Komkrit Uitekkeng
Komkrit Uitekkeng was a Thai academic and writer specialising in Indian philosophy. He was a professor at Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University in Thailand and a weekly writer for Matichon Weekly's Phi Phram Phut column. In addition to his academic contributions, he was one of Thailand's pioneering YouTubers from his cooking series Khrua Kak Kak.
Early life and education
Komkrit was born on 14 September 1981 to Sonchai and Phanthipha Uitekkeng. His parents owned a Thai-Chinese restaurant J&T in Ranong province where he was born and raised. He graduated primary school from Chat Chaloem School, and secondary school from Phichai Rattanakhan School; both located in Ranong. In 2004 he graduated Bachelor of Arts with Honours from Chiang Mai University, following by a Master's in Philosophy from Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University in 2008. His graduating thesis was about Vedanta philosophy of Adi Shankara. He recalled the days of studying Master's as "extremely academic" and often called his mum who said oftentimes "it's fine to quit, come home, and I will take care of you."Career
Komkrit worked as a professor at Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University from 2004 until his death in 2025. He specialised in Indian philosophy, Hinduism, and Chinese culture and religions. Senior academic Sulak Sivaraksa once complimented Komkrit for being "truly dexterous in Indology as well as in the field of Chinese ". Komkrit previously held the position of the head of the department of philosophy, and was one of the founding members of Academics for Civil Rights Network. He regularly called for human rights and democracy in Thailand. He reportedly "prayed to the Jade Emperor"; the Chinese primordial God, "everyday; wishing the country to return to the state of righteousness and that the people to reign supreme in the land."Komkrit was a weekly columnist for Matichon Weeklys Phi Phram Phut beginning in 2016 with his debut article about Hindu God Ganesha. His weekly articles were compiled into two books published in 2017 and 2021. Moreover, Komkrit was a speaker and a member of online talk shows Tang Wong Lao Kab Chomquan and Niw Klom Dom Roti.
Personal life and death
Komkrit was married to Wilawan Boonkuekoonlawong, a mental health and behavioural therapist. Their wedding was a Hindu wedding held at Silpakorn University, Sanam Chandra Palace campus in February 2016. The wedding was documented by ThaiPBS for its TV documentary on Indian weddings.Komkrit died from an acute heart attack on 8 February 2025, at the age of 43. He was survived by his wife and friends. His last rites and cremation was on 17 February at in his hometown of Ranong. The meditation centre Avalokita in Bangkok, which he co-founded, brought Japanese monk Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura for a memorial service on 11 February. His death was mourned by the public, including television personality and writer ; both of whom were with Komkrit at the hospital before his death, actress Intira Charoenpura, and senior activist Sulak Sivaraksa.