Prayoon Chanyavongs

Prayoon Chanyavongs, born on November 17, 1915, in Siam, was a Thai comics artist and cartoonist, affectionately known as Thailand's 'King of Cartoons'. His satirical comics, which often attacked corruption and political ills, won him the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1971. Prayoon's early life was marked by hardship, but he overcame adversity through education and a passion for drawing. His career took off when his work was published in Dao Nakorn in 1934, and he quickly became a prominent figure in Thai media. His creation, Sooklek, became a beloved character that voiced Prayoon's insights on politics and society. Prayoon's legacy includes a vast body of work that continues to influence Thai culture and art. He passed away on December 3, 1992, after a battle with lymph gland cancer. His contributions to the field of cartooning and his commitment to social commentary through art remain unparalleled in Thailand.