Seksan Prasertkul

Seksan Prasertkul (Thai: เสกสรรค์ ประเสริฐกุล, born 1949) is a Thai author who was awarded the title National Artist of Thailand in 2009.[1]

Seksan became a student leader at Thammasat University and was active in the October 1973 protests against the military government of Thanom Kittikachorn.

Seksan is the author of poetry, stories, and his autobiography, was made into a movie, The Moonhunter.

Early life

Seksan is the son of a fishing-boat builder and a market vendor. He graduated from high school at Chonkanyanakul School in Chonburi province, and received an AFS scholarship. He was an exchange student at a high school in the United States in 1967 and 1968. On his return to Thailand, he gained admission to Thammasat University by his high scores on the nationwide university entrance exam.

Leading up to 14 October 1973

Sulak Sivaraksa "initiated forums for students to discuss current social issues. Among those attending was Seksan", according to Historical Dictionary of Thailand.[2]

After the Thammasat University Massacre

After the 6 October 1976 Thammasat University Massacre, he took refuge with the communist insurgents in northeastern Thailand. However, he found the insurgents to be very dogmatic and not at all sympathetic to the students' democratic goals. When the Thai government offered an amnesty to those who had fled, he surrendered in 1980 and returned home. He went to the United States for graduate study and received a doctorate from Cornell University in 1989. He has since taught political science at Thammasat University, where he is a well known and respected figure.

Works

October,the people’s war")

Works translated to English

Private

He married Chiranan Pitpreecha, and she won a SEA Write Award in 1989.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/30629/nine-honoured-withnational-artist-awards
  2. ↑ Historical Dictionary of Thailand, p. 392, at Google Books
  3. ↑ A bamboo bridge over rapids

External links