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| parents = Phraya Ratchanupraphan (Pia Bunnag) <br> Khunying Doris Windham Rajanupraphan
| parents = Phraya Ratchanupraphan (Pia Bunnag) <br> Khunying Doris Windham Rajanupraphan
| spouse = {{bulleted list
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| {{ill|His Royal Highness Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhat|th|พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าจิรศักดิ์สุประภาต}} (1938–1942)
| {{ill|His Royal Highness Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhat|th|พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าจิรศักดิ์สุประภาต}} (1938–1942)
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Khunying Mani Siriworasarn , formerly Mom Mani Phanuphan Na Ayutthaya [ 2 ] , was born Mani Bunnag [ 3 ] or Mani Xenier Bunnag ( Roman : Mani Xenier Bunnag [ 1 ] [ 4 ] ; born: 22 September 1915 — died: 27 September 1999), a Thai teacher and social worker, and the former daughter of King Prajadhipok, Rama VII, as she was previously married to His Royal Highness Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhat, the adopted son of King Prajadhipok [ 5 ].
Khunying Mani Siriworasarn , formerly Mom Mani Phanuphan Na Ayutthaya [ 2 ] , was born Mani Bunnag [ 3 ] or Mani Xenier Bunnag ( Roman : Mani Xenier Bunnag [ 1 ] [ 4 ] ; born: 22 September 1915 — died: 27 September 1999), a Thai teacher and social worker, and the former daughter of King Prajadhipok, Rama VII, as she was previously married to His Royal Highness Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhat, the adopted son of King Prajadhipok [ 5 ].
And she is the author of the book ” Life is Like a Dream” , which is a book that describes the events towards the end of the life of King Prajadhipok in quite detail [ 5 ]. Khunying Mani also received a will during the change of government in the reign of King Rama VII, a 10 rai plot of land on Ploenchit Road, which is now Maneeya Center and the Renaissance Ratchaprasong Hotel [ 6 ].
And she is the author of the book ” Life is Like a Dream” , which is a book that describes the events towards the end of the life of King Prajadhipok in quite detail [ 5 ]. Khunying Mani also received a will during the change of government in the reign of King Rama VII, a 10 rai plot of land on Ploenchit Road, which is now Maneeya Center and the Renaissance Ratchaprasong Hotel [ 6 ].
English-Thai noblewoman, academic instructor, social worker and writer (1915–1999)
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Mani Xenier Bunnag, Mani Siriworasarn |
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Mani Xenier Bunnag, 1947 |
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| Born |
Mani Xenier Bunnag (มณี เซเนียร์ บุนนาค) September 22, 1915 |
| Died | September 27, 1999 (aged 84) |
| Occupation(s) | Lecturer, Social worker |
| Spouses | |
| Children |
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| Parent(s) | Phraya[a] Ratchanupraphan (Pia Bunnag) Khunying Doris Windham Rajanupraphan |
Khunying[b] Mani Siriworasarn , formerly Mom Mani Phanuphan Na Ayutthaya [ 2 ] , was born Mani Bunnag [ 3 ] or Mani Xenier Bunnag ( Roman : Mani Xenier Bunnag [ 1 ] [ 4 ] ; born: 22 September 1915 — died: 27 September 1999), a Thai teacher and social worker, and the former daughter of King Prajadhipok, Rama VII, as she was previously married to His Royal Highness Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhat, the adopted son of King Prajadhipok [ 5 ].
And she is the author of the book ” Life is Like a Dream” , which is a book that describes the events towards the end of the life of King Prajadhipok in quite detail [ 5 ]. Khunying Mani also received a will during the change of government in the reign of King Rama VII, a 10 rai plot of land on Ploenchit Road, which is now Maneeya Center and the Renaissance Ratchaprasong Hotel [ 6 ].
Early life and education
[edit]
Khunying Mani was born Mani Senior Bunnag in London, England . She was the daughter of Phraya Rajanupraphan (Pia Bunnag), the Thai ambassador to the St. James’s Court, London, England. She was born to Doris Windham, an Englishwoman. [ 3 ] (In the memorial book for Khunying Mani’s cremation, her mother’s name was listed as Doris Grace Felto Power Rajanupraphan.) [ 7 ] Khunying Mani was the granddaughter of Chao Phraya Phanuwong Maha Kosathibodi (Tuam Bunnag). She had only one half-brother, Uthai Phanuwong. [ 3 ] She had ten half-brothers and sisters. [ 8 ]
1917, when Phraya Rachanupraphan (Pia Bunnag) brought his family back to Thailand, they stayed in a house that was granted by the King on Si Phraya Road , Soi Phraek Ban Nai, behind Wat Maha Phruettharam (Wat Takhian).
After his father’s death, he continued his studies as a boarder at St. Mary’s S.P.G. School, a Protestant missionary school with an English principal. After completing secondary school, he took the entrance exam for the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. After studying for only two years, in 1935, he took the Civil Service Commission (Civil Service Commission) scholarship exam in the Arts department. He went on to study in England and took the entrance exam for Oxford University.
