Punya is the youngest of eleven children. His father's modest income did not allow him a childhood with many frills. However, he dreamed of becoming an artist and was ultimately able to obtain schooling in the arts. He studied arts at the university level, but was discouraged by a faculty divided into "academic" and "contemporary" factions.
Punya's considerable artistic talent has supported him financially for quite a few years. He's been successful in applications as diverse as film animation and developing and executing wall murals for Buddhist temples.
However, he has also always had a concern for and commitment to society and particularly to the environment -- a concern reflecting his strong Buddhist values.
He has been active, for instance, in Thailand's well known Nature Conservation Club since its founding. He continues to write and illustrate regularly for its magazine. He has also launched a number of Club programs over the years, such as rainy season forest education programs. Before his initiative, no one would go to the forests during that season.
Punya has now made the transition to full time work helping the next generation of Thais understand and begin what he hopes will become a life-long pattern of actively organizing in its defense on issues not limited to environmental protection alone.