Srinagarindra (21 October 1900 – 18 July 1995) born Sangwan Talapat was a member of the Royal Thai Family. She was part of the House of Mahidol, which is descended from the Chakri dynasty and was founded by Prince Mahidol Adulyadej. She was the mother of Princess Galyani Vadhana, King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII), and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and was the paternal grandmother of King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X).
Her formal name and title was Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajajonani. In Thailand, she was affectionately called Somdet Ya (), "the Royal Grandmother". The various hill tribe people, to whom she was a special patron, called her Mae Fah Luang (), "Royal Mother from the Sky" or "The Heavenly Royal Mother".
Early life Sangwan Chukramol was born on 21 October 1900 in Nonthaburi Province. Her family was of Laotian descent from Vientiane. By the age of nine, Sangwan's parents and her elder brother and sister had all died, leaving her and her younger brother, Thomya, in the care of their aunt. Their aunt and guardian, Suay, earned a living by making sweets and rolling cigarettes.
Sangwan's mother had taught her to read before her death. With this skill, Sangwan enrolled at an all-girls school at Wat Anongkharam, a nearby temple whose abbot recognized the need for girls to receive a proper education. She later studied at Suksanari School but left after only a month due to a lack of funds. Nevertheless, she maintained her reading habits by regularly visiting her aunt's friend, who operated a book-rental library. She read several Thai classics, including Inao, Phra Aphai Mani, and Sangsilchai.
At the suggestion of a relative, Sangwan was sent to live with Chan Saeng-xuto, another relative who served as a nanny to Princess Valaya Alongkorn, Princess of Phetchaburi, the daughter of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and Queen Savang Vadhana (later Queen Sri Savarindira, the Queen Grandmother). At the age of seven, Sangwan found herself living at the royal court. Her primary duty at that time was to attend the princess at twice-daily audiences—once in the morning upon the princess's awakening and again in the evening. Occasionally, she accompanied the princess on visits to Queen Savang Vadhana at Suan Hongsa Royal Villa on the grounds of Dusit Palace.
Shortly thereafter, Sangwan was sent to Satri Wittaya School, while living with Huan Hongsakul, the nanny of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla, the younger brother of Princess Valaya Alongkorn. Following an accident involving a sewing needle, Sangwan was sent to Lord (Phraya) Damrong Baedyakhun, the royal court physician, for surgery. She stayed at his residence while continuing her studies at Satri Wittaya School. Noticing that she appeared listless and unhappy, he asked whether she would be interested in studying nursing, to which Sangwan immediately agreed.
At that time, Siriraj Hospital had opened a school of midwifery and nursing. Despite the minimal entry requirement of basic literacy, the program had struggled to attract students. As an additional incentive, each student received a stipend of 15 baht per month, an amount sufficient to cover living expenses.
Nursing student
Sangwan enrolled as a student of Siriraj School for Midwifery and Nursing in 1913, when she was thirteen. She was two years younger than the minimum age limit, but the school still accepted her based on her credentials. She was a scholarship recipient who agreed to work for the hospital for three years in exchange for the 15 baht per month that would cover her living costs.Upon graduation in 1916, she joined the nursing team at the hospital.
The following year, Prince Rangsit Prayursakdi, the Prince of Chainat (son of King Chulalongkorn and adopted son of Queen Savang Vadhana, half-brother of Princess Valaya Alongkorn and Prince Mahidol Adulyadej), director of the Royal Medical College of Siriraj Hospital, selected two doctors and two nurses to further their studies in the United States. These scholarship students were expected to return to teach future generations of medical students and advance the medical profession in Thailand. The medical scholarships were provided by Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, then a first-year student at Harvard Medical School, while the nursing scholarships were provided by his mother, Queen Savang Vadhana. One of the two nurses selected was Sangwan. Her preparations for this trip included a six-month intensive English course with Miss Edna Sarah Cole, headmistress of Kullasatri Wang Lang School for girls (later to become Wattana Wittaya Academy).
For her passport, Sangwan needed a surname, the use of which was not a regular practice in Thailand until 1913 during the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). As her father was dead, she took the surname of Lee Talaphat, who was in the service of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej. Her surviving younger brother registered himself as Thomya Chukramol.
Sangwan Talaphat left Bangkok on 13th August 1917 on the ship Kuala with almost 20 other Thai students. The trip took them to Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, and after six weeks, the group reached San Francisco. From there, she went to live with an American family, the Adamsens of Berkeley, California, for a year, attending Emerson School with her friend Ubol Palakawongse na Ayudhya, a member of the nobility. She also attended Sunday school to learn the ways of the Christian faith.
