From Fact to Fiction:
A history of Thai-Myanmar relations
Thailand and Myanmar not only share a long border but have also shared a very interesting social history set of and cultural values for centuries. Nevertheless, limited academic work has been undertaken in the area of Thai-Myanmar cultural exchanges. In addition to a long series of cross regional warfare in which the two nations had engaged, people on both sides of the Tenasserim Range, particularly the Thais and the Myanmar have made a great contribution to each other socially and culturally. There exists an amount of historical literature that originated in Myanmar and was brought to Thailand to be translated into the local language before being passed to the public in the form of school texts, theater plays and TV series. Rajadhirat, a classical Mon-Myanmar historical work of literature is a very good example. The two nations had also shared a long history of experiences during the colonial period. Interestingly, there have been a number of historical works and novels on the fall of the Konbaung Dynasty written and circularized in Thailand since the reign of King Rama V, over a century ago.
Lessons learned in the past should be taken seriously if we want to move on to a new millennium with confidence. Myanmar learned its own lessons, already during the first Anglo-Burmese War in 1824 and, at present, from confrontations with the West. Thailand, too, has had to learn lessons from the past in order to be able to judge and adjust its understanding toward its neighbours and to formulate its present foreign policy. For this reason, the Institute for Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University plans to launch a two-day seminar entitled From Fact to Fiction:
A history of Thai-Myanmar relations in cultural context in order to give the floor to academics from both countries and other concerned countries to share knowledge and opinions on this theme.
Objectives
1. To review the past history of Myanmar-Thai Relations through historical writings and novels, theater plays, and movies with special emphasis on their cultural value and similarities;
2. To provide an opportunity for academic people from Myanmar and Thailand to share knowledge and opinions on the subjects;
3. To provide an opportunity for cultural experts and persons of related fields of both countries to exchange their knowledge and experiences in the area of literature and performing arts, such as classical music, drama, and film.
Participation
Thirty to fifty academics, concerned officers (from embassies, the private sector, and those involved in mass communication), and others who are interested, from Myanmar and Thailand. *
For further information, contact
Institute of Asian Studies
Supang Chantavanich, Director
Chulalongkorn University
Phyathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
E-mail: supang.c@chula.ac.th
http://www.las/chula/ac.th