Charnvit Kasetsiri

Charnvit Kasetsiri is Thailand’s most prominent historian as well as an outstanding teacher, mentor, and public intellectual who has spearheaded numerous pioneering endeavors, projects, and initiatives. Once Rector of Thammasat University (1994–1995), he is an activist, whether on campus or off campus, he has an ubiquitous involvement in promoting “new” school textbooks, engaged alongside political protestors on the streets in Bangkok, heading public campaigns, organizing and speaking at seminars on “hot” topics, leading tour groups to Ayutthaya, or in deep contemplation in his office overlooking the Menam Chao Phraya. Indefatigable in energy and spirit, enthusiastic and inquisitive about anything and everything, propagating to the young and the old, he is often outspoken, at times provocative, and always a controversial figure.