New Delhi
25 June 2007
India will seek to leverage the age-old historical, civilisational and
cultural links with Thailand during the State visit of Prime Minister General Surayad
Chulanont of Thailand.
The Thai premier arrived in New Delhi on Monday night. He is accompanied by Minister
of Foreign Affairs Nitya Pibulsonggram, Minister of Commerce Krirk-Krai Jirapaet and
Minister of Energy Piyasvasti Amranand. He will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and call on President APJ Abdul Kalam of India on Tuesday. General
Chulanont will visit Varanasi, Sarnath and Kolkata. His visit takes place in the 60th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Vietnam.
The town of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu has been a centre of learning for Brahmana
(brahmin) boys from Thailand. The Rajaguru (Royal Court Chief Brahmin) of Thailand,
Vamadeva Muni, has chosen Kanchipuram for training younger generation of Thai
priests. Rajaguru Vamadeva Muni, who visited India a few years ago, is the chief priest
of the Royal Household of Thailand. He belongs to the fourth generation of Rajagurus
serving King Bhumibol Adulyadej. His duties are to conduct puja for the Royal family and
preside over coronation ceremony.
According to the family of Chennai-based danseuse Dr Padma Subrahmanyam,
managing trustee of Bharata Muni Foundation for Asian Culture, Hindus constitute a
miniscule percentage of Thailand's population but enjoy a preemiment status in that
country's life. Bharata Muni, the ancient Indian author of the Natya Shastra, a treatise on
performing arts, is known as Phrot Rishi in Thailand. Also, the King of Thailand is
considered to be a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hindu epic Ramayana is popular in
Thailand.
Her nephew, Mr Kannan, told this newspaper that the Tiruppavai and Tiruvampavai
verses, in praise of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu respectively, are found in Thailand. "The
late Kanchi Mahaswami Paramacharya organised an international conference in the
1940s, to which the present Rajaguru's father was invited. A veteran Thai dancer, Achan
Chaturong Montrisat, also pursued his studies in India, with the assistance provided by
the seer," he said.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said that the memorandum of understanding on
enhanced cooperation in the field of renewable energy and the memorandum of
understanding on cultural programme would be signed after the talks between Prime
Minister Singh and General Chulanont. It said, "Relation between India and Thailand are
based on age old historical, civilisational and cultural links and encompass a range of
areas including political, defence, security, science and technology and cultural
exchanges and ties. Trade between the two countries has surpassed the three billion
dollar mark in 2006."
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