In 1918, they joined eight other Thai students travelling to Boston, Massachusetts. On 21 September 1918, Prince Mahidol was waiting to welcome them, though Sangwan was unaware of his rank. Furthermore, she had no idea that her presence had already made an impact on the young prince, who, according to his roommate, Pradit Sukhum (later Lord (Luang) Sukhum Nayapradit), arrived home after two in the morning, shook him awake saying, "The two girls have arrived. Sangwan is really very pretty, you know."Luang Sukhum Nayapradit. A Short Story of My Life
Prince Mahidol Adulyadej had arranged for the girls to stay with the Armstrong family in Hartford, Connecticut, and to attend North Western Grammar School to perfect their English reading, writing, and speaking skills. During this time, Prince Mahidol maintained close interest in Sangwan's development, making frequent visits to Hartford. Their strolls in the park to observe the flowers reflected Sangwan's lifelong love of plants and concern for the natural environment.
Marriage
Approval was granted to the union between Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince of Songkla Nagarindra and son of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), and Sangwan Talabhat, and in 1919, he presented her with a diamond ring on a heart-shaped setting in a private ceremony. Thirty years later, this same ring would be presented by his son, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, to his bride-to-be, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara. After their engagement, Prince Mahidol bade his fiancée move to Cambridge where she lived with the Williston sisters, Emily and Constance, who tutored her in algebra, Latin, French, and English. The prince also assigned an American woman to take Sangwan on guided tours of museums and art galleries, and explain to her the significance of the various exhibits. The royal wedding of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and Sangwan Talapat (later Srinagarindra) was held at Sa Pathum Palace on 10 September 1920. The ceremony was presided over by Prince Mahidol Adulyadej's half-brother, King Vajiravudh.
Prince Mahidol Adulyadej and Mom Sangwan Mahidol na Ayudhya had three children, a daughter and two sons: Princess Galyani Vadhana, the Princess of Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra, (born 6 May 1923, died 2 January 2008), married Aram Rattanakul Serireungriddhi (then divorced) had one daughter, and then married Prince Varananda Dhavaj Chudadhuj King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII), (born 20 September 1925, died 9 June 1946), unmarried King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), (born 5 December 1927, died 13 October 2016), married Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, had four children.
The marriage was followed by a visit to various European countries before the couple eventually returned to the United States. Prince Mahidol resumed his studies in public health at Harvard and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston and arranged for his wife to take a preparatory course for nursing at Simmons College, where she studied chemistry and nutrition. Upon passing the test at the end of the semester, she went on to study school health at MIT, entering in the summer semester.
In Boston, they were simply known as "Mr and Mrs Mahidol Songkla", living in a two-bedroom flat at 63 Longwood Avenue. Apart from their studies, they were both closely involved in the activities of the Siam Association of USA under Royal Patronage, which had been established by the prince. They would often host meals for other Thai students; she did the cooking, while he washed the dishes.
Death of Prince Mahidol Prince Mahidol Adulyadej was beset with kidney problems during his last year at medical school. Despite chronic health problems, he managed to graduate with honors. Immediately after his finals, he suffered from acute appendicitis requiring immediate surgery. As soon as he was well enough to travel, he and his family went to Europe again for an extended stopover, returning eventually to Siam in 1928 and taking up residency at Sra Pathum Palace. Prince Mahidol died on 24 September 1929 at Sapathum Palace.
At her husband's death, Mom Sangwan was just 29 years old, occupied with raising her three young children ranging in age from six and four to one year, nine months. At that time, her daughter, Princess Galyani Vadhana was studying at Rajini School. As soon as they were old enough, her sons were also sent to school, Prince Ananda Mahidol attended kindergarten at Mater Dei School and transferred to Debsirin School, while Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej remained in kindergarten at Mater Dei School.
On 24 June 1932, the 1932 Siamese Revolution brought about the end of Thailand's absolute monarchy, and the start of a constitutional monarchy. Some members of the royal family resigned their government posts, and others left the country to live overseas until the political scene had calmed.
Queen Sri Savarindira, the Queen Aunt, later titled the "Queen Grandmother", consulted with her daughter, Princess Valaya Alongkorn, the Princess of Petchaburi and her adopted son, Prince Rangsit Prayursakdi, the Prince of Chainat, about the suitable course of action for her grandchildren, especially Prince Ananda Mahidol. Prince Rangsit recommended Lausanne, Switzerland, a decision that Mom Sangwan approved due to its mild climate, scenery, and hospitable people. It was also said to be one of the most favoured places of her much-travelled husband Prince Mahidol. In April 1933, Mom Sangwan and her children left for Switzerland, together with a small entourage among whom was a young relative named Boonruen Sopoj, who later became Dame (Than Phu Ying) Boonruen Choonhavan, the widow of Prime Minister General Chatichai Choonhavan.
As Princess Mother While Mom Sangwan and her children were living in Switzerland, King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) abdicated on 2 March 1935, relinquishing his right to appoint an heir to the throne.
According to the palace Law regarding succession to the throne as promulgated by King Vajiravudh in 1924, the next in line was the son of Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, the Prince of Songkla Nagarindra. Thus Prince Ananda Mahidol, as yet only nine years old, was declared the eighth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty.