Page 108 - The lraternational Journal of the Royal Society of Thailand.indd

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

This movement 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.

Since then, the Thai school of literature talks of three phases in which the
“littérature engagée” developed in Thailand. The first phase from 1947 to 1957 is
characterized by the first actions of the so-called “progressive” writers and their

proclamation of “art for life” against “art for art” (l’ art pour l’ art). The central question
was about the function of literature and the actual task of the writer. This period was
distinguished in the first place in the journal “Aksorn Sarn” and continued until
the demise of this journal in 1952, when Supa Sirimanon and Kularp Saipradit,
together with other authors and journalists, were arrested on the 10 of November
th
1952 because of their political activity, the so called “Peace-uprising”. This “Peace-
Uprising” of 1952 resulted in many Thai authors turning to the social problems of the
country and therefore, gave greater impetus to “progressive literature”. This also applies

to the time after the first military putsch by General Sarit Thanarat in 1957 that led to
a blossoming of progressive “literature for life” in Thailand, if only for a period of a
year. The second military putsch in Thailand was the major turning point, however.
General Sarit abolished the constitution, dissolved parliament and governed the
country with just 20 laws he set himself. Many writers and journalists were put under

strict surveillance or arrested as communists. Communist actions, or actions considered
as such, were forbidden and the media was heavily censored.

The political deformation and social impoverishment under the military rule,
which lasted until 1973, only allowed entertainment literature and zealously eliminated
any socially critical statements. However, these harsh measures also gave the impetus

for a second phase of “littérature engagée”. This phase reached its peak during the years
1973 to 1976, when the military power fled following the student revolts.

After the return of the military dictator from exile and immediately following
this time an extremely bloody suppression of a student demonstration on the
Thammasart campus, people soon spoke of the “death of the littérature engagée” in

Thailand.

The third phase of “leftist” literature began first with the change of power from
an extreme right-wing government to a largely military group following a putsch in
1977. Although political control was not exercised with as much force, many writers
and books were still under prohibition. But the interest of writers and students in

political engagement was also gradually waning. The third phase of the littérature
engagée after 1976 is displayed more through reflections, criticism and remembrances
of the brutal political persecution in the preceding phases.

100 “Littérature engagée” in Thailand in the Revolutionary Years from 1973 to 1976