The King, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great, King Rama IX, the ninth King of Chakri Dynasty of Thailand, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the United States of America, on December 5, 1927. His Majesty came to the throne on June 9, 1946, when he was only 18 years of age, and was crowned as The King of Thailand on May 5, 1950. His ceremonial name, according to the ancient tradition is “Phrabat Somdej Phra Paramindra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitaladhibet Ramadhibodi Chakrinarubodindara Sayamindaradhiraj Boromanatbophit”. That day, His Majesty pronounced the traditional oath of accession which stated, “We will reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people”. Since then, over 60 years after his coronation, everyday, His Majesty has been concerned about the uplifting of the general well-being of the Thai people. His Majesty has traveled throughout the kingdom visiting his people, though there was rain, sunshine, floods, or difficult ways to go through rural barren areas, to listen to his villagers’ problems. His Majesty tried to solve these problems with Royal projects, giving the villagers knowledge to improve themselves to have a better livelihood. There is a picture that impresses all of Thai people. It is a picture of The King. In that picture, His Majesty holds a map in his left hand, a pencil in right hand, and there is a sweat drop on the tip on his nose. I saw this picture everywhere, and every time I saw it there would be a smile on my face and deep in my heart.
Nowadays, His Majesty the King is well recognized as the heart and soul of the Thai nation, as the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the world. But, how many people know why Thai people love their King so much? If you ask Thai people, “Who is the one you most love and esteem?” The answer surely is “Nai Luang” or my King.