Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij, the 3rd Kasetsart University President

Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was the 3rd President of Kasetsart University (May 6, 1946 – April 14, 1958). Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij (Suwan Resanon), formerly known Thongdi Resanon, was born on Mar 10, 1950 at Pho Klang sub-district, Muang district, Nakhorn Ratchasima province, the eldest son of Mr. Thap and Mrs. Ret Resanon, had 2 siblings who died at young. So he was the only child. He studied at the model school of Nakhorn Ratchasima region for 2 years. After his father passed away, his mother moved to settle at Burirum province and engaged in trade and farm occupation. He enrolled in the Provincial School of Burirum for 2 years and was recruited into the royal scholar with the highest score and enrolled in Bansomdejchaopraya Teacher Training School, Pra Nakorn province. He continued his study in Science of Education, Department of University and completed his master’s degree in 1916. In 1917, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij served as the government service, a teacher in Ministry of Public Instruction and Religion with salary of 80 baht. He was a teacher at The Hor Wang Agricultural Teacher Training School for Primary Level, together with Mr. Phon Sinthurawet, his classmate in master’ degree. The school was located at Hor Wang or Ban Suan Luang, Sa Prathum, the present location of National Stadium, offering the program of the primary teacher training and agriculture. Braya Debbasastrasathitya (Ho Kaladit) was the Headmaster. In 1918, the school was relocated to Phra Prathon sub-district, Muang district, Nakron Pratom province. There was no budget for the construction. They had to pave the way at the beginning of the building construction. Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij also moved to teach at new location. He supervised the moving transportation by boat, when Mr. Phon Sinthurawet supervised the moving transportation by train. Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was known in his diligence on studying, working, and research. He can memorize the entire Mc Farland dictionary. In 1920, the Ministry of Public Instruction and Religion, with support from Braya Debbasastrasathitya, granted Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij the studying scholarship at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos. During the study, he conducted a thesis on "Studying the fecundity of chickens in different months" and stayed in the incubator at all times during the thesis. Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij graduated with first-class honor in Agricultural Science (B.Sc. Agr. Hons.). In 1924, he had the highest score in the class. After graduation, he continued his teaching at The Wat Phra Prathon Agricultural Teacher Training School for Primary Level, Nakorn Prathom province. Also, he was bestowed with the rank of Prefect. In the same year, the Agricultural Teacher Training School was relocated to Ban Saphan Yai district, Prachuapkhirikhan Province. The land plot was all dominant with forest and there was no budget for clearing the land. With the collective spirit of the headmaster, the teachers, and the students, the school was constructed completely. The fishermen called Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij the doctor because he was good at the operation to cure pork, caused by the catfish. Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was a determined person, he was beloved and respected by the students and colleagues. While he teached at the Ban Saphan Yai, he was assigned to relocated to Thap Kwang sub-district, Kangkoy District, Saraburi province to grow crops and raise the beast of burden to generate the income for school operation as the budget was limited. Moreover, these works could be the first-hand training for the students. In 1926, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij brought the second year students of the Ban Saphan Yai to help with the Thap Kwang school construction and settle down, when the land plot was full of fierce animals and malaria fever. Within 2 years, the Thap Kwand school was completed. Then the Ban Saphan Yai was merged with the Thap Kwang and demolished the Ban Saphan Yai location. On December 8, 1928, The Prefect Thongdi Resanon was graciously bestowed with an honorable title “Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij”. He continued his teaching at Tha Thap Kwang until 1929 when Braya Debbasastrasathitya passed away. Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was appointed the headmaster. In 1932, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was appointed the headmaster of the Agricultural Experiment Station at Kuan Neing, Rattaphum district, Songkla province.However, the inappropriate place, the Kuan Neing Agricultural Experiment Station was moved to Khor Hong sub-district, Had Yai district, Songkla province, where another Agricultural Teacher Training School for Primary Level was established for the 2nd school of Thailand. The Thap Kwang was moved to Nonsung sub-district, Nonsung district, Nakornratchasima province and renamed to be The Non Wat Agricultural Teacher Training School for Primary Level in 1933 with Luang Ingkhasikasikan as a headmaster and Mr. Jarat Soonthornsingh as an assistant to the headmaster. At the same time of the establishment of the Non Wat, the Agricultural Teacher Training School for Primary Level in the northern region was established