The September 24th of every year was designated as Prince Mahidol Day in commemoration of his contributions to the development of medical education in Thailand and his selfless devotion to the well-being of Thai people.
Mahidol was the father of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) of Thailand, and the paternal grandfather of King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X).
He was also regarded as the father of modern medicine and public health in Thailand. He also founded the House of Mahidol, the present Royal Family of Thailand.
Prince Mahidol died on September 24th 1929 at the age of 37.
Background
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is responsible for the promotion and propagation of the cultural contribution of its member countries worldwide. It has annually awarded persons who have made outstanding contributions to culture for more than one hundred years at a global level. The objectives, in brief, include :
1. To recognise the efforts of those who have made cultural contributions at a global level.
2. To encourage its member countries to take part in the activities held by a country whose citizen has received an award.
To fulfill the above objectives, the Thai Government, in cooperation with UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, has been looking for a Thai citizen to nominate for the award. The committee unanimously selected Prince Mahidol as the most suitable nominee and the nomination has been proposed to coincide with the anniversary of the 100th birthday of the Prince on January 1, 1992.
Sources:
Prince Mahidol Day in Thailand in 2021. (2021). https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/thailand/prince-mahidol-day
