Suwanni Sukhontha

Suwanni Sukhontha () was the pen name of Suwanni Sukhonthiang (; 1 March 1932 – 3 February 1984), a Thai writer and novelist. In 1971, she won the SEATO Literature Award, the award which has been succeeded by the S.E.A. Write Award after the dissolution of the SEATO.
Life.
Education and careers.
Suwanni was born in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Her father, Yoi Sukhonthiang (ย้อย สุคนธ์เที่ยง), was a medical officer. Her mother was Taeng-on Sukhonthiang (แตงอ่อน สุคนธ์เที่ยง). Suwanni had one elder sister.
Suwanni completed primary education at Phadung Nari–Kawi Phitthaya School (โรงเรียนผดุงนารี–กวีพิทยา) and secondary education at Chaloem Khwan Satri School (โรงเรียนเฉลิมขวัญสตรี) in Phitsanulok Province. She then studied at the Pohchang Academy of Arts (วิทยาลัยเพาะช่าง) in Bangkok for two years. Following that, she studied painting at the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, and completed a bachelor's degree in this field in 1951.
After graduation, she became a government officer, working as a government teacher at Bangkok's School of Arts for three years and as a lecturer at Silpakorn University in the 1950s. She began writing novels in 1965. In that year, her first short story, "Chot Mai Thueng Puk", was published in "Siam Rath Weekly" (SRW) and she started using the pen name "Suwanni". She later changed her pen name to "Suwanni Sukhontha" upon suggestion of Pramun Unhathup (ประมูล อุณหธูป), SRW editor-in-chief.
Her first novel, "Sai Bo Yut Sane Hai", was published in the magazine "Satri San" (สตรีสาร; "Females' Journal") and met with jubilant welcome. She then resigned from the government post at Silpakorn University and became a full-time writer. She also started a female magazine called "Lalana" (ลลนา; "Girls") in 1972 and later became its editor-in-chief.
Family.
Suwanni married Tawee Nandakwang (ทวี นันทขว้าง; ), a National Artist who was her fellow lecturer at Silpakorn University. The two had four children. Because of frequent quarrels, they later divorced.
Following the divorce, Suwanni spent her life with her longtime friend, Sirisawat Phanthumasut (ศิริสวัสดิ์ พันธุมสุต). When Suwanni and Tawee divorced, one of their children, Duangta Nandakwang (ดวงตา นันทขว้าง; ) or Kop (กบ), had just been born. The children were then sent to Chiang Mai Province to live with their grandparents. The family discord also distanced Suwanni and her only son, Wongmueang Nandakwang (วงศ์เมือง นันทขว้าง; ) or Namphu (น้ำพุ), who saw his family as broken and resorted to narcotic drugs. Namphu died of narcotic drug overdose at the age of 18 in 1974.
After the death of Namphu, Suwanni said she had frequently been asked how she could allow her son to become addicted to drugs and such question had always rendered her speechless. Because of her son's death, she also blamed herself for being "incapable of raising a child". Suwanni later adapted his story into a novel called "Phra Chan Si Nam Ngoen" as a lesson for other parents. In its preface, she wrote:
"When I kissed you for the last time, our tears blended together. I told you to rest in peace, my dear. From that day on, I live my spiritless life like a wind-up toy. Today, I have just learnt the greatness of the suffering of a mother."
The novel has been adapted into films and television dramas for many times. It also made the term "problem child" (เด็กมีปัญหา) popular in the Thai society and called attention to family and drug problems.
Death.
Around 16:30 hours of 3 February 1984, Suwanni was stabbed to death by two young men on her way to a market in Bangkok. The two men, Khachin Sombun (คชินทร์ สมบูรณ์) and Phaithun Sawangphrai (ไพฑูรย์ สว่างไพร), were technical school students and were addicted to narcotic drugs. They wanted to steal her BMW car and seek some money to purchase drugs. Suwanni's dead body was found left in dense grasses behind Siam Park City and eight stab wounds were found on the body. The two students were arrested on 4 February 1984.
Because of her death, Suwanni left the novel "Wan Wan" incomplete. Novelist Kritsana Asoksin (กฤษณา อโศกสิน) later completed it.
Writings.
Suwanni's works are well known for their realistic structure. She is noted for using a common but sarcastic language in her works, contrary to the style popular at that time. The characters she created are usually ordinary people and reflect the downsides of human beings. Suwanni is also renowned for profound understanding of female psyche and her use of "brush stroke" to create rich imagery.
The following is an incomplete list of her works:
In popular culture.
Many of her novels have been adapted into films and television dramas. These include:
In several television dramas, Suwanni was notably portrayed by actress Sinjai Plengpanich. Suwanni was also portrayed by Patravadi Mejudhon in the 1984 film adaption of "Phra Chan Si Nam Ngoen".