram Khuang Aphaiwong Thawi Bunyaket Seni Pramoj
Minister of Finance
In office 24 March 1946 – 23 August 1946
Prime Minister	himself
Preceded by	Phya Srivisaravaja
Succeeded by	Vijitr Luritanon
In office 20 December 1938 – 16 December 1941
Prime Minister	Plaek Phibunsongkhram
Preceded by	Serm Kritsanamara
Succeeded by	Pao Pienlert Boripanyutakit
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 12 July 1936 – 13 December 1938
Prime Minister	Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena
Preceded by	Phya Srisena
Succeeded by	Chao Phya Sridharmadhibes
Minister of Interior
In office 29 March 1934 – 12 February 1935
Prime Minister	Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena
Preceded by	Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena
Succeeded by	Thawan Thamrongnawasawat
Personal details
Born	(1900-05-11)11 May 1900 Ayutthaya, Krung Kao, Siam
Died	2 May 1983(1983-05-02) (aged 82) Paris, France
Nationality	Thai
Political party	Khana Ratsadon
Other political affiliations	Free Thai Movement
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Spouse	Poonsuk Banomyong
Children	6
Alma mater	University of Paris Thai Royal College of Law[1]
Signature

Pridi Banomyong (Thai: ปรีดี พนมยงค์, RTGS: Pridi Phanomyong, pronounced [prīː.dīː pʰā.nōm.jōŋ]; 11 May 1900 – 2 May 1983), also known by his noble title Luang Praditmanutham (Thai: หลวงประดิษฐ์มนูธรรม), was a Thai statesman^[2] and professor.^[3]: 13 He led Thailand while serving in multiple ministerial posts, as regent, and as prime minister. He led the civilian wing of Khana Ratsadon, and helped found the University of Moral and Political Sciences and the Bank of Thailand.

Born to a family of farmers in Ayutthaya province, he received a good education, becoming one of the nation's youngest barristers in 1919, at the age of nineteen. In 1920, he won a royal scholarship granted by the King of Siam to study in France, where he graduated from the University of Caen with a master's degree, and received a doctorate from the University of Paris in 1927. In the same year, he co-founded Khana Ratsadon with like-minded Siamese overseas royal-sponsored students. After returning to Thailand, still called Siam at the time, he worked as a judge, judicial secretariat, and professor. In the aftermath of 1932 Siamese Revolution, he played an important role in drafting two of the country's first constitutions and proposing a socialist economic plan influenced by communism scheme, principles and conducts. His plan was ill-received, and Pridi went into a short period of political exile as aftermatch of the fight-for-power with his fellow revolutionists. On his return, he took many ministerial posts in Khana Ratsadon governments. His contributions include modernizing Thai legal codes, laying the foundation for Thailand's local government system, negotiating the cancellation of unequal treaties with the West, and tax reform.

Pridi diverged from Plaek Phibunsongkhram after the latter began to display a taste for dictatorial governance in the 1930s, marking the beginning of the long rivalry between the two Khana Ratsadon leaders. Pridi was made Regent during 1941 to 1945, a powerless post at the time. Shortly thereafter, he became leader of the domestic Free Thai Movement during World War II. He briefly became prime minister in 1946, but his political opponents painted him as the mastermind behind the mysterious death of King Ananda Mahidol, and a coup in 1947 cost him his political power. An attempt to stage a counter-coup in 1949 failed and Pridi spent the rest of his life living in exile. He died in Paris in 1983, and his ashes were brought back to Thailand three years later.

His image ranged from that of an anti-monarchist democrat to a republican. The branding of Pridi as a communist and a mastermind of King Ananda's death has since been regarded as politically motivated,^[4] which his opponents continued to use even after his death. However, Pridi won every libel lawsuit in Thailand filed against those who promoted such views.^[5] He became a symbol of resistance against military dictatorships, liberal politics, and Thammasat University. The centenary of his birth was celebrated by UNESCO in 2000.^[6]