Google Doodle celebrates the 107th anniversary of Thai feminist Khun Nilawan Pintong who is recognized as the founder of the Ounakorn Center, and Satree Sarn Magazine Thailand’s first women’s magazine on the 6th of December, 2022.
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Who was Khun Nilawan Pintong?
Nilawan Pintong was born in Bangkok on the 6th of December 1915. She was an active Thai feminist whose commitment to female rights was rewarded with the title Steel Lotus Blossom. She is primarily known for being the creator of Thailand’s Ounakorn Center and Satree Sarn Magazine the first Thai women’s publication that advised women to participate in the community.
Khun Nilawan Pintong was also an early Thai winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in the year 1961. “Thai women have a unique and innovative role in the nation’s building” was the reason why she was awarded the prize. She , along with the other winners received a certificateof recognition, the gold medal, as well as $10,000 in the form that award.
After the death of Nilawan’s mother her father was monk, and she was provided with an Buddhist education. After being raised in the values of charity and service from the time she was when she was a child, Nilawan strove to fulfill her dream of becoming an educator. She was able to obtain her certification through the Bethaburi School of Teacher Training in Bangkok. Her graduation at Chulalongkorn University in 1936 with an Associate of Arts degree in Modern Languages (English and French) and First Honors in English.
Khun Nilawan Pintong was a teacher for a year in an elementary school in the Ministry of Education. Following that, she was the chief of the Official Publications Section, and then the chief of the Foreign Press Section, both within the Department of Foreign Affairs.
With the help of three of his friends, Khun Nilawan Pintong established the magazine fortnightly Satree Sarn Magazine in 1947 despite the absence of funds. The magazine’s contents ranged from literature and art as well as fashion and crafts, and even women’s fashion. In just 3 years it was the most read magazine in Thailand up to the time of its final publication in 1996 due to financial problems.
Then, Khun Nilawan established two additional magazines, namely a youth magazine known as Darun Sar and a weekly news magazine known as Sapdha Sarn. Khun Nilawan as well as Daroon Sarn established Daroon Sarn’s Preeya Club for children, which provided classes in art and crafts as well as other fun activities for children.
Khun Nilawan Pintong partnered in collaboration with the Thai Library Association to raise the standard of library services in Thailand and was also involved in other projects, such as translation services as well as the weekly radio program. She was also president of the Society of Printing president for several years.
She served as secretary and president for the PEN Center of Thailand, in addition to and was an executive secretary of the Thai Foundation for Journalism education. chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Women of Thailand and a an active member of the National Council on Education; members of Thai Merchants Association; VP of the Pan Pacific and Southeast Asia Women’s Association.
Khun Nilawan Pintong founded and directed the Ounakorn Centre that also hosted foreigners working in similar areas, to offer a space for homeless non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The very first Thai to be awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service Also called the “Nobel Prize for Asia,” in the year 1961. This award honored her work to empower women and build a nation.
On 7 February 2017 Khun Nilawan Pintong, who was 101, passed away.
Khun Nilawan Pintong was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Arts in the form of Chulalongkorn University.
On the 6th of December 2022 Google presented the Doodle on its home page for celebration of Khun Nilawan Pintong’s birthday.