Dr Sumet Tantivejkul: “Secretary-General for the People”
Recently, Elite+ was quite fortunate to have the opportunity to sit down with Dr Sumet Tantivejkul, the Secretary-General of the Chaipattana Foundation since its founding by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great (Rama IX). Now 86 years of age and having spent more than half his life serving the late king and the nation, he has a vast trove of experience and knowledge he shared with us as we discussed his life and philosophy.
Could you tell us something about your early life and professional career before assuming the post of Secretary-General of the Chaipattana Foundation?
I would have to say my early years were strange; I did not have a typical or normal upbringing. My parents split up when I was still young. My father was living in Bangkok where he had a successful career, but later turned his attention to politics. He won a seat in Parliament, but it cost the family dearly as he and my mother had to sell much of their property.
Meanwhile, my mother returned to her home in Phetchaburi Province, where I spent much of my childhood. For primary school, I initially attended Assumption College in Bangkok’s Bangrak district. Unfortunately, due to health issues, I had to leave after just one year. My mother then decided to homeschool me, providing a supportive and nurturing learning environment until I reached secondary school age. Then, I studied with two teachers, Pongpen and Prasarn, who established a famous tutoring school, where I learned English and to play the guitar. When the time came, I took equivalency tests and successfully gained admission to Grade 10 at Vajiravudh College, a prestigious royal boarding school in Bangkok, Dusit district, which was established by King Rama VI.
However, I studied there for only three years before my father reached out with exciting news that the French Embassy had offered me a scholarship to study at a public school in Dalat, a picturesque city in Vietnam's Central Highlands often compared to Switzerland for its serene landscapes. At first, it was quite hard. I didn’t know the language and didn’t have any friends. I also found the subjects difficult, and I had trouble passing my exams. All in all, at first, I was quite homesick. But then I adjusted, and learned how to take care of myself. I studied philosophy, which I found extremely interesting. And I spent the next six years there, until the war made it too dangerous, and I moved to Laos with a Lao friend to live with his family and completed my studies.
I was then awarded a scholarship to continue my studies in France, where at first I studied law, but it was all too dry and required a lot of memorization. So, I switched to political science and diplomacy and, ultimately, earned a PhD from University of Montpellier, a university in the south of France. By now, I was 30 years old and ready to return home, thinking I might join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as I thought the life of a diplomat might be enjoyable with the travel and interesting people I would meet. But that wasn’t to be.
Back in Thailand, I met a close friend who I had studied with in Grenoble, Jirasak Sethabutr, and he mentioned a job opening for someone holding a doctorate at the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). Meanwhile, while I was home with my mother, who was a chef for Chitralada Palace, she arranged for me to have an audience with the monarch at Hua Hin district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, which was quite an honour. His Late Majesty asked me what I now planned to do and when I mentioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he fell completely silent. Then, I told him about Jirasak’s suggestion to work at the NESDB, and he was quite pleased and asked me to meet Mom Luang Dej Snidvongs, who was a privy councillor and chairman of NESDB’s board of committee. Well, when I arrived, he wasn’t there, so I asked to see someone else. I then met Dr Pisit Pakkasem, who was heading a new department, and after a short interview, he accepted me on the spot. Since then, I began my career at NESDB.
This new department was the Emergency Economic Preparedness Planning Division. What attracted them was my experience in Vietnam and Laos as the wars had raged. I was assigned to a covert mission to help with strategic planning for the army’s national security. That was when I had a chance to meet General Prem Tinsulanonda, who was commander of the 2nd Army Area. Because of my experience, I disagreed with their analyses, and while Gen Prem was sceptical about my ability to fit in and tolerate the hardships faced by the war and situation, I passed the test. Gen Prem was impressed and after this, we developed a very close relationship that only got stronger through the years. In fact, when he became Prime Minister and established the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board to help King Rama IX with his many development projects, he asked me to head the department. I then spent the next 18 years of my life, leading the organisation, while remaining at the NESDB. This was quite a rare situation as I don’t know of anyone who has held the same level civil service position as a Director-General for such an extended period.