Manee fell in love with Prince Chirasakdi Suprabhat, or “Jerry” as he introduced himself to Manee, [ 9 ] who was also studying in the United Kingdom. Their relationship led to their engagement on September 22, 1938, [ 10 ] and their wedding ceremony at the Thai Embassy in London, presided over by King Prajadhipok and Queen Rambhai Barni [ 11 ] on December 21, 1938. [ 12 ] As a result, Manee resigned from Oxford University after two years of study. King Prajadhipok then signed a money order to pay for Mom Manee’s scholarship to the Thai government, as Mom Manee had not yet repaid her scholarship. [ 13 ]
His Royal Highness Prince Chirasak Suprabhat and Mom Mani had two sons together, whose descendants were given the surname Sakdidetphanuphan Na Ayutthaya, namely:
Mom Rajawongse Dechansak Sakdidechaphanuphan (18 July 1939 [ 14 ] – 1 May 2025) married Somkid Sakdidechaphanuphan Na Ayutthaya [ 15 ] (maiden name Meethongsaen) [ 7 ] and had 1 child:
Mom Luang Sakdidet Sakdidetphanuphan
Mom Rajawongse Tim Sakdidetphanuphan [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] (formerly Mom Rajawongse Tinsak; born 19 April 1942) married for the second time to Sirikan Sakdidetphanuphan Na Ayutthaya [ 19 ] (formerly Srikanchana), has 2 children and 1 adopted child [ 20 ] namely
Sikanya Sakdidechaphanuphan (adopted child born to Sirikan and her ex-husband) [ 21 ]
Mom Luang Sarusak Sakdidechaphanuphan [ 22 ]
Mom Luang Petra Sakdidetphanuphan (formerly Mom Luang Sirini)
During World War II, His Royal Highness Prince Chirasak Suprapat worked with the ATA company as a pilot and was also a Free Thai in England. This resulted in His Royal Highness Prince Chirasak Suprapat’s death while piloting a plane and crashing in Scotland while he was on duty.
After the death of her first husband, the following year Mom Mani married for the second time to His Royal Highness Prince Abhassara Wongsorn , who was the elder brother of His Royal Highness Prince Chirasak Suprabhat. They had only one daughter, namely
Mom Rajawongse Arommanee Niwetmarin or Khunying Aura (born 10 October 1943) was first married to Police Lieutenant Colonel Chumphon Nilwattananon [ 23 ] and secondly to Watana Niwetmarin. She had two children from her first marriage and one from her second marriage [ 7 ].
In 1947, Her Royal Highness Princess Abhassara Wongsa took her family back to Thailand. Upon her return to Thailand, Mom Mani took a position as a special lecturer in English at the Faculty of Arts , Chulalongkorn University, at the invitation of Her Royal Highness Princess Prem Purachatra, who was the head of the department at the time. After divorcing Her Royal Highness Princess Abhassara Wongsa, she resigned from her position as a special lecturer at Chulalongkorn University and built a new house on Ploenchit Road, accepting work translating Thai articles into English for the American news agency.
Third and final marriage
[edit]
Later, Mom Mani returned to stay in England to visit her mother and son who were studying there. She worked as the head of the Thai language broadcasting department for BBC Radio for about a year before returning to Thailand. In 1960, she remarried to Major General Dr. Pacha Siriworasarn and lived together for 23 years. They had two adopted children, Panupol and Paninee Siriworasarn, who were Mom Rajawongse Arommanee’s children born to her first husband [ 24 ] until Dr. Pacha’s death in 1983.
Khunying Mani died of lung cancer on September 27, 1999 at Bumrungrad Hospital, Bangkok, at the age of 84. [ 25 ]
While studying at Assumption College, Khunying Mani was inclined to convert to Roman Catholicism. However , her father, Phraya Rachanupraphan, strongly dissuaded her and forced her to drop out of the school. After her father’s death, Khunying Mani enrolled at St. Mary’s S.P.G. School. She decided to convert to Protestantism , as advised by her teachers and in line with her faith in Jesus. However, Khunying Mani later realized that her previous beliefs were superstitious and reverted to Buddhism , continuing to practice Buddhist teachings. [ 26 ]
Khunying Mani and Major General Dr. Pacha Siriworasarn donated funds to build a four-story ENT (ear, nose, and throat) patient building with modern operating rooms, and presented it to Phramongkutklao Hospital. They requested royal permission to name the building “Sakdidej Building.” In 1971, Her Majesty Queen Rambhai Barni graciously presided over the opening ceremony of the building. Later, they donated funds to build Phra Pok Klao Hospital in Chanthaburi Province and donated one million baht to the Royal Thai Army Medical Department to establish the “Sakdidej” Foundation to procure medical equipment and maintain the building. The foundation was established at Wat Ratchabophit, with the proceeds donated annually to monks as a royal merit to His Majesty King Prajadhipok.
Khunying Mani also assisted in social welfare work with various women’s associations and served as a board member for several associations. She also helped raise funds to construct a building for the Foundation for Higher Education Women, which is still used as an office building for the Foundation and the Association of Higher Education Women of Thailand.
1974 – The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, Third Class, Knight Grand Cross (T.C.) [ 27 ]
1989 – The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao, Third Class, Third Class (T.C.) (Female Officer) [ 28 ]
