Both Dr. Kamala Tiyanvanich and Chiranan Pitpreecha were graduate students of the late Dr. David Wyatt of Cornell University, a passionate historian of Thailand. A eulogy for Dr. Wyatt may be found on the Silkworm Books site: The Pathfinder | ||
 Forest Recollections |
 Buddha in the Jungle |
 Sons of Buddha |
| A full page review of Kamala's latest book, Sons of Buddha, recently appeared in the Bangkok Post and may be read as a pdf file at Silkworm Books. Her books may be purchased locally in The Bookery, Ithaca, NY. In Thailand they may be purchased at any Asia Books or at Chulalongkorn University Student Bookstore (full location listing here). | ||
 Dr. Kamala Tiyavanich at a recent book signing during festivites for the Dalai Lama's visit to Ithaca. | ||
 Chiranan Pitpreecha |
"Chiranan Pitpreecha was born in Thailand in 1955. She was a well known figure in the 1970s student movement in Thailand. Following the violent suppression in 1976, she, along with thousands of Thai students, fled to the jungle and joined the Communist insurrection. Almost immediately after she returned from the jungle in 1981, under the protection of amnesty law, her poem, Cracked Pebble was selected "The best Poem of 1981" by P.E.N. International, Thailand. She then resumed her education at Cornell University in the United States where she received a B.A. and M. A. History. Chiranan is one of Thailand's best known authors, and has produced a wide range of writings for Thai periodicals and newspapers, from poetry, history, travel articles to social commentaries. In 1989 The Missing Leaf, her first poetry book based on personal experiences in the jungle, won the prestigious South East Asia Write Award. In 1992 "First Rain" was selected as "The Best Poem of the Year" by P.E.N. International, Thailand. Her works have been translated into English, French, German, Japanese, and Malay." (Bio quoted from the XVIII International Poetry Festival of Medellin) Chiranan's book has just been re-released as shown and is available at Chulalongkorn University student bookstore. | |
| I wish to thank Kamala, Vissuda, Mong, Chanya, Chiranan, Noy and Tid for such a memorable water-side feast with the welcome cool breeze coming off the Gulf of Thailand and many other wonderful adventures. Kamala and her family took such good care of me during my many months living in their wondrous country for which I will be eternally grateful! | ||