Flowers from the Heart
In Nakorn Phanom on the route for HM the King’s convoy to pass a point known as Chayangkura- Renu Nakorn 3-way junction on Nov. 13, 1955 in the afternoon, Mr. Anat Bunnag, the division chief of HM the King private photographers had snapped a moment of truth picture that has become one of the country’s historic photographs.
A Photograph That Tells More Than a Million Words After HM the King finished his merit-making rite at Wat Thatphanomvaramahaviharn in the morning, Their Majesties the King and Queen traveled by car to stay for a night at the Governor’s official residence. The local people who got the news gathered at the roadsides with their children in tow, creating a large crowd to watch Their Majesties. The Chandnit family members of Grandma Toom, at 102 years old, brought her to wait for the royal convoy to pass at a roadside spot about 700m from their home. The grandma’s children brought along a bunch of 3 pink lotus flowers for her to hold in her hands in reverence of Their Majesties and brought her to the front line as close as possible to watch her King and Queen. It’s a hot day with the bright sunshine from the morning to early afternoon, making the lotus flowers in the hands of Grandma Toom wilted and drooping but her face was still fresh with happiness. When Their Majesties’ car stopped in front of her, the old woman lifted her hands with the 3 wilting lotus flowers in her palms above her head, as a sign of high respect and deep loyalty. His Majesty stepped out from the car and walked over to the old woman. HM the King bent down to her as low as possible, his face nearly touched the old woman’s face. His Majesty smiled, his expression of kindness radiated out, and reached out his hand to gently touch the coarse and aging hands of the old north-easterner. It’s a scene that needed no description and a picture that description was not necessary. No one knows what His Majesty whispered to the grandma. But she will never forget. Likewise, His Majesty has never forgotten that old citizen he met on the roadside that day. Grandchildren of the old woman related, “After Their Majesties got back to Bangkok, the Royal Palace Bureau had sent Grandma Toom a picture of that moment of truth between His Majesty and herself together with a miniature plaster-molded image of her beloved King through the Office of Phra Thatphanom District for her keepsakes.” The immeasurable royal kindness might have given the old grandma and extended age for another 3 years. Grandma Toom Chandnit, one of the most lucky citizens in the 9th Reign, passed away peacefully of her old age at 105 years. Source: “Grandma Toom Chandnit, a story written by Kunying Srinath Suriya, in Thai Magazine