Luang Wichitwathakan

Who was Luang Wichitwathakan?

? Major-General Luang Wichitwathakan was a Thai politician, historian, novelist and playwright.

He was the chief ideologue and creator of cultural campaigns during the pre-World War II military rule of Field Marshall Plaek Pibulsonggram, aimed at increasing the sense of nationalism of the Thais.

Luang Wichitwathakan was prominently engaged in politics and the modernization of Thailand and was in his time the most important figure in the establishment of Thai national identity.

He was the originator and prime mover responsible for changing the name of the country from Siam to Thailand.