When Vitthya Vejjajiva said he was going to write a biography of Phan Wannamethee — diplomat, Red Cross chief, former Free Thai Movement member and ex-permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) — he received encouragement from everyone except his subject.
"Phan said, 'Why do you want to write about me? Who will bother to read it? I am not one of those big shots'," said Vitthya.
But Vitthya would not take no for an answer.
"I told him, 'I would not even think of writing your biography if you were one of those big shots'," he recalled.
After being prodded time and again, Phan finally caved in.
The book turned out a great success. Phan Pua Pan Din (Phan: For The Love Of Country) has won this year's Best Non-Fiction award from the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education.
Vitthya said he is still surprised by the reception the book has received.
"I never look at myself as a writer, not at all," he said. It is not that Vitthya totally lacked writing experience. When he was working at the Ministry, he wrote a number of official speeches. In retirement, he penned two books — both related to his personal history and his family. Both books, however, were just personal gifts to his friends and family.
Phan Pua Pan Din is the 78-year-old's first commercially published book. Vitthya wrote it to remind people that "humbleness, modesty, self-contentment and moral integrity will eventually lead to a successful, decent and praiseworthy life".
"Phan is steadfast and highly dedicated to his work, yet he is not ambitious," said Vitthya. "He gained love and respect from his bosses and subordinates because of his humility, tolerance, compassion and ability to forgive."
But the book does not preach to the reader. Phan may not be a national hero, but his life has been anything but ordinary. Son of an orchard farmer from Samut Songkhram province, he studied at Thammasat University and started work at MoFA during World War II. He made his way up to become the Ministry's permanent secretary, and was the first Thai to be appointed secretary-general for Asean in 1984.
Vitthya Vejjajiva, the author of Phan Pua Pan Din (Phan: For The Love Of Country).
Now 92, Phan is still very active in charity projects, serving as secretary-general of the Thai Red Cross Society and president of the World Fellowship of Buddhists. He is among the few commoners in the country to have received the highest royal decoration.
Vitthya's book is more than a straightforward biography. The writer has done a lot of research, with the contemporary history of Thailand the backdrop to Phan's life story. Phan was born in 1923 during the reign of King Rama VI, and his long career bears witness to the changes in society and the political climate.
Destiny has always toyed with Phan. During World War II, he was hand-picked and sent to Washington, DC to assist the Seri Thai — or Free Thai — Movement, formed to resist Japan during the war. In the US, Vitthya wrote, Phan was trained for a secret intelligence operation by the OSS (the forerunner of today's CIA).
MoFA provided him with opportunities to witness history in the making. Phan was sent to work on a secret operation at the Thai Embassy in Cairo in the 1950s, when Britain, France and Israel invaded the country in the war over the Suez Canal. He was posted to the Thai Embassy in Vietnam when the country was torn apart. Phan became permanent secretary-general of MoFA in 1973, not long after the Oct 14 incident. Of course, he witnessed a number of coups, and served as a member of the National Legislative Assembly.
The 384-page biography would have been seriously heavy reading had the writer just bluntly written down facts. But Vitthya has given his book a lively and personal touch by peppering it with quotes from 30 people — Phan's family, friends and colleagues. Insightful comments on diplomatic policy from Phan and other luminaries of the MoFA elevate the book into a kind of reference source on the history of Thai diplomacy. Phan Pua Pan Din is a must read for students who aspire to be career diplomats.
Overall, the book gives readers life lessons and inspiration. We should thank Vitthya for spotting a gem of a story in what appears to be an ordinary life. Phan's humble life has indeed been nothing short of extraordinary.
