Historian, writer, and political commentator Nidhi Eoseewong has died today (7 August 2023) at the age of 83, after being hospitalised for lung cancer.

Nidhi was born on 8 May 1940 to a Chinese family in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Chulalongkorn University and started his professional career teaching history at Chiang Mai University, where he stayed until his retirement in 2000. During his time at the University, he took a sabbatical leave to pursue a PhD in Southeast Asian history at Michigan University, where he graduated in 1976.

After retiring, he remained active in the academic community with regular academic articles and critical pieces in newspapers and magazines. Nidhi was an important contributor to the website Midnight University, now defunct, that offers free access to academic articles in various fields.

Nidhi has been hailed as an outstanding Thai scholar, known for his influential works. Apart from history, he also contributed to related fields such as sociology, political science, literature, religion, and culture.

The work that made his reputation is Pen and Sail: Literature and History in Early Bangkok, first published in 1984 and later translated into English. The book combines intellectual and economic history, and argues that the emergence of a market economy in the early Bangkok Era (1783-1855) resulted in major changes in the world view of Thais.

In the book, Nidhi used literature to study Thai history, providing a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the early Bangkok era in its economic, social, and intellectual aspects. Pen and Sail offered new perspectives on Thai history and has served as a model and guideline for studying Thai history and Thai studies in a way that challenged the conservative perspective that had dominated Thai history up to that point.

Several academics, activists, and politicians have written public comments to show their condolence. Sulak Sivalaksa, historian and social critic, stated that Nidhi was not only a historian but also an intellectual who was willing to risk his reputation to express his opposition to dictatorship, standing for democracy. Nidhi dedicated his entire life to the public not only to Thais but to anyone interested in Thai politics, and Thai history. Nidhi will always be remembered.

A political science professor from Chulalongkorn University, Puangthong Pawakapan, said that it is a privilege for her to know Nidhi. What sets Nidhi apart from other senior academics in Thailand is that Nidhi was not interested in seeking honours within the bureaucratic and political systems. He dared to criticize institutions without fearing anyone.

Chaithawat Tulathon, Move Forward’s Secretary-General, stated that Nidhi was Thailand’s important intellectual. Chaithawat had read Nidhi’s articles in Matichon since he was in school. Chaithawat added that he feels distressed to lose someone with whom he has been bonded.

Nidhi was recognized by the National Research Council of Thailand, the Fukuoka Asia Prize, and the Sriburapha Award, given to Thai thinkers and writers with valuable contributions to society.

In a political role, Nidhi took on membership of the National Reform Committee after the dispersal of the Red Shirt protesters in 2010. He was responsible for drafting an operational plan to address issues of injustice and inequality.

Nidhi donated his body to medical science and the family has said that there will only be a small religious ceremony and not a funeral.