Chai Rachawat

Chai Rachawat (Thai: ชัย ราชวัตร) is the pen name of Thai cartoonist Somchai Katanyutanant (สมชัย กตัญญุตานันท์, born 2 June 1941). One of the most popular and influential cartoonists in Thailand, his best known work is the political cartoon Phuyai Ma kap Thung Ma Moen (ผู้ใหญ่มากับทุ่งหมาเมิน), which appears in the daily Thai Rath newspaper.^[1]

Biography

Somchai Katanyutanant was born to an ethnic Chinese family in Ubon Ratchathani Province on 19 June 1941. He graduated from Benchama Maharat School and studied at the Bangkok Business College because he wanted to work at the bank. After graduation, he worked at the Bank of Ayudhya. Not so long after he worked at the bank, he then resign from the work due to tiresomeness. Chai had an unusual path that led him to political cartoons. As a boy, he seemed like a perfect prospect to become a political cartoonist, because he had an interest in both politics and drawing cartoons.^[2]

Printing industry

Chai Ratchawat begins his career in art department for Sport magazine name "The game" and start writing about political after the event on October 6, 1976. For the magazine he works for is Thongchai and (Thai: หนังสือมหาราษฎร์. His first comic about political was (Thai: ใครจะเอากระพรวนไปแขวนคอแมว). And because of this Chai has to move to Los Angeles and America for 2 years and back to Thailand and keep drawing and also write a story name (Thai: "ผู้ใหญ่มากับทุ่งหมาเมิน"in the Daily News and Thai Rath.

Political Role

That was a report that PDRC support Chai to become a committee of for people foundation or (Thai: มูลนิธิมวลมหาประชาชน) and the objective of this foundation is to help people who is a victim in the (Thai: การชุมนุมทางการเมือง) and for collecting money to reform the country.^[3]

Award

Sriburapha Award in A.D. 2000
ศ.บำรุงสุข สีหอำไพ Award From Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University in 2008
Thai news report society Award
Award from Rangsit University
Award from Thai cultural committee^[4]
ม.ร.ว.อายุมงคล Award from Mahasarakham University in 2003

Work

Caricature cartoon (Thai: ผู้ใหญ่มากับทุ่งหมาเมิน"), published daily in Thairath Newspaper
The Story of Mahajanaka in cartoon edition
The Story of Tongdaeng in cartoon edition
ไทยถลอก(ปอกเปิก) ISBN 9786163878397 published by Preaw
สังคมสังคัง ISBN 9789744752055 published by Preaw
เด็กชายแตงโม ISBN 9789742471491 published by Preaw
ตามประสาการ์ตูนนิสต์ ISBN 9747520389 published by Amarin pocket book
หนังสือสื่อสนุกปลุกจินตนาการ by SCG Foundation in 2014

References

^ Karuchit, Warat (2014). "The Uphill Climb to Reach a Plateau: Historical Analysis of the Development of Thai Cartooning". In Lent, John A. (ed.). Southeast Asian cartoon art : history, trends and problems. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. pp. 75–104. ISBN 9780786475575.
^ "Life of cartoon, Chai Rachwat".
^ A. Lent, John (2014). Southwest Asian Cartoon Art History, Trends and Problems. Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania: mcfarlandbooks. pp. Part 1, 3rd Paragraph. ISBN 978-1-4766-1446-5.
^ "Chai Rachwat interview report".

[1] Karuchit, Warat (2014). "The Uphill Climb to Reach a Plateau: Historical Analysis of the Development of Thai Cartooning". In Lent, John A. (ed.). Southeast Asian cartoon art : history, trends and problems. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. pp. 75–104. ISBN 9780786475575.

[2] "Life of cartoon, Chai Rachwat".

[3] A. Lent, John (2014). Southwest Asian Cartoon Art History, Trends and Problems. Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania: mcfarlandbooks. pp. Part 1, 3rd Paragraph. ISBN 978-1-4766-1446-5.

[4] "Chai Rachwat interview report".

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