Written by Sam Rith
The Phnom Penh Post
Scholars praise deceased colleague whose contributions to education, they say, continue to shape young Cambodian minds
A RENOWNED professor of Cambodian literature credited with creating the first Khmer typewriter died of lung failure on Thursday at the Montmorency hospital in Paris. He was 84 years old.
The death of Keng Vannsak, who was formerly a professor at Phnom Penh's Lycee Sisowath, was mourned by many of his erstwhile colleagues, who said it was a great loss for the nation.
"He was a true scholar, and he helped to establish modern Khmer literature, culture and civilization," reflected Miech Ponn, a scholar at the Buddhism Institute in Phnom Penh.
"We respect him because he was a real patriot, and he offered a basic education for the young generation," said Cambodian historian Michel Tranet.
Keng Vannsak had an unparalleled depth and breadth of knowledge, and was a truly original thinker, said Ros Chantraboth, vice president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
He had written many books on Cambodian culture, theatre, poetry and was also a creative author - penning a series of short stories and establishing the first centre for higher education focused entirely on Khmer literature. He also created a writing system to guide the creation of Khmer words.
Keng Vannsak left Cambodia for France in 1974 when he was appointed the Cambodian ambassador to that country. After the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975, he decided not to return. He has never been back to Cambodia.
"We're sorry he never returned to Cambodia, [as he could have] instructed the young generation who still learn from his achievements," Ros Chantraboth said.
A RENOWNED professor of Cambodian literature credited with creating the first Khmer typewriter died of lung failure on Thursday at the Montmorency hospital in Paris. He was 84 years old.
The death of Keng Vannsak, who was formerly a professor at Phnom Penh's Lycee Sisowath, was mourned by many of his erstwhile colleagues, who said it was a great loss for the nation.
"He was a true scholar, and he helped to establish modern Khmer literature, culture and civilization," reflected Miech Ponn, a scholar at the Buddhism Institute in Phnom Penh.
"We respect him because he was a real patriot, and he offered a basic education for the young generation," said Cambodian historian Michel Tranet.
Keng Vannsak had an unparalleled depth and breadth of knowledge, and was a truly original thinker, said Ros Chantraboth, vice president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
He had written many books on Cambodian culture, theatre, poetry and was also a creative author - penning a series of short stories and establishing the first centre for higher education focused entirely on Khmer literature. He also created a writing system to guide the creation of Khmer words.
Keng Vannsak left Cambodia for France in 1974 when he was appointed the Cambodian ambassador to that country. After the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975, he decided not to return. He has never been back to Cambodia.
"We're sorry he never returned to Cambodia, [as he could have] instructed the young generation who still learn from his achievements," Ros Chantraboth said.
14 comments:
A sword of double edge,indeed,Lok Keng Vansak.
For the leftists he was the motif for their struggle for dominance.
For the rightists he was the thorn to their absolute rule.
For the moderate centrists he was just a man of many talents in confusion.
However;indeed,he will never be forgotten but might be forgiven for introducing Karl Marx doctrine wrecklessly to destitute Cambodia and culture.
Ieng Sary,Thioun Momm...and the rest of KPP and KCP will mourn for his passing.
May he finds his peace and supreme being, afterward.
I do agree with 7:01PM. I am a moderate centrist and I found out that Prof. Keng Vansak is talented Cambodian scholar; however, his ideas are somehow quite confused and controversial.
His deconstructionist approach is quite dangerous for those who fall into his analysis. Therefore, we must question some of his work and understand the reasons and motives of his ideal.
Perhaps, reversed psychology and positive thinking approach are the best mean to interpret his work and continue an authentic research from his legacy.
Chandra
I agree with the obove comment and best he quiet now!
Dear 7:01 and 7:36PM
You are right in the way you think about Prof. Keng Vansak; however, Prof. KEng is widely reconized by most Cambodian and foreign scholars as a real literature scholar for Cambodia. These days, most cambodian people admire those people are barbarous, cruel, undeducated, powerful, and wealthy people.