at Mae Jo, Nong Han sub-district, San Sai district, Chai Mai province, with Phra Chuangkasetsinlapakan as a headmaster and Mr. Swatdi Weeradecha as an assistant to the headmaster (moved from the Non Wat). In the southern region, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij worked harder as he was the Head of Agricultural Experiment Station and the headmaster of the Agricultural Teacher Training School for Primary Level in the southern region, with Mr. Rueim Buranaruek as an assistant to the headmaster. In 1934, Chao Phraya Thammasakmontri retired from his position at the Ministry of Education. This made the changes to the agricultural education policy and resulted in the demolishment of the three agricultural teacher training schools. The teachers, which are Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij, Phra Chuangkasetsinlapakan and Luang Ingkhasikasikan, who had been in the collaboration in founding the schools with Braya Debbasastrasathitya, proposed to the Ministry of Public Instruction and Religion, to establish the vocational secondary school at Mae Jo. Upon the approval of the Ministry of Public Instruction and Religion, the vocational secondary school at Mae Jo was established, together with other 4 locations. These led to the establishment of Kasetsart College at Mae Jo before moving to Bangkhen, Pra Nakorn province, where later was upgraded to Kasetsart University. The three master played an important role in agricultural development. When the responsibilities of The Ministry of Agriculture was expanded, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was transferred from Ministry of Public Instruction and Religion and appointed the Director General of the Department of Agriculture from September 15, 1934 (later renamed to Department of Agriculture and Fisheries). On February 1, 1936, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was appointed the Director of Academic Affair, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. He was the first Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan of Ratanakosin period (the cultural revival period, B.E. 1936). In the early of 1938, the budget and teachers of The Agricultural Vocational Secondary School under Ministry of Public Instruction and Religion’s supervision was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture. With limited number of teachers and aiming to improve the academic, The Agricultural Vocational Secondary School at Khor Hong, Non Wat, ang Bangkok Noi was merged to Mae Jo and upgraded to Kasetsart College. In the same year, the Ministry of Agriculture established the Central Agriculture Station (Kaset Klang), Pra Nakorn province to assure the collaboration between agricultural experiments and agricultural education. In 1939, the Ministry of Agriculture moved Kasetsart College from Mae Jo to Bangkhen. The school at Mae Jo was changed to Kasetsart College Preparatory School. Kasetsart College at Bangkhen accepted the students who completed the program from Mae Jo, offering 3-year diploma programs in three fields: agriculture and cooperative science conducted at Bangkhen, and forestry, formerly School of Forestry and the Forestry School, was merged into part of Kasetsart College. Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij, the then Specialist of Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, was appointed the College Director. Mr. Rueim Buranaruek was put in the position of Assistant to Director. Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij and the teachers start the Kasetart College development plan. In 1941, when Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was appointed to be the Specialist in livestock and beast of burden under the Department of Livestock and Beast of Burden, Mr. Rueim Buranaruek was appointed the college director. In 1942, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was graciously allowed to resign from the nobel title “Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij” and used the former name “Suwan Resanon”. In 1943, Field Marshal P. Phibunsongkhram determined the importance of agricultural education and merged the university at Bangkhen with the School of Forestry at Phrae province, became Kasetsart University according to Kasetsart University Act B.E. 2486 (1943) given on February 2, 1943. The curriculum was extended to 4 faculties, Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Fisheries and Faculty of Cooperatives, with Vice Admiral Sindhu Kamalanavin,the then title, was the Kasetsart University First President. On September 4, 1945, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij was appointed The Acting Director General of the Department of Livestock and Beast of Burden until December 27, 1945 and appointed the Director General on December 28, 1945. In the same year, he was regained his noble title “Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij”.One year later, in 1946, the Kasetsart University Council considered that the president position should be permanent. Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij, the then Director General of the Department of Livestock and Beast of Burden until was appointed, was appointed the Kasetsart University 3rd President from May 6, 1946 – April 14, 1958 or 12 years in total. He retired from the position and was bestowed with the pension. During 12 years under his supervision, Luang Suwan Vajokkasikij developed and improved many aspects of the university focusing on the 3 primary university’s missions: Education, Research, and Promotion.