Congratulations to Thai composer, conductor and sff writer Somtow Sucharitkul who has just received Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award, a major award given to someone who has successfully promoted Thailand in the international community.

Sucharitkul is one of three recipients of this year’s award, acknowledged as —

A National Artist, composer, and writer, whose renowned works have been globally admired and helped promote Thai characteristics for decades. 

The other two honorees are Phra Ajahn Jayasaro, “A revered monk who has played a significant and rigorous role in making the essence of Thai Theravada Buddhism known to the world, while promoting an international appreciation of Thai identity, culture, and spiritual values”, and The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage “An organization whose compendium of works on Thai art, culture, archaeology, and history has been serving as a bridge to foster friendships between Thai people and various cultures for over 120 years.”

Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award has been given since 2022 “to individuals, groups or organizations, both Thai and foreign nationals, who have significantly contributed to enhancing the reputation, prestige, image, and popularity of Thailand, ‘Thainess’ and Thai people among the international community.” The award supports and fosters “awareness that all individuals, groups and organizations, can play active parts in advancing public diplomacy, which has an important role in promoting international relationships at people-to-people level.”

The first the Public Diplomacy Award was presented to Dr. Soontorn Antarasena, a senior otolaryngologist from Rajavithi Hospital who founded a group of volunteer doctors who travel around the world to help treat ear diseases.

In 2023, the award was presented to Moriya Jutanugarn (Pro Mo) and Ariya Jutanugarn (Pro May), Thai professional golfers, for their outstanding achievements in the international women’s golf. The two golfers have paid back their success to the society through establishing the Moriya and Ariya Foundation to help underprivileged children, elderlies, and those in need, as well as through raising environmental awareness.

[Based on a press release.]