Senior Thai astronomer, national artist passes away

BANGKOK, March 17 (TNA) - A prominent Thai astronomer and national artist Prof. Dr. Rawee Pawilai has passed away peacefully at the age of 92. According to his daughter, Prof. Dr. Rawee passed away at Sirindhorn Hospital at 01:15am on Friday. Prof. Dr. Rawee had been admitted to the hospital since last month for having intra-abdominal bleeding and breathing difficulty. The funeral for the renowned Thai astronomer and national artist will be held at the Thatthong Temple in Bangkok on March 18. Dr. Rawee graduated his Bachelor Degree in Physics from Chulalongkorn Unviersity, obtained his Master Degree in Physics from the University of Adelaide and his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the National University of Australia. Dr. Rawee was a lecturer at the Faculty of Physics, Chulalongkorn University since he was 19 years old and worked until his retirement in 1986. The renowned Thai expert on astronomy was also interested in religion and philosophy and wrote books on religious philosophy and translated classical literatures. He was, thus, named a national artist in literature in 2006. Besides, Dr Rawee was a member of Thailand’s Royal Institute, working on the Thai Junior Encyclopedia Project, initiated by late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and was also a former president of the Thai Astronomical Society. (TNA)