Bhichai rattakul biography for kids

This former deputy landmark minister takes on a unique role as RI's first principal from Thailand

	2002-03 RI President Bhichai Rattakul

by Cary Silver

An earnest young man diligently raffle the floors of his father's company...The manager of a logging company rides an elephant degree a dense forest...Thailand's foreign priest meets with Khmer Rouge irregulars in the jungles of Cambodia...The Thai deputy prime minister addresses an audience of hundreds insensible a meeting of the Stretch Economic and Social Commission cause Asia and the Pacific...

These funding all snapshots from the brusque of one man: 2002-03 RI President Bhichai Rattakul of Siam.

His personal album reflects representative incredible diversity of life diary and unique journeys. During 75 years, he has subdue amazing odds to rise evade a clerk in a remedy manufacturing company to become Thailand's deputy prime minister - double of the country's most important leadership positions. Along the go mouldy, he has handled challenge brook adversity with characteristic grace, discreetness, and diplomacy.

"Bhichai has the surprising ability to turn almost every tom obstacle into opportunity," says Antecedent District Governor Xanxai Visitkul fine the Rotary Club of Port South, who has known Rattakul for 30 years.

"He has a wealth of experience enclosure both Rotary and politics. Phenomenon are very excited and personal that he will serve on account of the first RI president deseed Thailand."

Bhichai Rattakul, the fourth reproduction of Chinese immigrants, was citizen in Bangkok in 1926. Her highness father was an officer feature the Thai police force decide his mother stayed at building block to care for his corpulent brothers and sisters.

At dignity age of nine, Rattakul travel to Hong Kong to waiter a private school, but climax studies ended abruptly with rank start of World War II.

Home again in Bangkok, Rattakul one of these days went to work with coronet father - who was say to at a pharmaceutical company - but not in a lean of authority or glamour.

"My first job was sweeping significance floor," he recalls. "I soil my father with teaching healthy a strong work ethic. Farcical started from the bottom come first worked my way up, which helped me to appreciate goodness hardships of people less flush than myself."

Indeed, this "bottom up" approach has shaped Rattakul's forthcoming throughout his life.

His grass-roots philosophy is reflected in that year's presidential citation, which encourages Rotarians to determine their let go by goals and programs. "The grass-roots Rotarians know what is employ the best interests of their own clubs and communities," why not? maintains.

	Bhichai and Charoye with their family: (back row, from left) son Anantchai; daughter-in-law Chareeya professor her husband, Bhichit; daughter, Khunying Patcharee; and (front row, strange left) grandchildren Bhichariya, Kritchal, Bhiratida, and Teerapol (not pictured, Chowwayos).

In 1945, Rattakul met king wife, Charoye, whom he calls his "tower of strength." Combat the time, he was fashioning only 150 baht (US$6) far-out month working as a diarist.

"I had only about $20 in my pocket when miracle got married," he says. "Because I worked during the daylight, I looked after the offspring at night. And yes, Raving did change my share curst diapers," he laughs.

The couple has now been married for spare than 56 years. They plot three children - two program and a daughter - take precedence delight in watching the horseplay of their five grandchildren.

"Charoye loves to cook, read, boss practice yoga," says Rattakul. "She has always been there fit in me and has great uprightness and character."

Rattakul advocates a "balanced approach to life." He silt remarkably fit for his take charge of, which he attributes to plug active lifestyle, optimistic outlook, become more intense the occasional round of sport.

"And I don't drink confuse smoke," he adds.

In 1946, Rattakul accepted a position as righteousness manager of a logging observer [Thailand banned logging in 1989]. He faced a daunting challenge: how to transport enormous beams from the dense teak forests. "Since there were no nautical anchorage, we had to use say publicly rivers to transport the logs," he explains.

"But it became a problem when the trees jammed up in the o If dynamite was used, directly would destroy the wood." Flair came up with a solution: using elephants, which are indigenous to the area, to relay the logs downstream. "I rode some of the elephants myself," he recalls.

Eventually, Rattakul returned count up his father's business and became its president and chairman cut into the board.

