The majority of Thais may not know of this man who passed away quietly last Saturday. But over the past six decades, Udom Yenrudi has been making pivotal, behind-the-scenes contributions to society. His efforts are best described by the well-known Thai saying pid thong lang phra (to paste a gold leaf on the back of Buddha’s statue), which is applied to describe those who do good deeds without seeking recognition.
Udom came from a Thai-Chinese family. As a boy in Thon Buri he won a government scholarship and went to study in England. Following the outbreak of World War Two, Udom returned to Thailand to work as a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Arts Faculty (unlike some of his peers who refused to come back). The overbearing limits on academic freedom under the military regime, however, eventually prompted him to resign. Udom then became arguably the first ever Thai correspondent with Reuters. At the same time, he worked as secretary to the president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Tan Siew Meng.
During the war, leaders in the Thai-Chinese community were divided over whether they should side with or oppose the Japanese who were occupying the country. Tan Siew Meng somehow managed to earn the respect of both sides. The Japanese wanted to force the ethnic-Chinese to supply them with rice and labour to build the Thai-Burma railway. Tan Siew Meng, however, insisted that the Chinese must abide by Thai laws and reminded the Japanese of their declared policy of non-interference. In the end, the Japanese paid a good price for the rice and resorted to using forced labour from Malaya and Singapore instead. Tan Siew Meng received a series of personal threats from the dissatisfied Japanese as a result.
As Tan’s secretary, Udom informed a Japanese former classmate of his, who was working as an assistant to the press officer at the Japanese embassy, that the Japanese military’s threatening of the president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce violated diplomatic protocol. Apparently, Udom was highly trusted by Tan. When Tan was murdered during the subsequent regime of Khuang Abhaiwong, Udom was a key witness at the investigation.
After the war, and especially during the the conflict in Vietnam, Thailand received a flood of foreign correspondents. Most of them knew Udom and considered him a good friend. A number of these foreign journalists pooled their funds and set up a mining company, which they asked Udom to be the president of.
Among the US correspondents was Darrell Berrigan, formerly the owner and editor of the Bangkok World. When he passed away, his son invited me to preside over a youth camp organised by the mining company to train young people to serve society.
That was in 1970. I was not able to accept the invitation, but in my place I sent a few young students who were keen on social issues, one of whom was Komol Kheemthong.
A senior at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Education, Komol was diligent, active and well-connected with several youth groups in other universities. Although his teachers wanted him to take up a teaching job at his alma mater, Komol became fascinated with the youth camp experience and wanted to set up a community school. He set his mind on working as a rural teacher after he graduated.
Udom fully supported Komol’s idea. The school Komol established was a genuine pioneer in drawing on and promoting indigenous sources of knowledge and wisdom. Komol invited many local villagers, as well as friends of his to come and teach his students. Those who were not able to go often contributed novel ideas to the dedicated teacher.
Unfortunately, the area where the school was located, at Ban Song in Surat Thani, was caught in the fighting between the Thai army and Communist insurgents. Komol came under the suspicion of both camps and was gunned down on February 22, 1971.
Udom took up the task of organising Komol’s funeral. The present Supreme Patriarch (then known as Phra Sasanasophon) gave a dharma lecture at the event and the late privy councillor, Sanya Dharmasakti, sought special permission for a royally sponsored cremation. Udom spent a lot of money on the funeral books, which were sold to raise funds for what is now known as the Komol Kheemthong Foundation, an organisation set up to promote alternative education and instil social ideals in young people.
Sanya was the foundation’s first president until he resigned to become prime minister in 1973. Udom succeeded him in the post, stepping down several years later due to his advanced age. He continued to support the foundation’s activities for the rest of his life. As well as from foreign correspondents, Udom also made friends with a number of Asian leaders, notably Belen Abreu of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Udom personally nominated several Thais to receive the prestigious award, including winners Puey Ungpakorn, Prateep Ungsongtham and Phra Chamroon Parnchand of Tham Krabok Temple for his work with drug addicts.
Prateep used the award money to set up the Duangprateep Foundation. Udom actively supported the foundation and helped Prateep set up another organisation for babies born in slums. Evidently, Udom’s life-long interest lay in the problems of children and the underprivileged.
Udom was married to A-ngoon Malik. Although they later separated, A-ngoon also played a key role in supporting progressive political and cultural student movements. A large property she donated on Soi Thong Lor became the Pridi Banomyong Foundation.
Throughout his life, Udom continued to help relieve people of their suffering, be it at a personal or social level. Some people may not even realise that they were assisted by him.
This is a summarised translation of the obituary written by Sulak Sivarksa, which has been published in a funeral book that is being distributed at the funeral rite held at Wat Sommanas until today. Phra Paisan Visalo will deliver a dharma lecture at 10am. For more details, call 02-438-0353.
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