History of Nan reborn in fiction

Most people hit 60 and think, “I ought to retire”, but Kasikornbank chief executive Banthoon “Khun Pan” Lamsam, who became an octogenarian in January, is saying, “Let’s get this show on the road!”

It seems he’s fallen in love – with Nan province and its rich cultural heritage.

Now calling Nan his home, Khun Pan will commemorate his significant birthday by publishing a novel – his first – based on the history of Pukha, the province’s old Lanna kingdom that most Thais still know little about. He and Amarin Printing are keeping mum about the details of the book, even the title, until he holds a press conference on May 21. 

Meanwhile people are wondering why he hasn’t written his autobiography instead of a novel. That’s because he thinks biographies are for dead people, whereas he’s just starting a new life! 

Khun Pan spent years off and on writing the novel. “My staff never knew when I was writing,” he says. He does reveal that it mixes dharma in with the history, but he won’t recommend it for monks. “It has some erotic scenes! It’s also going to reveal a lot about modern-day politicians!”

It all started when Khun Pan discovered an old inn and turned it into the Phukha Nanfa Hotel, borrowing the name of Nan’s first royal dynasty going back 700 years. His interest in the Lanna story was further piqued when a fortune-teller told him he was a member of that royal family in a former life, though Khun Pan harbours some doubt. 

He’s in Nan every chance he gets – “It’s my home,” he tells friends – and even produced a music album called “Nan” featuring, among other top singers, Yuengyong “Ad Carabao” Opakul crooning “Kid Thueng Nan, Kid Thueng Ther”. 

That song alone cost Bt1 million to put on disc, but Khun Pan insists his investment in Nan has been the most worthwhile undertaking of his life. His ultimate goal is to see Nan listed as a Unesco World Heritage city. Won’t that be something?