Debsirin School ( th, โรงเรียนเทพศิรินทร์, ) is a
boys' secondary school in
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
. Founded by King
Chulalongkorn in 1885, its alumni include King
Ananda Mahidol
Ananda Mahidol ( th, พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรเมนทรมหาอานันทมหิดล; ; 20 September 1925 – 9 June 1946), posthumous reigning title Phra Athamaramathibodin ( th, พระอั� ...
, Malaysia's founding father
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah ( ms, تونكو عبد الرحمن ڤوترا الحاج ابن سلطان عبد الحميد حليم شاه, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 8 Febru ...
, more than 70 cabinet members, including 5 prime ministers, and numerous military leaders and dignitaries. Debsirin School participates in
Jaturamitr Samakkee, a biennial traditional football competition between the four oldest boys' schools in Thailand.
History
The fifth Abbot of Wat Thep Sirin Thrawat had donated land for a school as early as 1702.
King Mongkut had tried to modernize Siam, enabling it to stand up to the European powers. He was succeeded by his 15-year-old son, Chulalongkorn, who reigned as Rama V, now known as ''Rama the Great''. Rama V was the first Siamese king to have a Western education, having been taught by a British governess,
Anna Leonowens. As
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...
developed as the capital of the new nation of Siam, Rama V's government began several nationwide development projects, despite financial hardship. New roads, bridges, railways, hospitals and schools mushroomed throughout the country, all funded from the national budget.
In a speech at a student award ceremony in 1884, the King said;
In 1885, he founded the school, naming it in honour of his mother,
Debsirindra Queen Ramphoei Phamaraphirom (Thai: รำเพยภมราภิรมย์). The school opened with 53 pupils.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
Thailand, under Field Marshal
Plaek Pibulsongkram, was allied with the
Axis powers
The Axis powers, ; it, Potenze dell'Asse ; ja, 枢軸国 ''Sūjikukoku'', group=nb originally called the Rome–Berlin Axis, was a military coalition that initiated World War II and fought against the Allies. Its principal members were ...
and declared war on the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
and
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
when the Japanese
attacked Pearl Harbor. Bangkok suffered heavily in the subsequent
Allied bombing raids and Debsirin School, strategically located near the railway, was not spared. Most of the teaching buildings (Maen Naruemit and Choduek Laohasetthi) were destroyed. They were later rebuilt by the alumni and the Ministry of Education. The main building, renamed ''Maen Suksa Stan Building'', was built in the Gothic style.
Today, Debsirin School has a strong alumni network (Debsirin Alumni Association) under Royal patronage, several Prime Ministers of Thailand and members of the Royal Family. The school also operates as a ''living museum'', containing exhibits on the history of the school and the development of Thai education.
Facts
*School Abbreviation : D.S.
*Type of School : Government Boys' Secondary School
*School Motto : (
Pali
Pali () is a Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language native to the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Theravāda'' Buddh ...
) (Be not a useless person)
*School Vision : To be a leading organization of learning to international standards. Develop learners for excellence. Have virtue, morality and gentleness. Have the skills to live, aware sense of
Thainess and be a world potential citizen.
Surrounding Place
Wat Debsirindrawas Ratchaworawiharn
Wat Debsirindrawas Ratchaworawiharn is a second class royal temple built at the command of King Rama V as a dedication to Queen Debsirindra, and named Wat Debsirindrawas.
Debsirin Network
Notable alumni
King of Thailand
The monarchy of Thailand (whose monarch is referred to as the king of Thailand; th, พระมหากษัตริย์ไทย, or historically, king of Siam; th, พระมหากษัตริย์สยาม) refers to the c ...
*
Ananda Mahidol
Ananda Mahidol ( th, พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรเมนทรมหาอานันทมหิดล; ; 20 September 1925 – 9 June 1946), posthumous reigning title Phra Athamaramathibodin ( th, พระอั� ...
; Rama VIII King of Thailand
Thai Royalty
*
Birabongse Bhanudej
Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh ( th, พีรพงศ์ภาณุเดช; ; 15 July 191423 December 1985), better known as Prince Bira of Siam (now Thailand) or by his ''nom de course'' B. Bira, was a member of the Thai royal ...
; Prince Bira of Siam, Formula One racing driver
Prime Ministers of Thailand
*
Khuang Aphaiwong; 4th Prime Minister of Thailand
*
Seni Pramoj; 6th Prime Minister of Thailand
*
Thawan Thamrongnawasawat; 8th Prime Minister of Thailand
*
Chatichai Choonhavan; 17th Prime Minister of Thailand
Prime Ministers of Malaysia
*
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah ( ms, تونكو عبد الرحمن ڤوترا الحاج ابن سلطان عبد الحميد حليم شاه, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 8 Febru ...
; 1st Prime Minister of Malaysia
Politician
*
Chuvit Kamolvisit; Politician
Writer
*
Kulap Saipradit; or Sri Burapha Thai novelist
*
Bhanubandhu Yugala; Thai film director, producer and screenwriter
*
Sombat Metanee; Thai Actor and film director
*
Prabda Yoon
Prabda Yoon ( th, ปราบดา หยุ่น; ; born 2 August 1973 in Bangkok) is a Thai writer, novelist, filmmaker, artist, graphic designer, magazine editor, screenwriter, translator and media personality. His literary debut, ''Muang Mo ...
; Thai Writer, graphic designer
References
*
External links
Debsirin Alumni Association Official Page
{{coord, 13, 44, 49.2, N, 100, 30, 57.2, E, type:landmark_region:TH-10, display=title
Boys' schools in Thailand
Schools in Bangkok
1885 establishments in Siam
Pom Prap Sattru Phai district