Thao Suranari
Thao Suranari (Template:Lang-th) is the style of Lady Mo, (also known as Ya Mo (ย่าโม, 'Grandma Mo') (1771–1852), who was the wife of the deputy governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, the stronghold for Siamese control over its Laotian vassals, at the time of the Vientiane King Anouvong's attack on Korat in 1826. Anuvong's forces seized the town and evacuated the town's inhabitants. Lady Mo is credited as the leader who saved the city by harassing the invading force. Varying stories describe her plot of getting the invading soldiers drunk, or leading a rebellion of captured prisoners on the route back to Vientiane. Consequently Lao troops were dispersed, and forced to retreat quickly. Eventually, Bangkok sent troops led by General Sing Singhaseni (สิงห์ สิงหเสนี) who defeated Anuvong with the total destruction of Vientiane.
The style Thao Suranari, (or Lady Suranari – The Brave Lady) was awarded her by King Rama III in recognition of her bravery.
A statue of Thao Suranari stands in the centre of Nakhon Ratchasima city, and is a popular object of devotion, while a festival in her honour is held in the city at the end of March and the beginning of April each year. The statue was designed by Phra Thewaphinimmit (พระเทวาภินิมมิต) (1888–1942) and sculpted by Silpa Bhirasri. The Thao Suranari statue was erected next to the Chumphon gate on January 15, 1934.
Most recently, some researcher has proposed that the story of Thao Suranari was actually partly fabricated as part of the Thai nationalist movement under Field Marshal Phibul Songkham that emerged in the 1930s.
As part of a 77-million-Baht city center renovation project, dirt and trees were uprooted for construction of a new tree-lined watercourse, a central stage, and to upgrade the Lady Mo monument and rework the Chumphon Gate.
External links
- History of Lady Mo by the Korat Post. The following translated article excerpt appears in the Korat Post webpages in full.