Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Maha Chakri Sirindhorn**
Image:Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.gif
Born	April 2 1955 (age 54)
Title	Princess of Thailand
Parents	Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit

Thai Royal Family

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (Thai: สมเด็จพระเทพรัตนราชสุดา เจ้าฟ้ามหาจักรีสิรินธร รัฐสีมาคุณากรปิยชาติ สยามบรมราชกุมารี; Som det phra thep phra rat raat cha su daa Chao fa Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Ratha si ma ku na korn pi ya chat Siam ba rom ma raat cha ku maa ree) is an extremely popular princess of Thailand, of the Chakri Dynasty.

1 Biography
2 Education
3 Works
4 Awards
5 In Her Honor
6 Notes
7 External links

[edit] Biography

Born on April 2, 1955, she is the third child of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand. She is styled as Her Royal Highness.

She was conferred the title of “Somdech Phra Debaratana Rajasuda Chao Fah Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Rathasimakunakornpiyajat Sayam Boroma Rajakumari” by His Majesty the King on December 5, 1977. The English translation of her full title, bestowed on her by HM the King, is "HRH Princess Maha Chakri" -- not "HRH Crown Princess" (though it is considered to be the equivalent of a crown prince).

Easily the most beloved member of the royal family, after the King and Queen, Princess Sirindhorn is affectionately known as Phra Thep (Thai: พระเทพ), a thep being a celestial maiden. She has never married, instead spending much of her life helping her royal father with his projects. She enjoys the widespread admiration of the Thai people and is considered her father's intellectual successor.

[edit] Education

Kindergarten to upper secondary levels at Chitralada School. She ranked first in the National School Examinations in the primary level (grade 7) in 1967, first in upper secondary level (grade 12) in 1972 and fourth in the National University Entrance Examination.
Bachelor of Arts in History (First Class Honor, Gold Medal) from Chulalongkorn University in 1976
Master of Arts in Oriental Epigraphy (Sanskrit and Cambodian) from Silpakorn University in 1978 with the thesis entitled 'The Inscriptions Found at Prasad Bnam Run (Prasat Phnom Rung)'
Master of Arts in Pali and Sanskrit from Chulalongkorn University in 1980 with the thesis entitled 'Dasaparami in Theravada Buddhism'
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Development from Srinakharinwirot University in 1986 with the thesis entitled 'Development of an Innovative Design for the Instruction of Thai Language at the Upper Secondary School Level'

[edit] Works

In Thailand, she is often referred to as Princess of Technology or the Princess of Information Technology, due to her interest and expertise in applying science for the country's development.

Besides her passion for technology, she holds degrees in History and a doctorate in Educational Development. She speaks fluent English, French, and Chinese, and is currently studying German and Latin. Princess Sirindhorn has a very good background in Chinese culture, as well as other oriental cultures. In recent years, she has paid many visits to China, both officially and privately, for her studies of the Chinese language and culture.

An accomplished musician, she plays the trumpet and several Thai traditional instruments, including the ranat (xylophone) and saw duang.<ref>Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Thai Classical Music</ref> She also teaches at the History Department of the Chulachomklao Military Academy, where she is the nominal head of the department.

[edit] Awards

She received many awards and recognition. Some of them are

Chinese Language and Culture Friendship Award in 2000
Understanding and Friendship International Literature Award by Chinese Literature Foundation of Chinese Writers Association in 2001

She was also conferred many honorary degrees, such as

Honorary degree of Doctor in Chinese Studies of Humane Letters, Thammasat University in 1991

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has graciously accepted the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador title for the "Empowerment of Minority Children through Education and through the Preservation of Their Intangible Cultural Heritage." UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura conferred this title on 24 March 2005.

[edit] In Her Honor

Because of her interest in foreign cultures, technology, conservation and education, there are a number of academic and research institutions in Thailand which have been granted permission to use her name, such as

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (Public Organization), established 1991
HRH Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn Music Library, Mahidol University, opened in 1991
Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University, established as International Institute of Technology (IIT) in 1994, renamed SIIT in 1996.
Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut's Institute of Technology North Bangkok

Several fauna species are named after her, including

Pseudochelidon sirintarae (Princess Sirindhorn bird or white-eyed River Martin) of Hirundinidae (swallow). It was described in 1968 and is critically endangered.
Phricotelphusa sirindhorn (Panda crab). It was described in Crustaceana in 1989.
Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae (Sauropod, herbivore dinosaur) from the early Cretaceous period. It was described in 1994.
Acanthosquilla sirindhorn (Panda mantis shrimp). It was described in Crustaceana in 1995.
Streptocephalus sirindhornae (Anostraca, freshwater fairy shrimp). It was described in Journal of Crustacean Biology in 2000.
Macrobrachium sirindhorn (freshwater prawn). It was described in Crustaceana in 2001.
Trigona sirindhornae (apidae, insect)
Sirindhorn thailandiensis (Princess moth).
Loxosomatoides sirindhornae (freshwater kamptozoan). It was described in Hydrobiologia (Hydrobiologia) in 2005.