After three years of in-depth interviews, extensive research, and dedicated storytelling, we are proud to present a book that captures one of the most significant struggles for cultural and community preservation in contemporary Thailand:
📖 เมื่อเทพไท้ถูกไล่ที่ (Where the Divine Faces Eviction: Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine’s Struggle)
This book tells the compelling story of Ms. Nok, the fourth-generation caretaker of the Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine—one of Bangkok’s most important Chinese heritage sites. Despite not being born into a Chinese family, she embraced her role through marriage, dedicating over 30 years of her life to the shrine’s upkeep and traditions. Now, she faces eviction and a $4 million lawsuit from Chulalongkorn University. Following the passing of her husband, she is forced to fight this battle alone.
Backed by a strong student movement, this shrine has become a highly visible site of resistance against gentrification, embodying a struggle between powerful institutions, faith, and community spirit. With over 50,000 supporters and more than 10,000 visitors each month, it stands as a symbol of resilience and defiance in the face of injustice.
A Labor of Love by Students Over Three Years
This book has been a collective effort of love, dedication, and persistence. Over the past three years, many students have been deeply involved in bringing this story to life. They visited and interviewed Ms. Nok more than ten times, working tirelessly to understand her journey, capture the nuances of her struggles, and narrate her life with grace and depth. Their commitment ensured that this book not only documents the legal and political battle over the shrine but also honors the personal strength of an individual who has given her life to preserving community heritage.
We are honored to have Narisa Chakrabongse, founder of River Books and a distinguished environmentalist and preservationist, contribute the foreword. She writes:
“Ms. Nok is not a celebrity or a public figure, yet her story offers invaluable insight—helping us understand traditional beliefs, community transformation, and the struggles of ordinary people. More importantly, it highlights how one individual can courageously stand for justice against a powerful institution. I invite readers to engage with the past through her story and to draw inspiration from her bravery.”
Part of an Ongoing Series on the Lives of Everyday People
This book is the second in a series dedicated to telling the stories of overlooked yet deeply influential individuals in Thai society. It follows Beloved… Auntie Tiew, published three years ago, which chronicled the life of a beloved janitor at the Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University. Through these books, we seek to highlight the dignity, struggles, and resilience of everyday people—those who shape our communities but are often left out of mainstream narratives.
A Remarkable Response: Over $2,000 Raised in One Week
In just one week, we successfully raised over $2,000, thanks to the generous contributions of young people and those who believe in change. This overwhelming support reflects the deep public commitment to justice, heritage preservation, and community resilience.
How You Can Continue to Support This Cause
Although our fundraising campaign has now closed, you can still support this effort by purchasing the book, which is now available in bookstores across Thailand and directly at the shrine. A significant portion of the proceeds will go toward activism related to the shrine, ensuring that this struggle for justice continues.
By reading and sharing this story, you help ensure that voices like Ms. Nok’s are heard and that communities facing injustice are not left to fight alone.