Editing Thammasat University (section)

=== University of Law and Political Sciences ===
[[File:Monument of Pridi Banomyong, Thammasat University 02.jpg|thumb|[[Pridi Banomyong]] monument, Tha Phra Chan Campus]]
[[File:Emblem of UMPS (later Thammasat University).png|thumb|University of Law and Political Sciences logo]]

Thammasat University began in 1934 as the University of Law and Political Sciences. This was two years after the so-called [[Siamese revolution of 1932]] and eighteen years after the founding of [[Chulalongkorn University]] by transforming the law school of Prince Raphi Phatthanasak Krommaluang Ratcha Buri Direk Rit, which dated back to 1907. Thammasat University was the brainchild of [[Pridi Banomyong]], the father of Thailand's democracy and the [[Ministry of Interior (Thailand)|minister of interior]], who drafted the "University of Law and Political Science Act 1934".<ref>{{cite book |title=Pridi by Pridi: selected writings on life, politics, and economy |last=Banomyong |first=Pridi |others=translated and introduced by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit |year=2000 |publisher=Silkworm Books |location=Chiang Mai |isbn=974-7551-35-7 |pages=178–179 |chapter= Excerpt from: Concise Autobiography of Nai Pridi Banomyong |chapter-url=http://www.openbase.in.th/files/pridibook049part3_1.pdf |access-date=13 July 2009}}</ref> The university was inaugurated on 27 June 1934, and Pridi served as the university's first chancellor.

The university is based on the sixth principle of the [[Khana Ratsadon|People's Party]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Pridi Banomyong and Thammasat University|last= Kasetsiri|first= Chanwit|author2=Michael Wright  |year= 2000|publisher=Thammasat University|isbn=974-572-764-4|pages=54–56}}</ref>
The first announcement of Khana Ratsadon stated the government "must provide the people with full education" because people "lack education, which is reserved for royals".<ref>{{cite book |title=Pridi by Pridi: selected writings on life, politics, and economy |last=Banomyong |first=Pridi |others=translated and introduced by Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit |year=2000 |publisher=Silkworm Books |location=Chiang Mai |isbn=974-7551-35-7 |pages=70–72 |access-date=13 July 2009|chapter= Announcement of the People's Party No.1 (1932) |chapter-url=http://www.openbase.in.th/files/pridibook049part2_1.pdf }}</ref> The desire of students at the school of law to be upgraded to a university rather than simply a department at Chulalongkorn University also helped Thammasat University become the successor of the law school.<ref>{{cite book |title= Pridi Banomyong and Thammasat University|last= Kasetsiri|first= Chanwit|others= translated by Michael Wright |year= 2000|publisher=Thammasat University|isbn=974-572-764-4|page=56}}</ref> The property and faculty of the law school were transferred to University of Law and Political Science, and the old law school building was the first Thammasat site. The university moved to Tha Phra Chan campus the following year.

When the university opened, 7,094 people applied for admission. At that time, Chulalongkorn University was graduating only 68 students a year.<ref>{{cite book |title= Pridi Banomyong and Thammasat University|last= Kasetsiri|first= Chanwit|others= translated by Michael Wright|year= 2000|publisher=Thammasat University|isbn=974-572-764-4|pages=56–57}}</ref> Thammasat initially offered a [[bachelor's degree]] with an emphasis on legal studies and previously banned [[economics]] and [[political science]], plus a bachelor's degree equivalent diploma in accountancy. [[Master's degree]] courses soon followed in [[law]], [[political science]], and [[economics]], and [[doctoral degree]] courses in law, political science, economics, and diplomacy.<ref>{{cite book |title= Pridi Banomyong and Thammasat University|last= Kasetsiri|first= Chanwit|others= translated by Michael Wright |year= 2000|publisher=Thammasat University|isbn=974-572-764-4|pages=58}}</ref>

During its early years, the university did not rely on government funding, but instead relied on its low tuition fees and interest paid by the [[Bank of Asia|Bank of Asia for Industry and Commerce]], in which the university had an 80% stake.

Under Pridi's leadership, the university became the clandestine headquarters of the [[Free Thai Movement|Free Thai]] anti-Japanese underground during [[World War II|the Second World War]]. Ironically, the university campus also functioned as an internment camp for Allied civilians, with Thai guards more or less protecting them from abuses by the occupying Japanese. The internment camp was where the Multipurpose Building now stands.