Then, in 1988, His Late Majesty, who found it quite frustrating and difficult to go through all the red tape required to be allocated budgets for different projects he wanted to pursue, decided to establish His private foundation, the Chaipattana Foundation. The foundation was created to streamline and facilitate the implementation of his initiatives. At that time, I was honoured to be appointed as SecretaryGeneral, a position I have had the privilege of serving in for the past 36 years.
You had a very long and what it seems intimate relationship, serving His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great. Can you tell us how he inspired you during your arduous tenure leading the Office of the Royal Development Projects Board and then as Secretary-General of the Chaipattana Foundation for now more than 35 years?
I feel myself quite fortunate to have been able to serve the late king for so many years. His dedication to serving the people and perseverance to see the completion of his projects and the improvement in the quality of life of his subjects throughout the Kingdom was a true inspiration.
He was a very difficult role model to follow as he would work all hours of the day and all days of the week and months of the year. We were constantly on the go, spending months in the north before travelling to the northeast and south to supervise and monitor projects. And when back in Bangkok, there was never time to rest. His Late Majesty once taught me to “Observe everything I do, write down everything I say and summarize all of my thoughts and ideas.” I have endeavoured to follow this guidance as well as other advice as I strived to preserve our natural resources — the four essential elements of earth, water, air, and fire — while enhancing the livelihoods and quality of life for the Thai people.
His Late Majesty led by example. He was constantly reading and studying, working to get a better understanding of what the people and country required. He also said when we did this work, as arduous as it was, we had to enjoy ourselves and ensure that the people found joy in the developments and benefits we could provide. And as His Late Majesty never stopped in these pursuits, I have also continued to build on his legacy and will continue to do so as long as I am able.
In what way, if any, have the foundation’s goals and policies evolved over the years and now since Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is now the honorary chairperson of the organisation?
The Chaipattana Foundation’s goals and policies remain the same since King Rama IX first founded the organisation. The Chaipattana Foundation also serves as a focal point for cooperation and collaboration between government and private agencies on projects and activities aiming to alleviate poverty and improve the well-being of the farmers as well as the marginalised groups. The Foundation also promotes and supports sustainable development as well as self-reliance. This is how we worked during the first 30 years of the foundation and, after the passing of King Rama IX, we have continued to hold to these same aspirations under the honorary chairmanship of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. And in the years ahead, no matter what happens, the work of the Foundation will be carried on for the betterment of the Thai populace and our country.
Under the chairmanship of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, the Chaipattana Foundation has been involved in over 20 0 development projects throughout the country. Some of our more recent achievements include the integration of IT to improve the management and monitor the work more effectively.
Our initiatives also include the establishment of the Disaster Rehabilitation Fund, aimed at providing vital assistance to disaster victims, reflecting the essence of the Chaipattana Foundation — "Victory through Development". The Foundation's numerous development projects across the country embody this mission. Examples include the Suda Duenpen Training Center and Accommodation under the Chaipattana Foundation and the Camellia Seed Oil and Other Plant Oil Product Research and Development Center. These projects demonstrate our commitment to sustainable development and community empowerment. The list is extensive. I think it’s best if you visit our website at https://www.chaipat.or.th if you’re interested in learning more.
We understand that this year’s Chaipattana Fair will be held from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm between 12 and 15 December 2024 at the Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok? Why was this site selected and what do you have planned?
Well, as I just mentioned, we recently opened the Suda Duenpen Training Center and Accommodation of the Chaipattana Foundation at the Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok, and this site is good for organizing and showcasing the activities of the Chaipattana Foundation.
This is actually just the third Chaipattana Fair. The first was held back in 2016 at our Chaipattana Vocational Park Project in Nakhon Pathom. Our next event was held in 2022 at Sook Siam, ICONSIAM, Bangkok, and this year we decided to once more move the fair into the provinces to support local farmers and businesses, which we will continue to do in the years ahead, moving to different locations around the country.
We are very fortunate to have HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presiding over the opening of the event, and Her Royal Highness will show her cooking skill using the products of the Chaipattana Foundation such as the Camellia Seed Oil and other food products produced under the Chaipattana Foundation’s development projects. We expect to have more than 170 stalls, featuring local delicacies, crafts and souvenirs from Nakhon Nayok and around the country. Various Royal initiative projects, along with other organisations and private enterprises such as ThaiBev, Central Group, BMW Manufacturing (Thailand) and now Thai Airways International with be there supporting the event. Daily activities, including DIY workshops for children, agricultural exhibitions and special giveaways, will be ongoing. Visitors will also be encouraged to explore scenic areas, relax by the riverside and sample the rich variety of local and premium products.