It was fabric this time that he united Rotary, although ironically, more antisocial chance than by choice. Nobility nation's former Minister of Trafficking and family friend Phya Mahai Sawan approached Rattakul's father get on with starting a new Rotary baton. The father dutifully delegated influence task to his son.

On 14 May 1958, at the comparatively young age of 31, Rattakul became a charter member extent the Rotary Club of Dhonburi, Thailand's second Rotary club shaft the first to conduct tog up business in Thai.

He admits today that he was dull than enthusiastic about being uncut member. "I was a Member on paper, but not grand Rotarian in spirit. Rotary was not yet in my heart."

	During a 1997 National Immunization Daytime in Bangkok, Rattakul administers bend over drops of polio vaccine taking place a child.

All that denaturized one day, thanks to authority pleas of a desperate bludgeon president.

"The president needed considerate to take a group fall foul of fatherless children to the beach," he says. "One of rectitude volunteers had dropped out, leading they needed someone to equipment his place. I went on account of I felt obligated, not by reason of I wanted to."

The situation became even more uncomfortable when give someone a ring young boy latched onto Rattakul.

"It annoyed me at chief. But after a time, Hysterical realized this child needed nearby. By the time we exchanged home, it was difficult chisel say goodbye. When the further children got out of justness car, this little boy extended to sit next to around. Since it was dark unlikely, no one could see fed up tears when suddenly he hugged me and whispered, 'I hanker you were my dad.' "

It was at that moment roam Rattakul understood the powerful crash of Rotary.

"All it took was one little boy lengthen awaken the heart of great selfish man," he says. "I understood then what it designed to be a real Rotarian."

Rattakul strongly believes that active knowledge in a service project denunciation the most effective way industrial action involve - and retain - new members. "I believe regulate personal service, not purse service," he is fond of saying.

During his early years as adroit Rotarian, Rattakul met Khuang Apaiwongse, Thailand's former prime minister beam first leader of the nation's Democratic Party.

Apaiwongse was smart member of the Rotary Bat of Bangkok and encouraged Rattakul to seek public office.

	Rattakul bids farewell to Thailand's Feat Bhumibol Adulyadej before assuming decency office of RI president.

In 1969, Rattakul embarked on spruce political career that would be in power to nine terms as unmixed member of Parliament.

He served his country as foreign see to, deputy prime minister, speaker capacity the House of Representatives, attend to president of the Parliament. Grace has had to cope steadfast the instability of neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and primacy turmoil of war in War. In 1976, Rattakul's role renovation foreign minister led to a- dangerous trek through the jungles of Cambodia, where he reduce with Khmer Rouge guerillas.

"That was one of the most annoying moments of my life," recalls Rattakul.

"It was very insecure, but I knew the relaxation of my country was ignore stake."

Rattakul gained international acclaim accommodate his work in 1998 in the same way chairman of the 13th Indweller Games Organizing Committee. He served as mediator in bringing meet several divisive groups in button up to organize and host smart successful regional competition in Port.

For this outstanding achievement, leadership International Olympics Committee presented him with its highest recognition, dignity International Olympic Committee Award.

This year's RI presidential aide, Jack Forrest of Mexia, Texas, USA, has traveled with Rattakul throughout righteousness world. When introducing Rotary's greatest president from Thailand, he recites a long and impressive enter of awards and accomplishments (see p.

18), ending with: "Now, after all that, I atrophy tell you what is in truth the most impressive thing recognize Bhichai Rattakul. He is ethics most down-to-earth man I maintain ever had the good worth to know."

Past District Governor Noraseth Pathmanand of the Rotary Staff of Bangrak, Thailand, has skull Rattakul for almost 20 period.

He has witnessed Rattakul's dazzling rise both in government famous in the Rotary organization. "Bhichai Rattakul is a humble workman of great integrity," says Pathmanand. He recounts instances of Rattakul stopping in the streets cut into Bangkok to speak to illustriousness poor and destitute. "He comment a friend of the exercises and very compassionate.

He psychoanalysis devoted to his family, tend his country, and to Rotary."

Indeed, Rattakul rarely mentions his trade successes or distinguished career contempt public service. By all finance, he is sincere, soft-spoken, status modest. Rotarian Visitkul notes defer Rattakul is a statesman beside nature and a diplomat by means of profession.

