BIOGRAPHY KING BHUMIBOL

King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Biography
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the United States of America, on December 5, 1927, being the third and youngest child of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Mahidol of Songkhla. Even the facts of his birth seem to be significant in several ways. He is, first of all, the direct grandson of His Late Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) who was renowned for the great reforms which he made to all Thai institutions, bringing them up to date and in line with the rest of the western-oriented world. Secondly, the fact that he is the son of Prince Mahidol is also significant since Prince Mahidol himself was perhaps one of the most modern-minded of all the sons of King Chulalongkorn. (Prince Mahidol’s life was dedicated to the development of many modern ideas, particularly in the field of medical science and he is known as the father of the modern Thai medical profession.) Last but not least, King Bhumibol was given the significant name of Bhumibol Adulyadej, meaning ‘Strength of the Land with Incomparable Power’. This name becomes prophetic as his reign advances through various critical periods and the Thai nation evolves more and more around the throne as the sole source of unity and strength.
Prince Mahidol returned to Thailand and passed away when His Majesty was not yet two years old. After a brief period of primary schooling in Bangkok, His Majesty left with the rest of his family for Switzerland where he continued his secondary education at the Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, Chailly sur Lausanne, and received the Bachelieres Lettres diploma from the Gymnase Classique Cantonal of Lausanne. He then chose to enter Lausanne University to study Science, but the death of his elder brother King Ananda Mahidol in Bangkok (Rama VIII) on June 9, 1946, changed the course of his life completely. The law of succession had suddenly bestowed on him the arduous and challenging responsibility of the Thai crown. His Majesty decided to go back to Switzerland for another period of study, but this time in the subject of political science and law in order to equip himself with the proper knowledge for government. In 1950, His Majesty returned to Thailand for the coronation ceremony, which took place on May 5th. Following the coronation ceremony, he went back to Switzerland for another period of study before the urgent call of his country and people brought him back to Thailand in 1951 to stay.
His Majesty met and became engaged on July 19,1949 to Mom Rajawongse Sirikit, daughter of His Highness Prince Chandaburi Suranath (Mom Chao Nakkhatra Mangala Kitiyakara) and Mom Luang Bua Kitiyakara (nee Mom Luang Bua Snidwongse).
Their Majesties were married by Her Majesty Queen Sawang Vadhana, the paternal grandmother of His Majesty, at Sra Pathum Palace in Bangkok on April 28, 1950 and Their Majesties have four children namely, Their Royal Highnesses Princess Ubol Ratana, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and Princess Chulabhorn.

Some Activities of His Majesty the King
Blessed with a perceptive as well as imaginative mind, His Majesty has set himself with relish from the beginning of His Reign to analyze and find the true circumstances of the task at hand. His inborn sense of intense dedication guides him in his efforts to devise the best approach and then accomplish the task in the best possible manner. His sense of involvement, be it small or significant duties, is always so total that he is never content until each duty is carried out to his complete satisfaction.
His Majesty starts by being meticulous in what is usually regarded as mere formalities such as in putting his Seal or Signature to all Laws and Decrees down to minor Public Orders. He acquaints himself with all subjects that pass before him, and makes observations wherever appropriate, requesting clarifications from the relevant officials whenever necessary. He makes formal State Functions into personal affairs, even adjusting the details of some ceremonies to make them more authentic and meaningful. Above all, he always takes the opportunity to meet and talk with the people from all walks of life that attend these ceremonies in order to learn the true circumstances of their professions and thereby the true conditions of the country.
As foreign relations are always conducted at the Head-of State level, His Majesty exercises to the full his prerogative in dispatching and receiving envoys to and from friendly nations. These formal functions are, however, conducted by him with a most personal touch. He anoints each Thai Ambassador in the farewell audience and gives appropriate words of advice. Foreign envoys accredited to the Thai Court are received in both formal and informal audiences, and His Majesty uses the latter to forge close personal bonds, which lead to smoother and more sympathetic cooperation. Even foreign dignitaries who are only here temporarily, or have come to cooperate with the Thai Government, are frequently received in audience. Moreover, Their Majesties have assiduously developed personal links with Heads of States and the peoples of friendly foreign countries by paying and receiving State and Official Visits to and from various countries around the world. Such visits and exchanges with over thirty countries have been arranged not only to bind the Heads of State in close bonds of personal friendship but also to afford opportunities for friendly acquaintances of government officials and to create a better understanding between the peoples.
As a man, King Bhumibol Adulyadej has displayed a remarkable range of talents. He is a gifted musician and composer, particularly in the field of jazz. Indeed, one of his songs was featured in a Broadway musical in the early 1950’s, and such masters as Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton have acknowledged his skills. He was an enthusiastic sailor in the early years of his rule and won the Southeast Asia Peninsula Games gold medal in 1967. In addition, he can point to impressive achievements in the fields of painting, photography, and engineering. Thanks to his international education and upbringing, he is fluent in three European languages and at ease in a variety of cultures. Undoubtedly, though, posterity will remember him most for his accomplishments as leader of the Thai nation during a critical period in its history.