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Ratchadamnoen Avenue. and the Community Development : a Case Study of the Ratchanadda Temple’S Community

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Ratchadamnoen Avenue. and the Community Development : a Case Study of the Ratchanadda Temple’S Community 1007 Local Wisdom/ Tourism Management The 4th International Conference on Magsaysay Awardees: Good Governance and Transformative Leadership in Asia, 31 May 2016 1008 Ratchadamnoen Avenue. and the Community Development : A Case Study of the Ratchanadda Temple’s Community Kanitha Chitchang, Lecturer, History Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kasetsart University. Abstract This article is one part of the research “Ratchadamnoen Avenue and It’s Transition During 2457 – 2557 B.E.”(1914 – 2014). The purpose of this article is to suggest further more information to the main research “Ratchadamnoen Conservative Renewal and Development” written by the National Economic and Social Development Committee since 2553 B.E.( 2010) Which is a survey research to look for the requirement of the stakeholders on those communities around. Ratchadamnoen Avenue ,who are effected by the Conservative and Renewal Rattanakosin Island’s Master Plan from the Royal Thai Government by the year 2544 B.E.(2001). The aim of this plan is to renovate and transform “Rattanakosin Island” from the bureaucratic and business area into a beautiful place of historical and cultural center. The conclusion of this research especially for the “Ratchanadda Temple’s community, is the people who live in this community have to participate with the Government to achieve this plan. After the discussion among the stakeholders, the common people of community urge the officials that they need the infrastructure development and the safety from crime. Actually, the conclusion of the research is quite true. But more than that, the community needs the security of their career lives, which are depends on the activities from the people who use to work in the building alongside the Ratchadamnoen Avenue. since the General Phibunsongkhram Regime. Later on,the Crown Property, who is the great land lord in this community and owned the buildings along Ratchadamnoen Avenue. did not extend the contract to the renters from 2532 B.E. (1989).First case was Chalermthai Theater. Since then, the dynamic of trade in this community were slow down. The people who are traders felt insecure for their career lives up to present. For the good governance, there are many ways to help the community and to achieve the master plan of “Ratchadamnoen Conservative Renewal and Development” Firstly the traders who are the majorities in this community should discuss with the committee of the community and try to negotiate with the Crown Property to rent some area out door from the main buildings alongside Ratchadamnoen Avenue on the lower price to construct the sheds in an old fashion design to sell foods. Secondly, the traders prepare the front side of their houses to decorate the shed in an old fashion back to the period of King Rama V to sell foods. Thirdly is to use “Lod Canal” to be a place similar to the floating market. These concepts will be the first step of out door activities in the paradigm of “An Old town through Story Telling” from the participate of the community. Keywords: Ratchanadda Temple’s community/ Crown Property/ Ratchadamnoen Avenue/ Thailand The 4th International Conference on Magsaysay Awardees: Good Governance and Transformative Leadership in Asia, 31 May 2016 1009 Research methodology, This article use historical methodology especially in depth interviewed key man performance in the Ratchanadda Temple’s Community, as well as primary sources and secondary sources. To achieve Good Governance in community development, the stakeholders in the case study of Ratchanadda Temple’s community such as Crown Property, Common people who are dwellers and Ratchanadda Temple, have to participate and plan how to share the historical activities or local wisdom through the community (or out door activities). Historical Back Ground around Ratchadamnoen Avenue. The land used around “Ban Panthom” district were changed from paddy fields to residents area after King Rama V constructed Ratchadamnoen Avenue.( The Royal Thai Government Gazette, Volume 16: 276).These areas were divided to the land rights of the Crown Property, Ratchanadda Temple, the families of the Governor officials ,who worked in the Ministry offices around Grand palace and common people. The purposes of the Ratchadamnoen Avenue. construction project was to connect with the Grand Palace from the south and Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall in the north part of Rattanakosin Island, and also founded the luxuries trade area as same as Champs-Élysées Avenue in France, but it wasn’t achieved at that time. Because before 2484 B.E.