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The International Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand
Volume XV-2023

“Littérature engagée” in Thailand in the Revolutionary Years

from 1973 to 1976

Pornsan Watanangura

Fellow, Royal Society of Thailand, Dusit, Bangkok 10300 Thailand

Abstract

It may be a surprise that the original idea of littérature engagée in Thailand

has its roots on one hand in international socialist movements in Europe, and on
the other hand in the re-study of Thai literature of Thai poets in the 5th decade
of the 20th century. The critical analysis of Thai literature of Chit Bhumisak in
accordance with the concept of literature as “l’ pure l” inquiring after the function

of literature, and the 14th October Student Revolution in 1973 have marked the
beginning of a new epoch in Thailand’s political and social life. Students had called
upon the military dictatorship to reinstate a democratic constitution. These two
incidents, literary and social-politically, are decisive for the movement of littérature

engagée in Thailand, which in its new character, is known under the name
literature for life.

This paper aims at an understanding of how the political and literary
movement in Thailand represents the first attempt to see literature as a medium
for the resolution of social-political conflicts and to use it directly in the fight against

injustice. The study also demonstrates the relation between the concrete political
events of 14 October 1973 and literature for life through examples of literary fragments.
th

Keywords: literature for life; littérature engage/engaged literature; the 14 October-
th
revolution; l’ art pour l’ art; Aksorn Sarn; Chit Bhumisak; progressive literature

Correspondence to Pornsan Watanangura, FRS(T), Royal Society of Thailand, Academy of Arts, Dusit,
Bangkok 10300 Thailand. Email: wpornsan@gmail.com

Pornsan Watanangura 97