Dear 10:27pm,
Seemingly you may be one of Lok Keng disciples.
It's overstated," Prof Keng is widely reconized by most Cambodian and foreign scholars as a real literature scholar for Cambodia."
May be true for the flock of his likeness in feathers but he 's totally a stranger and reactionary to the Cambod moi generation and farmers along remote areas.
You implied," These days, most cambodian people admire those people are barbarous,cruel,undeducated, powerful, and wealthy people."
I am afraid I am not one the most Cambodian people you are referring to. Above statement is qualified for elitism.It's dangeous.Please note few tall trees are not forest,in Lok Keng case.
Pol Pot(Saloth Sar),Sihanouk(Ruom Rith),Ieng Sary (So Hao)are well known to the world and his intimate disciples too,so what makes you differentiate them from Lok Keng? Or you from most Cambodian people?
May be to honor Lok Keng integrity, please share your thought with us.
What I said about Lok Keng are not in any malicious way but all are from the records done by non Khmers and scholars too.They are certainly not mine.
Thanks for cordial comments,
From 7:01pm
Let's this old ass sleep in tranquility...
Jayavarman 7 is a muslim..
Rayaman is not good for our culture...
What else can he saided?
All he want to do is exterminate the monarch's
constitution and let's Yuons take Cambodia.
Let's this old ass sleep in tranquility...
Jayavarman 7 is a muslim..
Rayaman is not good for our culture...
What else can he saided?
All he want to do is exterminate the monarch's
constitution and let's Yuons take Cambodia.
Ieng Sary, Ta Mok, and much more are teachers too..
So what ???
After reading comments from readers in articles, I feel that we it is lucky that everyone does not know and stay close to each others. Otherwise, fighting happens every minute. Everyone has bare hands with computer, but i am doubtful that everyone has weapons close to their computers because they just want to fight each other even through expression.
After reading comments from readers in articles, I feel that we it is lucky that everyone does not know and stay close to each others. Otherwise, fighting happens every minute. Everyone has bare hands with computer, but i am doubtful that everyone has weapons close to their computers because they just want to fight each other even through expression.
3:39AM! please try to reconize phisical violen
from expreesion of idea,
from expression of felling ( release the anger),
That's how we work to braine stome our opinion and fight again violence injutice from much stronger power of evil! Of Ah kwack CPP and the corruption of the royal!
7:01 PM ,
I agree with you!
It is true that people have different point of views about late Prof. Keng. Everyone is right from their own experiences and exposures.
I was a student of Khmer Literature and that time I was so proud to have known his name and read his books on Khmer Grammar and Literature. I had no questions in his talents and sacrifice for the sake of Khmer literature. And yes, an original thinker.
On the other hand, when I later read about him, related to the political ideology he adhered to, I have learned that he had his own perspectives on Cambodia politics and this country. I don't intent to make more comment over this.
Therefore, we can see that there are people who really was a patriot in one thing (here, Khmer Literature and Grammar) and may have done something which others think are not respected for another thing (for example, his contact with former Khmer Rouge Leaders and motif of Maxism).
7.01 had made it a distiguishment of that. Thanks.
My last word: most comments, if not all, in this article are very appreciting. Everyone is very careful in finetuning their opinion, which is great! And I like to see this culture of writing sustain.
for those of us who are not aware already, talk therapy is very therapeutic; it actually helps to cool down then the other way around like holding your thought and anger deep inside. that's like a time-bomb, waiting to explode. so, talking and letting out your inner-demons is good and therapeutic, indeed. so, just because someone is talking like they're about to tear someone's head off isn't necessarily that. yes, it is human expression only and a therapeutic one, of course. please keep this in mind. thank you and god bless.
i don't understand this logic.. you guys mean to say that's it's OK to use obscenities on anyone who hold ideas that contradict yours? How can one live with 2 faces? No wonder the foreigners think that Khmer smile hides violent tendencies.
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