Prince Bhisadej Rajani (Thai: ภีศเดช รัชนี; RTGS: Phisadet Ratchani; complete title: His Serene Highness Prince (Mom Chao) Bhisadej Rajani; 20 January 1922 – 23 July 2022) was a prince of Thailand, a member of the Thai royal family, and a member of the House of Rajani, a royal house which was originated by his father and descends from Chakri Dynasty.[1] He was one of the longest-living royal personages in the Thai history. He was a close friend of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was also his third-degree cousin (since they both shared a common great-great-grandfather, King Rama II and their great-grandfathers, King Mongkut and Prince Pinklao were brothers, henceforth, King Chulalongkorn and Prince Wichaichan, their respective grandfathers were related as first cousins, which in turn begat their respective fathers, Princes Mahidol Adulyadej and Bidyalongkorn, who were related to each other as second cousins, henceforth, he and the late King and his siblings, the late Princess Galyani Vadhana and the late King Ananda Mahidol as well as the daughter of King Vajiravudh, the late Princess Bejaratana were all related to him as third-degree cousins). In addition, he was also an author and worked as one of the directors of the Royal Project Foundation for the late king.[2]
He was also a great-grandson of Siamese Viceroy, Prince Pinklao, who in turn was one of the sons of King Rama II, a grandson of Prince Wichaichan and one of the grandnephews of King Chulalongkorn as well as one of the nephews to Kings Vajiravudh and Prajadhipok.
He graduated from Debsirin School and continued his education at Dulwich College in England where he played rugby, tennis, and squash. Running many races a day, young Prince Bhisadej finally won the Victor Ludorum gold medal (Latin for 'winner of the games') at the annual Thai students in the UK meeting. During World War II, he joined the British Army in 1943 as a soldier and British spy. He was trained to walk up the hills with a rifle and heavy back pack. He trekked the Himalayan Mountains for two weeks with an army from Darjeeling Hill Station in India to Nathula Pass in Tibet. After the army training, he engaged the underground resistance movement activities against Japanese called Free Thai Movement during the War. After the war, he came back to Thailand and worked as an officer in the Border Patrol Police in their schools along the northern Thai border for a few years.
Royal duties
Prince Bhisadej as the President of the Royal Project, Doi Ang Khang, Fang, Chiang Mai.
Prince Bhisadej was a close friend of King Bhumibol Adulyadej since the king held the title Prince during his elder brother's, King Ananda Mahidol, reign. In a 1969 narcotics campaign, during which hill tribe villagers in the northern territory grew opium, King Bhumibol Adulyadej established the Royal Project Foundation centred in Fang District under his command to encourage hill tribes to renounce opium-growing. As president of the organisation, Bhisadej gave advice to them about growing instead cash crops such as strawberries, peaches, plums, as well as vegetables and fruits. He also served as president of the Thai-United Nations Hill-Tribe Economic Development Project and of the Highland Agricultural Research Committee.
Later life
Prince Bhisadej pursuing his hobbies in his office in Pramual Palace, his royal residence in Silom, Bangkok.
While working in Chiang Mai Province, Prince Bhisadej lived a very simple lifestyle. His hobbies were reading, listening to music, and photography. He was fond of photography from the time that he was 14 years old. He enjoyed taking pictures of flowers grown at The Royal Development Centres, particularly English roses at The Royal Agricultural Station Ang Khang, which are in full bloom in April. He enjoyed novels and books about history and rural travels that describe the lives of farmers, especially in France and Spain.
His last book in Thai entitled Cheewit Chun Chun (Thai: ชีวิตชั้น ๆ; RTGS: Chiwit Chan Chan), published in 2002 under the pseudonym P. of Pramualmak (Thai: ภ. ณ ประมวญมารค; RTGS: Pho Na Pramuanmak); the letter P stands for his name when romanised in the RTGS style, Phisadet. His book is autobiographical and also deals with Thai history some 100 years ago.
Prince Bhisadej was respected by Thais for his dedication and long contributions to King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Royal Projects.[3] The prince was frequently invited to preside over academic or international meetings and social events.[4] He turned 100 in January 2022,[5] and died on 23 July, the 77th anniversary of his father's death.[6]
The prince and his family resided at Pramual Palace in Silom, Bangkok, but frequently resided at his private residence in the area of The Royal Project Development and Agricultural Centre, Doi Ang Khang, Fang District, Chiang Mai Province.
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