Surasinghsamruam Shimbhanao was a Thai author, scholar, and activist.
Background
Surasingh was born in Thonburi, an area of Bangkok. Although he was born in the Bangkok area, his mother moved there from northern Thailand"s Lampang Province, and his father came to Thonburi from northeastern Thailand for medical school.
Career
At the age of four or five Surasingh moved with his family to his mother"s home village in Lampang where his mother sold sweets at the market and his father was a medic. Although Surasingh was educated at one of Lampang"s finest private schools, Surasinghsamruam"s family was not wealthy. Surasingh sold flowers to pay his living costs.
In 1973, Surasingh completed a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Chiang Mai University.
After completing his Bachelor of Arts Surasingh placed 2nd in the national civil service examination In 1975, he took a position teaching at Chiang Mai Teachers College.
His subjects included issues related to rural Thailand. Furthermore, he was an advisor to Thailand"s minister of industry.