Sikh shares his love for Late King Rama IX as Thailand prepares for Thursday funeral of beloved monarch

A Thai television channel interviewed Sakda Sachamitr (Darshan Singh Sachdev) on his love and faithfulness for the The Father of the Nation (King Rama IX) and Living the Life according to the footsteps laid down by the Late King Rama IX of Thailand. The interviewed was picked up Thai Sikh News, a Facebook-based news platform.

Darshan was amongst the many Sikhs in Thailand who had joined their fellow countrymen in mourning the death of beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 13 Oct 2016.

His photo, teary eyed while holding a potrait of the King, became viral on the social media.

In a report last year, Asia Samachar reported that Sikhs in Thailand had been holding prayers for the King, including at the Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha in Bangkok.

“We’ve been holding prayers for the beloved King for some time now. We will be meeting tomorrow to discuss our next programme,” the then gurdwara secretary Surinder Singh told Asia Samachar.

After the passing away of the revered King, his body was moved to the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Over 12 million people have travelled there to pay their respects since. The final rites will take place from Oct 25-29, with the actual cremation taking place on Oct 26.

Among the regional dignitaries at the funeral are former Indonesia president Megawati Soekarnoputri, Singapore President Halimah Yacob and Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Sultan Azlan Shah from Malaysia.

Thai Sikhs join the nation mourning death of King Bhumibol (Asia Samachar, 13 Oct 2016)