Prem Rawat at Thammasat University, Thailand
Prem Rawat was invited by leaders of Thammasat University to address a capacity audience of civic, government and academic leaders.The guests were welcomed by Manu Leopairote, President of the Economic Faculty Alumni Association of Thammasat, Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Industry, and Chairman of the Thailand Petroleum Authority. Mr. Leopairote is also Director for Thailand of the Asian Productivity Organization, a nonpolitical, nonprofit, intergovernmental organization contributing to the socioeconomic development of Asia and the Pacific by enhancing productivity.
Mr. Leopairote said: “Thammasat University has a long history of providing a forum for different voices with a significant message that, each in their own way, helps people live happier, more prosperous lives. In line with this long tradition, we are gathered tonight to hear from Prem Rawat. He travels the world bringing people a unique message of hope and peace, which deserves to be heard with great attention. We are pleased that he accepted our invitation.”
Prem Rawat was then introduced by Professor Dr. Surapon Nitikraipot, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Rector of Thammasat University, and President of the Alumni Association. A professor of law, he is regarded as one of Thailand’s sharpest legal minds on public issues and has helped Thammasat become a voice of public conscience. Professor Surapon has served as a member of several committees in the Prime Minister’s Office, modernizing Thai law and developing the legal infrastructure.
Professor Surapon said: “Throughout time, leading thinkers, academicians, and government leaders have attempted to develop an understanding of how to build peace. Many approaches have been explored, all attempting to create favorable conditions for peace. These solutions have drawn from economics, history, international law, comparative peace studies, conflict resolution, political science, sociology, anthropology, and more. Prem Rawat’s message of peace is rooted in the need for each person to find peace within themselves. He emphasizes that whether our search is for world peace or for personal peace, we very much need to look at the search for peace as a personal quest, rooted in an understanding of who we are. ‘When people in the world are at peace,’ he says, ‘the world will be at peace.’”
Thammasat University is one of the most prestigious universities in Thailand. More than 70 years since its establishment in 1934, the University has produced more than 240,000 undergraduate and graduate students who have greatly contributed to the development and progress of the society and the country. The University’s alumni include prime ministers, top-level politicians and officers, Bank of Thailand governors, as well as most of the city’s governors.
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