By 2024, Khon Kaen University has launched quality graduates to develop and drive forward the Thai society for 60 years. Besides the programs and academic knowledge that have altered with time, many roads, trees, atmospheres, buildings, classrooms, activities, and people, have also changed continuously into what we see today. The Communications Division would like you to have a retrospective look, through 7 different perspectives of various generations, to the time yesterday in the brick-colored campus. It is not going to be just the relation of their memories, but the articles will also open a historical page and pride all through the 60 years in Khon Kaen University.
In 1964, the dream to study agriculture urged “Kanya Hemmapat”, an 18-year old girl from Songkla to choose The Northeastern University (KKU former name) as her target, even though she had never heard of the name before. She then became one of the 107 members of the first Khon Kaen University class, when the university had not even finished its construction.
“I remember that at that time we had to study in Bangkok. If it was a science course, we had to go to Mahidol University. If it was an agricultural course, then we went to Kasetsat University. Then, girl students had no uniform. I and my friends went to ask for the University logo and designed a metal pin and buttons, engraved with the word “Khon Kaen”. We put these on our shirt with black, deep blue, or grey colored skirt, and that was our uniform showing our identity.”
“After two years in Bangkok, finally we took a train to Khon Kaen. When we reached the station we walked under the Khon Kaen wooden gate, as a sign showing we reached the place before going to the University. There were only two dormitories then and two faculties: Agriculture and Engineering. Even though there were no upperclass men to welcome us, for we were the first class, the good point was that we got to get close to one another and to the lecturers as well. These did not mean only in class, but also in our daily living.”
“There was no tap water, the students had to go down the stairs to carry water for bathing and cleaning. During the term break when some of us who had to reexam, others stayed behind to help carry water for them so that they were able to read for the reexam. Once, the University bus had an accident, many friends were badly injured and were admitted in hospital. There was no technology at that time. What we could do to help them was taking lecture notes on carbon copies for them.”
“The University was green with trees and shrubs. There were no buses of any kind. Students used bicycle to go to pay respect to Mo Din Daeng Spirit House, the sacred Spirit of KKU that we all respected from the first day at KKU. Students had to ride bicycle to water the vegetables at the farm plots. The produces were given out at the hospital, schools, prison and other places.”
“The farm products that we distributed to the community are the impressive memory until today. The University taught us to share and to dedicate ourselves to the society. On the graduation day at the Library when we received our degree certificates, the words social dedication was there, which have been in our memory until now. All through the 60 years, Khon Kaen University made us realize that this place is not only an educational place, but it is the place of true social dedication.”
Photos: Kanya Hemmapat and KKU Archives
Next Eps of next ages will be released soon
Article: Phanit Khatnak