The death of a monarch

The public expressed grief at the death of the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej

The public and unrestrained grief expressed at the death of the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, was notable for being virtually universal and completely genuine. There will now be a year of state mourning. He had ruled for 70 years, and no Thai under 70 will have any experience or knowledge of any other person on the throne — and the majority of the Thai population is under 70. He was 88 when he died and his death was long expected which has done nothing to ease the pain of his passing. Many saw him in his prime as a unifying figure, unusually involved in affairs of state for a ruling monarch.



Thailand has had a turbulent history over the last 70 years and has evolved from a backward and undeveloped agrarian country to one that is wealthy, highly developed and still moving forward as a regional destination and hub for its vibrant tourist industry. King Bhumibol presided over that transition and played a role in it, intervening at key points and balancing his royal role with governments that ranged across military dictatorships and elected democracies. There is now going to be a period of uncertainty. His only son, the Crown Prince, has asked that there be a delay before he is crowned, and it will be nigh impossible to fill the role his father played which was almost divine, and nobody is about to believe that the Crown Prince has been blessed with the same qualities as his father.

Recent years have seen political turmoil in which the King was too ill to play any role beyond the symbolic — yet he was still the glue that held many things together. During his reign there were almost 20 attempted or successful coups, the latest in 2014, and despite its prosperity Thailand cannot be considered a stable country. Despite this it is a popular destination for the emerging middle-class in Pakistan, and Pakistan is equally popular with Thai tourists who visit what used to be Northern Areas for the spring blossoms and the autumnal colours. We offer the Thai people our deepest condolences, and welcome them as honoured guests as they welcome us.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2016.

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