11 May 1949
Siam officially renamed Thailand
After months of intense debate between nationalists, led by Col Karn Chamnongbhumived of the Coup Group, and liberal intellectuals, under Chulalongkorn University professor Inthorn Singhanetr and former premier MR Seni Pramoj, the government decreed that the nation’s official name would return to Thailand. Under a previous Plaek administration the country’s name had been changed from Siam to Thailand on June 24, 1939. It was then renamed Siam in 1945 during the Seni premiership and remained as Siam during the Khuang, Pridi and Thamrong administrations.
Heated debate on whether the kingdom should revert back to the name Thailand had raged in parliament for many months, with both sides equally fervent in their stance. Those who argued for the change said the name Thailand would encourage patriotism among Thais. Those arguing against claimed Siam, the nation’s traditional name, was more ethnically inclusive.
The timing of the name change coincided with the promulgation of a new constitution, which was passed in parliament on January 28 by a wide majority (125 votes to 30) and was officially signed on March 24. The announcement of the official adoption of Thailand as the kingdom’s name was broadcast by Radio Bangkok on the evening of May 11.
11 May 1949
Siam officially renamed Thailand
After months of intense debate between nationalists, led by Col Karn Chamnongbhumived of the Coup Group, and liberal intellectuals, under Chulalongkorn University professor Inthorn Singhanetr and former premier MR Seni Pramoj, the government decreed that the nation’s official name would return to Thailand. Under a previous Plaek administration the country’s name had been changed from Siam to Thailand on June 24, 1939. It was then renamed Siam in 1945 during the Seni premiership and remained as Siam during the Khuang, Pridi and Thamrong administrations.
Heated debate on whether the kingdom should revert back to the name Thailand had raged in parliament for many months, with both sides equally fervent in their stance. Those who argued for the change said the name Thailand would encourage patriotism among Thais. Those arguing against claimed Siam, the nation’s traditional name, was more ethnically inclusive.
The timing of the name change coincided with the promulgation of a new constitution, which was passed in parliament on January 28 by a wide majority (125 votes to 30) and was officially signed on March 24. The announcement of the official adoption of Thailand as the kingdom’s name was broadcast by Radio Bangkok on the evening of May 11.