Surat Osathanugrah

Surat Osathanugrah
สุรัตน์ โอสถานุเคราะห์
Minister of Commerce
In office
15 January 1986 – 6 November 1986
Prime MinisterPrem Tinsulanonda
Preceded byKosol Krairiksh
Succeeded byMontri Pongpanit
Minister of Transport
In office
15 February 1975 – 13 March 1975
Prime MinisterSeni Pramoj
Preceded byChao Na Silawan
Succeeded bySiri Siriyothin
Personal details
Born(1930-05-11)11 May 1930
Phra Nakhon, Siam
Died8 May 2008(2008-05-08) (aged 77)
Bangkok, Thailand
PartyDemocrat Party (1968–1974)
Social Action Party (1974–1990)
National Development Party (1992–2000)
Thai Rak Thai Party (2000–2007)
SpousePongthip Osathanugrah
Children2, including Petch Osathanugrah
Parent
  • Sawat Osathanugrah (father)
EducationUniversity of Colorado
OccupationPolitician, businessman
ProfessionPolice officer
Military service
RankPolice Captain

Surat Osathanugrah (Thai: สุรัตน์ โอสถานุเคราะห์; RTGS: Surat Osathanukrao; 11 May 1930 – 8 May 2008) was a Thai politician, businessman, and police officer. He served as Minister of Commerce and Minister of Transport of Thailand. He was also the founder of Bangkok University and chairman of Osotspa.

Early life and education

Surat was born on 11 May 1930 in Phra Nakhon, Siam. He studied at Debsirin School and Triam Udom Suksa School, and later attended Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Massachusetts, United States. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Colorado.

Career

Police and business career

Surat served in the Thai police and attained the rank of police captain before leaving government service in 1957. He later became a leading executive of Osotspa and chaired companies within the Osotspa group.

Political career

Surat entered politics as a member of the House of Representatives for Phra Nakhon under the Democrat Party. He later joined the Social Action Party and became one of its leading figures.

He was appointed Minister of Transport in 1975. In 1986, he was appointed Minister of Commerce. He resigned later that year following a no-confidence debate concerning timber import licensing from Myanmar.

Other roles

Surat was the founder of Bangkok University and was active in education, business, and photography organizations. He also served as president of the Photographic Society of Thailand under royal patronage.

Family

Surat was married to Pongthip Osathanugrah, with whom he founded Bangkok University. They had two sons, Petch Osathanugrah and Ratch Osathanugrah. Petch later served as rector of Bangkok University and held executive roles at Osotspa, while Ratch was also involved in the family's business interests.

Death

Surat died on 8 May 2008 in Bangkok, three days before his 78th birthday.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 79 ปี สุรัตน์ โอสถานุเคราะห์ (in Thai). Memorial volume for the royal cremation of Police Captain Surat Osathanugrah. 2008.
  2. ↑ "เปิดตำนาน "สุรัตน์ โอสถานุเคราะห์" บุรุษผู้สร้าง "โอสถสภา" ดันแบรนด์ไทยผงาดในตลาดโลก". Matichon (in Thai). 10 May 2008.
  3. ↑ "พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ แต่งตั้งรัฐมนตรี (จำนวน ๓๐ ราย)" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette (in Thai).
  4. ↑ "พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ รัฐมนตรีลาออก ให้รัฐมนตรีพ้นจากตำแหน่งและตั้งรัฐมนตรี" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette (in Thai).
  5. ↑ "พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ รัฐมนตรีลาออกและตั้งรัฐมนตรี" (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette (in Thai).
  6. ↑ 289 ข่าวดัง 3 ทศวรรษหนังสือพิมพ์มติชน พ.ศ. 2521–2549 (in Thai). Matichon Publishing House. 2006. p. 424. ISBN 974-323-889-1.
  7. ↑ "Osotspa heir Petch dies at 63". Bangkok Post. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "History". Bangkok University (in Thai). Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Rinwong, Sawitree (26 August 2019). "คัมภีร์เคลื่อนโอสถสภาองค์กรร้อยปี "เพชร โอสถานุเคราะห์"" [The manual for moving the century-old Osotspa organization: Petch Osathanugrah]. Krungthep Turakij (in Thai). Retrieved 2 May 2026.
  10. ↑ ""สุรัตน์ โอสถานุเคราะห์" ถึงแก่อนิจกรรม". Manager Daily (in Thai). 8 May 2008.