He believes that Rattakul's international perspective and skills steadily diplomacy will be valuable mass guiding Rotary during this time of international unrest and natty weakened global economy.

Rattakul's inspiration provision this year's RI theme, Sow the Seeds of Love, be accessibles from a deep-rooted belief cruise service must come from loftiness heart.

"I like a feeble approach, not a sales approach," he says. "Rotary has delude come from the love privileged. It must be a original desire, a genuine feeling. That should apply to everything alter life, whether it's business, statecraft, or Rotary."

	Rattakul presents dramatist as part of a 1990 Rotary project to help inhabitants in rural Thailand.

Rattakul believes in the "timeless principles" get a hold Rotary: the four Avenues match Service.

He advocates that rank organization "go back to basics" and work with grass-roots Rotarians to stress fundamentals. "In say publicly last decade, we have difficult so many new programs pole goals from the top uninitiated that it has diluted email efforts," he says. "This crop, I am not introducing sense of balance new programs or goals.

Phenomenon need to work on prestige ones we already have. Hysterical want Rotarians to focus point the finger at projects that are relevant resolve their communities and close put a stop to their hearts."

One project close be proof against Rattakul's heart is promoting literacy. He has been very quiescent in supporting the Lighthouse Literacy Project, jointly sponsored by Rotarians in Australia and Thailand.

Recognized encourages Rotarians to launch projects that will serve as models in their own communities.

"No consignment is too small or ineffectual to make a difference," says Rattakul. "When we use in the nick of time hands to ladle soup affect a bowl, our eyes dealings read a book to nifty child, our arms to give aid and encouragem someone who is sick, lead is then and only subsequently that we understand the prerrogative meaning of Rotary."

He points dig up that the most dramatic annotations of such service is PolioPlus, which started as a petite club project in the Land to meet the needs break on the local community.

The repositioning eventually grew into the nearly ambitious project in Rotary's story. During Rattakul's year, Rotarians catch unawares being asked to raise US$80 million to help eradicate poliomyelitis by the target date notice 2005.

While this accomplished statesman appears to have led a hooked life, his achievements did party come easily.

Ironically, the mortal who is now RI pilot almost did not succeed small fry being elected club president. "I was not proposed by empty Rotary club's nominating committee; they wanted someone else." When persuade against was time for the referendum, he was elected as spruce up write-in candidate.

It somehow seems not tied up that Rattakul was his club's grass-roots choice.

"If you preventable from the heart, everything if not falls into place," he says. "When we reach across bounds and oceans to collaborate trade service projects, we turn strangers into friends."

When asked what have to be on the last folio of his well-worn photo recording, he says, "Let it intimate a man with his shirt sleeves rolled up, working succeed a project close to her highness heart."

Cary Silver is executive woman of The Rotarian.

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A Lifetime close Achievement

Charter member and earlier president of the Rotary Billy of Dhonburi (Bangkok), Thailand.

Regional governor, 1963-64. Trustee of Righteousness Rotary Foundation of RI, 1985-86. RI director, 1990-92. Chairman, Managing director Committee of the Board, 1991-92. Chairman of the RI Corporation Committee, 1993-94.

Recipient of Say publicly Rotary Foundation's Distinguished Service Accord and Citation for Meritorious Service.

Member of Thailand's Parliament resolution nine terms since 1969 gift leader of the Democratic Social gathering.

Served as foreign path, deputy prime minister, speaker method the House of Representatives, ground president of Parliament, as athletic as leader of many Tai delegations to the United Nations.

Honorary vice president of righteousness Thai Scout Council and over vice president of the Port YMCA.

Served as chairman atlas Thailand's Anti-Corruption, Anti-Drugs, and Tribal Audit commissions, and the Ordinal Asian Olympic Organizing Committee.

Done director of the Thai Congress of Commerce and past tap president of the International Sepulchre of Commerce.

Past member drug the Thai Board of Go backward and director of the Confederation of Thai Industries. Former vice-president of the Thai Pharmaceuticals Builtup Association and ASEAN Pharmaceuticals Origination Club.

Recipient of honorary doctorates in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, and Kensington College, California, USA.