(1941) in General Phibunsongkhram Regime neither the building along Ratchadamnoen Avenue. nor the Avenue not constructed yet. Almost of people who lived around here did not pay attention for the Ratchadamnoen Avenue because the area around Brahmin Swing (Giant Swing) in the southern part of Ratchadamnoen Avenue was the center of Bangkok. From this land scape, Ratchanadda Temple and houses over there have to turn their front doors to the south or to the area of Brahmin Swing, which have met the “Lod canal”. This canal connected with the Chao Phraya River. They used these branches of “Lod canals” for transportation and route for trade more than road.(Bunjobsilp, Issara, 2013, August 12, interview). The branches of “Lod canals” are around their houses, which it can be seen as narrow path around community after the branches of “Lod canal” ran dry at present time. (Bunjobsilp, Issara,2013, August 12, interview). Since then people who lived around this area did not call their residents area “community” but used the name of “Trok1 Wat Ratchanadda” instead. Until the Bangkok Province was changed from “the city municipal” to be Bangkok Metropolitan Administration , Bangkok territory was divided into districts and sub districts. General Chamlong Srimuang was elected as a First Bangkok Provincial Governor, under the National Government Organization Act, BE 2528 (1985) (History of Bangkok Metro Politan, www.http://203.155.220.230/m.info/ bmahistory/, and Organization of the government of Thailand, https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki.) “Trok Wat Ratchanadda” or “Soi Damnoen Klang Tai” had registered under the National Government Organization Act. and turned to be “Ratchanadda Temple’s Community” since 2535 B.E.(1992). The structure of this community was combined with the lock of buildings and houses which located behind the main building along Ratchadamnoen Avenue. The landscape of Ratchanadda Temple’s community is a square shape with 2.3 acres ( 5 Rai and 3 ngan). There is Ratchadamnoen Avenue. in the north, 1 Trok is Thai word means narrow path. The 4th International Conference on Magsaysay Awardees: Good Governance and Transformative Leadership in Asia, 31 May 2016 1010 Mahachai Road in the east, Dinsor Road in the west and Bamroongmuang Road in the south. At present there are 171 houses. Those houses belongs to Private owns 128 houses, belongs to the Crown Property 36 houses, belongs to Ratchanadda Temple 7 houses. The populations are amount 1026 persons which are 487 men and 539 women. More than half of populations here are traders (Tanakorn Sawaruck,, n.d., Unpublished manuscript.). The Community Landscape at present The picture showed the narrow path, which it used to be branch of “Lod Canal” : Taken 2555 B.E.(2012) Lod Canal in the southern part of Ratchaanadda Temple’s Community The 4th International Conference on Magsaysay Awardees: Good Governance and Transformative Leadership in Asia, 31 May 2016 1011 Liveliness of the Ratchanadda Temple’s community After 2484 B.E.(1941) General Phibunsongkhram completed the construction of the buildings along the Ratchadamnoen Avenue and fixed the surface of the streets. At that time the business activities has grown up. The main buildings along Ratchadamnoen Avenue were belongs to the Crown Property. Around 2490 B.E.(1947) the owner of Chalermthai Theatre rented the first lock of the main building from the Crown Property and started a stage musician show. A lot of people came here to see shows. The owner of business companies who rented these buildings next door from Chalermthai Theatre were Home of English tutorial school, Nuansri Restaurnt2, Raja Furniture Company, Teijin Tetoron (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (founded in 1967) , Thai Military Bank, The Government Housing Bank, The Laem Thong Bank. Daughter of Khun Srisakorn 3, Bunjobsilp Issara, started her first career as ball room dancing teacher on the second floor of this building when she was 18 in 2484 B.E. (1941).The ball room dance was very famous and very attractive for the new generation especially the business persons4, who use the leisure time to practice dancing in the evening. At the same time the first lady “Tan pu ying Laied Phibunsongkhram” supported this kind of dancing. Bunjobsilp said, she took the reward from General Phibunsongkhram’s wife in the “Winter Fair” at Suan Amporn Palace. (Bunjobsilp, Issara,(2013, August 12: interview). From this time a dynamic of trading grew up. Some of land ownership behind Chalermthai Theatre started to build the buildings around 7 unites for sale. Some of the oversea Chinese had bought it. They used the building for resided and traded. Such as “Ton Bogu” Chinese woman who followed her husband from Hainan bought one unit. She resided at second floor and sold soft drinks down stair. Her customers were the people who work around there and people from Chalerm Thai Theatre. She said she open the shop from 4.00 am to 10.00 pm. The small buildings for trade are expanded. Some were constructed closely at the backside of the main buildings along Ratchadamnoen Avenue. All of traders sold foods such as Chinese noodles, Thai foods, hair salon and groceries shop. The customers were either from the people who worked in the Ratchadamnoen building or the officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration , which located in the southern part of the community. 2 Nuansri Restaurant and Raja Fueniture were closed around late 2520s B.E.
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