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| Friday, 3 December 2004 |
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Tongdaeng, favourite dog of Thai king, breaks publication records by Pascale Trouillaud BANGKOK, Dec 2 - She is devoted and obedient, of superior intelligence but modest pedigree: Tongdaeng, the favoured pet dog of the king of Thailand, has smitten the kingdom and smashed publication records. Thais are enthralled by the story of the stray Tongdaeng, or "Copper." Said to be similar to an ancient breed from Central Africa, she emerged with grace from the gutters to the royal palace after being taken in by the monarch, who selected her as favourite among his 40 dogs. She inspired "The Story of Tongdaeng" which was originally penned by revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2002. Widely interpreted not just as a feel-good tale but as a lesson to Thais on how they should behave, the book was published in a cartoon version last month and has become a phenomenon. Some 200,000 copies were snapped up on its November 12 release, doubling first-day sales of the best-selling Harry Potter offering. "It is the biggest ever for a first day sale for our company," said a representative of Amarin Printing and Publishing, the primary editors of books produced by Thailand's royal household. "We distributed 500,000 copies to bookstores around the country within two weeks," the representative said, adding that the book was in its sixth printing. Sales are expected to surge with the king's 77th birthday on Sunday, and as the holiday shopping season kicks into gear. With its delicate graphics and bright watercolours, the book is sure to draw in Thailand's young readers, who are known for their obsession with comic books. The success was expected, according to Amarin. "All the books written by the king are warmly welcomed by the people," the publisher said. "The king is the most respected figure and everybody wants to read" his books. The beloved king, who has reigned for 58 years, is the incarnation of an immensely respected monarchy which stands above the swirling world of political intrigue and, together with Buddhism, forms the pillar of the Thai nation. Thai newspapers tread carefully when mentioning the royal family due to a strict code of conduct. They have widely covered the release of "The Story of Tongdaeng." In the book, Tongdaeng appears as exceptional: she understands the desires and instructions of the king like none of her fellow dogs; she never jumps on his lap, but sits at his feet like humans in line with royal protocol; she calls to her puppies telepathically; and she shows respect to dogs of in ferior standing. Some have seen the story as a parable. Through her modesty, clairvoyance, intellect and unswerving loyalty, could Tongdaeng serve as an example for Thai politicians to follow? "I don't believe there is a political message," said Chai Rachawat, Thailand's best-known cartoonist, who with three assistants devoted nine months to designing the book's 172 pages. "In my view, the king wanted to explain to the Thai people that foreign dogs that are so expensive are not the most clever, and that his dog, even though found on the street, is really clever," Chai ventured cautiously. The book's massive print run will not make the cartoonist rich; all the proceeds go to royal charities. "Even if the book tops one million copies, I won't touch any of it. Instead it has been a great honour to have worked for the king," Chai told AFP at the offices of the daily Thai Rath, for which he has drawn political cartoons for 25 years. Working the king himself into the book was a special endeavour. "It wouldn't be proper to draw the king in a cartoon," explained Chai. "Such an act would put the Thais ill at ease, they could feel we were mocking the king." As a result the monarch is depicted exclusively as a white silhouette whose outline casts an incandescent glow. "People like it," Chai said. "They think it gives the image of divinity." The artists abstained from using comic-style balloon quotes "out of respect, because it would not have looked appropriate," he added. Text instead is laid out in the corner of each frame. The king did not meet with the cartoonists but followed their progress. "In the beginning I was a bit anxious as the king made no comments and did not give any instructions," Chai said. The monarch, he said, "gave leeway to the artist to do what he wished" and did not intervene except once, to signal that one of his dogs appearing in the book had a brown tongue instead of red. The successes chalked up by "The Story of Tongdaeng" have not gone to Chai's head. He had already illustrated a previous book by the king, "Mahajanaka". "It sold three million copies," the unassuming Chai said. Like Tongdaeng herself, the cartoonist has remained modest at heart. (AFP) |
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