23 October 2020

On the occasion of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) Memorial Day, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata wishes to underline His Majesty’s significant contribution towards the development and the modernisation of the Siamese nation through a series of reforms of the political and administrative system, the nationwide development of infrastructure and public facilities, as well as the abolition of slavery system in the country. His Majesty King Rama V also maintained and developed relations with other nations through numerous outbound visits during His Majesty’s 42 years of reign (1868-1910). Among the nations visited by His Majesty King Chulalongkorn was India, during its particular British Raj chapter.

His Majesty travelled to India by sea, starting from Chaophraya River, via Singapore, Penang, Mawlamyine and Yangon. During this trip, King Chulalongkorn visited Calcutta, Barrackpore, Delhi, Agra, Cawnpore (Kanpur), Lucknow, Bombay (Mumbai) and Benares (Varanasi) respectively. Calcutta was King Chulalongkorn’s first port of arrival and the then capital of the British Raj. His Majesty stayed there from 13 to 22 January 1872, before proceeding to other cities by train. Upon return, His Majesty stayed for the second time in Calcutta from 22 to 26 February 1872, before travelling back to Siam.

It was in Calcutta that His Majesty King Rama V met Lord Mayo, the 4^th Viceroy of India, and visited many important landmarks namely the Government House, the Indian Museum, the Asiatic Society, the Silver and Copper Mint, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Fort William, other military facilities at Barrackpore, the Alipore Prison, a weapon factory and foundry, a cotton and jute mill, water work facility, a hospital, and a literary association, - among others. During King Chulalongkorn’s temporary stay in Calcutta, the Thai Monarch stayed at Great Eastern Hotel, Asia’s oldest Hotel since 1840 (nowadays the LaLiT Great Eastern Hotel), and at No. 7 Wood Street (nowadays the Saturday Club).

From the historical information above, Kolkata/Calcutta has played a pivotal role in Thailand-India relations, in that Calcutta, the then capital of the British Raj, was the first place of disembarkation and had thus given the first impression of modernised India to the King of Siam, which would inspire him in his subsequent reforms that would, in turn, result in the modernisation of the Kingdom of the East.

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata.

Bibliographical references and photo source credits :

http://kingchulalongkorn.car.chula.ac.th/th/history/rama5_bio

http://newdelhi.thaiembassy.org/en/2018/07/kings-india-royal-thai-family-context-siam-bharat-relations/#:~:text=King%20Chulalongkorn%2C%20the%20illustrious%20great,the%20British%20Raj%20in%201872.

http://newdelhi.thaiembassy.org/th/2018/10/ramavanddelhi/

https://www.thairath.co.th/lifestyle/life/1957764

https://www.thaiembassy.sg/friends-of-thailand/p/king-chulalongkorn-day

https://readthecloud.co/scoop-18/

India in 1872, as Seen by the Siamese. Sachchidanand Sahai. BR Publishing Corporation, 2002. 6, 2002.

The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata also wishes to thank Mr. Apirat Sugondabhirom, Consul-General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh and former Minister, Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, as well as Associate Professor Sawitree Charoenpong from the Department of History, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, for their contribution to the above-mentioned historical records in relation to His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, and India. Both were invited by the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata as guest speakers to enlighten different audiences in the city on this particular chapter of the Thai monarchy’s first-of-a-kind visit to India.