Guiding Light in Philosophy and Interfaith Dialogue
WRITER: THE AU LIBRARY
Assumption University of Thailand (AU) is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Professor Kirti Bunchua, a beloved scholar, teacher, and pioneering dean who died on May 5, 2025. His passing marks the end of an era for AU—and for the intellectual community of Thailand.
Prof. Kirti joined AU in 1990 as Director of the Ethics and Religion Research Centre and later the founding Dean of the Graduate School of Philosophy and Religion Studies, where he served until 1999.
Prof. Kirti’s academic journey began in Rome, where he earned master’s degrees in Philosophy and Theology from the prestigious Università Urbaniana. He returned to Thailand with a mission: to develop philosophical thought rooted in Thai identity, language, and cultural relevance. His belief that Thai philosophy could stand on its own—distinct yet globally engaged—became the cornerstone of his life’s work.
His academic leadership left an indelible mark. Under his guidance, AU launched its first Ph.D. program in Philosophy and Religion, approved in 1998, placing the university on the national map as a center for religious and ethical inquiry.
Prof. Kirti was not only a thinker, but a bridge-builder. He was a passionate advocate for interfaith dialogue, serving in key roles with the World Conference of Religion and Peace and the Council for Research in Values and Philosophy. He challenged both East and West to listen to one another—and to learn.
His research explored Buddhist-Christian dialogue, Indian thought, and comparative philosophy. Among his notable works were Indian Philosophy for Christian Philosophers, The Tipitaka for Christians, and studies on Dr. Phra Dhammapitaka (Prayudh Payutto), whom he praised as Thailand’s most original thinker.
In recognition of his scholarship, Prof. Kirti was honored with numerous awards. In 1997, he received the St. Hilaire Award, and in 2002, he was named a Research Fellow. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Thailand for life by His Majesty the King, and received royal decorations including the Crown Order in 1996 and the White Elephant Order in 2000.
Those who knew him remember a man of humility, wit, and moral clarity—a professor who brought spiritual depth to every lecture and treated every student as a thinker in the making.
Prof. Kirti Bunchua’s passing is not just a loss to AU, but to the broader philosophical and interfaith communities of Southeast Asia. His vision of a Thai-rooted, globally resonant philosophy will continue to inspire generations.
May he rest in peace, and may his teachings live on.
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