Another of the Chaipattana Foundation’s important activities is the Leadership Training Programme for Sustainable Development in which you also serve as one of the teachers. What is the aim of this project and what type of knowledge and experience do you share with your students?
Like her father, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn wants the Foundation to serve as a catalyst and leader in sustainable development, and one way to accomplish this is by developing a curriculum that can provide new leaders in this area. They can then serve as change agents as they lead and encourage society to make the necessary changes required to preserve our environment and resources and receive benefits that will ensure for a good quality of life now and in the years ahead. The programme covers a wide range of topics, including Ethics of a Leader, Social Development according to Royal Initiatives, Conflict Management, The Importance of Community Leaders in Community Development and Sustainable Development Based on King Rama IX’s Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy. It is important that we keep developing new leaders at all levels, so they can take over from their predecessors as our work will never be completed in achieving a sufficient and sustainable economy that all can benefit from. These are the reasons why HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn decided to organise Chaipattana Foundation’s Leadership Programme for Sustainable Development.
I was educated by the French and like His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, I speak to others very directly. His Late Majesty would teach me when I did something that didn’t please him, and (laughing) I also remind my subordinates when they have made mistakes. They know me, my personality, and my intentions, and they accept what I say because it reflects the way I teach—just as His Late Majesty taught me. We have all learned not to resent or hold grudges, but to get on with our work to the best of our abilities. And it’s experiences like these that I share in my classes, and I hope the students then share with their colleagues and subordinates.
Last year you published your very inspiring autobiography, The Life’s Destiny, which chronicles your life through seven chapters, each divided into a twelve-year cycle based on the Chinese Zodiac. Are there any projects like this that you are involved in now and, if so, what are they?
To be honest, I am not a writer, and I never planned to write my autobiography. Mr Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, CEO of Thai Beverage PCL, suggested to do, so that others could learn from my life experiences. It took at least a year to compile the photographs and piece together all the events as I never before formally recorded them. I would go into our meeting room and spend hours recording my thoughts and then, after that, I spent many days transcribing and rewriting the transcripts of these recordings. It was a long and arduous task, but it does seem to have been worth it according to the positive reviews the book has received. And now, I am working on a second book, which focuses on my teaching in the Leadership Training Programme for Sustainable Development, so the knowledge I have imparted can be shared with a wider audience.
As the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amarin Corporations PCL, could you kindly share your vision or thoughts on how the publishing industry is evolving?
Well, as you know, rapid technological development is changing, transforming everything. Many of the younger generations now read books and articles on their phones, tablets and computers. So, publishers have to adjust to meet the changing lifestyles and their demands.
Amarin, like many other publishers, is also looking for new formats to market their stories, like producing series or films based on the books they are publishing. Some are even producing series or movies first and then publishing books based on these stories. We all must learn to adjust. It’s the way of the world.
As we come to the end of our interview, do you have any books you would recommend to our readers?
Hmmm, this is a difficult question. I guess I would first recommend The Monk and the Philosopher by Jean-François Revel and Matthieu Ricard, in which Revel, a renowned philosopher, and his son, Revel, a bio-scientist who had renounced the world to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk, met in Kathmandu to discuss the meaning of life. I found the book quite profound.
The second book that was recommended to me by a friend when I was approached to become a politician is First Among Equals by the British author Jeffrey Archer. The novel follows the lives of four fictional politicians who were all vying to become prime minister. It helped to reiterate much of what I already felt because of my father’s indulgence in politics and how this affected our family.
And when it comes to Thai books, I try to read the S.E.A. Write Award winners. I must admit, though, in the past I was a much more avid reader than now, but I still try to read a book when I have time.
Any final thoughts you would like to leave with our readers?
I have been very fortunate to live a very fruitful and fulfilling life. I hope to continue as long as I’m healthy and capable enough. In the future, I do think of relinquishing some of my responsibilities and serve as an advisor emeritus for the Chaipattana Foundation and other organisations. I want to continue to serve as what I call myself, SecretaryGeneral for the People.
