Sukich Nimmanheminda (, 25 November 1906 – 2 February 1976) was a Thai scholar, educator, politician and diplomat. He was a professor at

Chulalongkorn University Chulalongkorn University (CU; ; , ) is a public university, public Autonomous university, autonomous research university in Bangkok, Thailand. The university was originally founded during King Chulalongkorn's reign as a school for training ro ...

and served as its secretary-general. He also served multiple terms as member of parliament for Chiang Mai, and held the posts of Minister of Industry, of Economics and of Education as well as two terms as deputy Prime minister of Thailand.

Life and career

Born and raised in Chiang Mai, Sukich attended Assumption College in Bangkok before he continued his education in England. He completed bachelor and master of science degrees from the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a collegiate university, federal Public university, public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The ...

as well as a civil engineering diploma from Battersea Polytechnic Institute. Upon his return to Thailand, he became a lecturer of mathematics and hydraulics at

in 1933. He was appointed secretary-general of the university in 1938 and acting dean of the Faculty of Arts in Sciences in 1940. Two years later he became both member of the executive council of Chulalongkorn University and director-general of the department of vocational education of the Thai ministry of education. Sukich was elected member of parliament for Chiang Mai for three terms (1948–1958), and held the post of Minister of Industry in

Plaek Phibunsongkhram Plaek Phibunsongkhram; 14 July 1897 – 11 June 1964) was a Thai military officer and politician who served as the third prime minister of Thailand from 1938 to 1944 and again from 1948 to 1957. He rose to power as a leading member of the Kh ...

's cabinet from 1949 to 1952. He chaired the

Sahaphum Party The Sahaphum Party (, sometimes translated as "United Land" or "Unionist Party") was a political party in Thailand. It was founded on 21 June 1957 by Sukich Nimmanheminda. Behind the scenes, the party was formed by Sanguan Chantharasakha to giv ...

("United Land") founded in June 1957 to support Field Marshal

Sarit Thanarat Sarit Thanarat (also spelled Dhanarajata; ; born Siri (); 16 June 1908 – 8 December 1963) was a Thai politician and military commander. He served as commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army (from 1954) and as Minister of Defense during ...

's accession to power. After Sarit's coup d'état in September 1957, Sukich served as minister of Economics and from January to October 1958 additionally as deputy prime minister in the government of

Thanom Kittikachorn Thanom Kittikachorn (, , ; 11 August 1911 – 16 June 2004) was Prime Minister of Thailand from 1963 to 1973, military officer, who supported and initiated military coups and became Thailand's defence minister. He rose to power when he staged a ...

. He later served as Thailand's Ambassador to India (1959–1963), also accredited in Afghanistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. From October to December 1963 he represented Thailand as ambassador to the United States. Sukich was the first Secretary-General of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization from 1968 to 1969. Subsequently he served as minister of Education, again under Thanom, from 1969 to 1972. After the end of military dictatorship in the course of the

14 October 1973 uprising The popular uprising of 14 October 1973 (, , ; also , , ) was a watershed event in Thailand's History of Thailand, history. The uprising resulted in the end of the ruling military dictatorship of anti-communist Thanom Kittikachorn and altered the ...

, Sukich was again deputy prime minister under Sanya Dharmasakti, serving until May 1974. In addition to his scientific expertise, he was also knowledgeable in history and literature. He collected rare books and birds. Sukich was a Fellow of the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, re ...

in two subject areas, history and physical sciences, and also served as its president from 1975 to 1976.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nimmanheminda, Sukich Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda Sukich Nimmanheminda 1906 births 1976 deaths