Short-story writer Chartvut Bunyarak on why family is the root of dysfunction and singing the best therapy

On reading Thor Sor 2549 (Taxi 2006) - a short story on political crisis penned by up-and-coming writer Chartvut Bunyarak - readers will be reminded of the early days of anti-Thaksin campaigns in Bangkok, days when conflicts and ideological clashes could still be viewed with a wry smile.

The story being published in translation in today's 'Outlook' depicts the sentiments of ordinary people just before Thaksin was ousted by the September 19, 2006 coup.

In that year, differences in political ideology only cost you your friendship, not life or limb. One possible consequence was to be shoved out of a cab if you disagreed with its pro-Thaksin driver.

Chartvut said the short story was inspired by a real incident, in which a sister of a University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce lecturer was asked to leave her taxi. In the fictionalised version, however, Chartvut weaves in political satire and some comical coincidences to reflect on the apathetic attitudes of people towards corrupt politicians. A run-on monologue squeezed into the middle serves as the writer's cynical remarks on the notion of political neutrality and a sense of confusion regarding that object of hype called democracy.

The story, said the writer, speaks volumes about the effects of political crisis on the mentality, and verbal clashes, of people in the streets.

"Never before have politics been put on every family's table. Political issues permeate all forms of media, art, film and literature.

"The Thaksin phenomenon is a major historical process for Thailand. This political crisis has shaken up our country to its foundation. It defies all our political beliefs and makes us question the practicality of Western-style democracy in Thai society," said Chartvut, whose writings are well known for poking fun at current events.

His stories have touched on a wide range of social and controversial issues, from the craze over Jatukham Ramathep amulets to the scandal over a son of politician Chalerm Yubamrung, who managed to escape the rule of law despite his alleged involvement in a pub brawl that led to the death of a police officer.

Recently, he criticised the "yellow shirt phenomenon" - the movement of extreme royalists - in Korranee Sueksa Rueang Look Kaeh Fan Pu (Case Study of Lambs with Decayed Teeth). The story is about a bus passenger who wore a non-yellow shirt on the day when the whole nation celebrated the 60th anniversary of HM the King's ascension to the throne, and was asked to leave the bus. Chartvut said that idea was also inspired by a real event.

"We live in a very interesting and crucial time in our country's history. I would say it is the responsibility of writers to record the feeling of the moment ... the time in which they live," he said.

Will Chartvut pen another story about civil war in Bangkok or a cynical tale of the fatal tear gas fired on the anti-government protesters in front of Parliament on October 7?

Unlikely. Chartvut said he is busy writing another satire but this time focusing on the impact of a bad childhood on psychologically disturbed people.

Despite his cast of eccentric characters, in real person Chartvut the writer looks more like a fun-loving guy you meet at bars - the kind of person gifted in making people around him laugh, a good talker who can speak non-stop for an hour or two.

Achievement-wise, one of Chartvut's books was shortlisted for the 2005 SEA Write Awards, and he won back-to-back National Book Awards last year and this year. Some critics have labelled him a new master of satirical prose, after Paritat Hutangkul, another well-known writer. The description is quite on the mark. Chartvut seems to derive great enjoyment from his restructured world, making fun of social problems or the foibles of human nature, especially of the Bangkok middle class from which he originally came.

A few of his stories - both the titles and the names of his characters - also reflect the writer's creative improvisation with everyday subjects. Tamnan Suttai Ai Mot Daeng (The Last Legend of Ai Mot Daeng, a popular Japanese action hero of decades ago) is a thinly disguised attack on loud-mouthed Chalerm. Here, the tragicomic hero, facing a decline in popularity, resorts to a suicide bombing at Parliament.

The name of Chartvut's self-launched publishing company is Moo Penguin - the Porky Penguin.

Underneath what appears to be a stream of anecdotes and comical gags in his books, Chartvut said, there is little resemblance to his personal life.

"Sad writers usually pen comical stories, while the really funny [happy] ones will play with more serious content ... I think I belong in the first group," he said.

Calling himself a product of a broken home, Chartvut said he spent the early part of his life as a rebel; he was expelled from the elitist Vajiravudh College when he was 12. The teenager seemed bent on self-destruction - drinking and playing snooker, among other things. Without his grandmother's love and support, Chartvut said he would not have finished his master's degree from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

And while many writers were born bookworms, Chartvut said he rarely read in his youth.

He started reading when he got into the university. His first serious literary Thai book, read when he was 22, was Kham Phiphaksa (The Judgement), written by two-time SEA Write winner Chart Korbjitti. Chartvut remembered crying over the grim novel.

"The story displays the nature of victimisation and the gritty details of that process," he said, adding that the book later inspired him to become a writer.

But it would take another five years for him to really start putting words on paper. Upon graduation, he worked as a non-governmental organisation activist in southern provinces and later took on many jobs, including managing a bakery shop in a seaside town.

His life changed when he become jobless in 2002. "I had to choose between two paths - applying for a job or writing. After a couple of days of soul-searching, I drove a motorcycle to buy a lamp, paper, pencils and rubber erasers. I wrote constantly from nine to five, day after day, until the story was finished."

And the very first short story got published - an auspicious sign for a new writer.

From the first days Chartvut embarked on his new writing career, he has been quite diligent and the results have been quite satisfactory.

On his name card, Chartvut describes himself as "a man who fell in love with the short story". But now he is experimenting with writing a novel.

Titled Karaoke, the book will be about three characters with psychological complexes - a gay porn star who saves up money so that he can get a sex-change operation, a straight man who makes a living dressing as mascots that promote consumer goods and a girl with masochistic tastes. "These characters are emotionally crippled ... the lost souls whose nerves have fallen apart like a scattering mosaic," Chartvut carefully carved out his phrase to describe his new book.

"All three characters came from broken homes or have had abusive parents. Readers will grasp my message that family is the root cause of every social problem including politics. I bet bad politicians may have had a bad upbringing, what do you think?"

But does the worldwide popular pastime of karaoke itself have anything to do with this story?

"Well ... karaoke serves as the backdrop of the story. It is a symbol of emotional therapy. Indeed, this form of entertainment is the best method of therapy ever invented in modern society. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, an acceptance among peers; karaoke always makes people happy," he said.

He also promised the novel will have a happy ending, with a twist. All the characters will be "cured" - not unlike mental patients who recover from their treatments. But what about the creator of the story himself?

Chartvut simply said that the act of writing has helped him cope with emotional anguish - a sort of mental karaoke that has not only allowed him to express his sadness, but has also earned him respect and made his readers laugh sardonically.