The reign of King Rama V (b. 1853-1910) saw a burgeoning inclination among Thai students to further their education abroad. The King had personally encouraged his royal brothers, royal sons, and gifted commoners to attend schools and universities in many countries in Europe, particularly in England, so that they would return and contribute their intellectual vigour to the country’s welfare and development. At that time, England seemed a faraway and different world. The only means of transportation from Thailand to England was via passenger ships, which took approximately five weeks to travel. Means of communication between students and their families back home was much more limited than nowadays. Homesickness, no doubt, could easily infect the students and gradually gnaw their spirits.

Crown Prince Mahavajiravudh (b. 1881-1925), the future King Rama VI, fully understood the predicament which Thai students had to face and endure. Shortly after beginning his studies at the University of Oxford, the King set out to establish “The Thai Student’s Association in UK” or “Samaggi Samagom.” Pali-Sanskrit in origin, the word “samaggi” means “harmony” or “togetherness” whereas “samagom” means “assembly” or “congregation.” The society was meant to and would, in subsequent years to come, function not only as a non-profit organisation, a hub where Thai students and Thai citizens come to connect, but also as a cultural centre where Thailand’s unique tradition and cultural heritage are shared with the world.

Samaggi Samagom’s historic first meeting was held in the summer of 1901 at Elstree School, Hertfordshire. It was presided over by Crown Prince Mahavajiravudh and attended by 43 Thai students. In the early days, Samaggi Samagom offered various recreational activities for interested members. Students were invited to cultivate their artistic pursuits and take part in various exciting activities, from a small stage play to a massive production of “Kohn,” the Thai classical mask dance. As tradition to honour and commemorate King Rama VI, Samaggi Samagom has annually organised the“Maha Theeraraj” day event, where representatives of Thai students in the United Kingdom congregate at the Samaggi Samagom headquarters in London to pay homage and express their profound gratitude to the visionary royal founder and patron of the establishment. The term “maha” means “great” and “theeraraj” means “philosopher king,” a title humbly offered to King Rama VI who was a prolific writer and great artist.

During their time in England, King Rama VII (b. 1893-1941) and Queen Rambhai Barni (b. 1904-1984) regularly presided in many activities organised by Samaggi Samagom. A royal congratulatory letter from Queen Rambhai Barni on the occasion of Samaggi Samagom’s 72nd anniversary in 1973 expresses the profound bond between the Thai Royal family and members of the Samaggi Samagom:

“Whenever we attended the Summer Meetings, even in those difficult transitional days, between 1935 and World War 2, the members of Samaggi Samagom greeted us with touching courtesy and hospitality. It was so heartwarming to be welcome at that time that I shall never be able to forget their chivalrous attitude and friendly gesture.”

Samaggi Samagom was well-known not only among Thai students but also among other Thai and international organisations. With its aim to cooperate with Thai societies in several other countries, Samaggi Samagom has first corresponded with the Thai Students Association in the United States of America in 1923 and later expanded collaborative network among students globally. Samaggi Samagom has also forged strong partnership with the Royal Thai Embassy, the Thai Students’ Office in London, the Anglo-Thai society, the British Council, and the Young Buddhist Group. The Debsirin Alumni Association and the Suankularb Alumni Association, to name but a few, are students associations in Thailand affiliated to Samaggi Samagom. 

Samaggi Samagom, in the present day, has organised many academic and recreational activities which cater to the interest of a wide array of students. Among the academic activities ranging from academic seminars and occasional talks and lectures to academic quiz competitions, Samaggi Samagom has recently initiated the promising tradition of the Annual Samaggi Academic Conference. The event was first held in 2008 at Imperial College and was recently in 2009 held at the University of Cambridge. The key academic papers and outcomes of both conferences will be compiled and published in the form of academic review. Samaggi Games, on the other hand, has been the crown of all festivities, with students participating from all over United Kingdom. The annual sports event, initiated in 2000 in Warwick, offers wide-ranging sports competitions from ping-pong and squash to football. Samaggi Games was recently hosted in 2009 by the University of Kent Thai Society. A century has passed and Samaggi Samagom will continue to thrive, fulfilling its true aims to promote Thai culture and strengthen unity and harmony among Thai students in UK.

Compiled and Translated by Verita Sriratana