Prapod Assavavirulhakarn
Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
As the momentous developments of the mid-19th century were forcing much of the Asian continent into colonialism, while at the same time propelling a few strongholds of resistance towards modernity, many of the ‘modern women’ of Asia were simultaneously urged to the forefront of the region’s budding intellectual circles. Queen Srisavarindira was one of the most influential pioneers for Siamese women intellectuals of the 19th century. In addition to her spectacular intellectual capacity and a fine balance between genuine cosmopolitanism and sincere concern for the development and interest of the Siamese kingdom, Queen Srisavarindira also occupied a position of great influence that allowed her to support fully her husband, King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, in various modernization projects. Queen Srisavarindira was not only a leading intellectual of the kingdom, but also one of the most influential architects of modern education and public health in 19th century Siam.
(Presented in the 2013 Chulalongkorn Asian Heritage Forum: The Emergence and Heritage of Asian Women Intellectuals, 10-11 September 2013, Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, Bangkok, organized by Institute of Thai Studies, Institute of Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Indian Studies Center, Chulalongkorn University)