Life and literature are inseparable. Literary themes may involve social issues, political movements or particular communities and interesting places, often mirroring the realities of life.
In this regard, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched a campaign – one district, one literary work – throughout the city.
"We aim to instill a love of reading among children and promote reading habits as part of people's lifestyle," said Pranee Satayaprakop, director of Culture, Sports and Tourism, adding literature can be also used to guide people, particularly children, on the path to good behaviour and attitudes that can be passed from generation to generation.
"One Literature, One District" was a part of the ambitious proposal to pitch Bangkok as the "World Book Capital 2013". Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University was appointed as the project consultant.
To achieve the goal, the university launched a project to find a literary work that could represent each district in the capital. A book was chosen to represent a district if parts of the content related to the district in some way.
Mae Nak Phra Khanong, the all-time thriller, won recognition for Phra Khanong district. Another story about a young couple, Kwan and Riam, who fall in love in a Bang Kapi paddy field in Phlae Khao (Old Scar) by Mai Muang Derm, won recognition for Bang Kapi district. And, a love story between a Japanese soldier and a Thai resident during World War II, set in Bangkok Noi — Khu Kham by Tomayantee — won recognition for Bangkok Noi district.
Prizes were presented on Sept 26 to the authors whose books won recognition and which represented a district.
Lecturer Petchyupa Boonsirijarungrat from Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, who is the project head, said the team had asked officials in the BMA's 50 districts to compile a shortlist of works that could relate to their district.
Almost a hundred of names were sent in, she said, adding all of them were prose. "Verse or poems can be difficult for people who want to understand the true meaning of a story."
The criteria to find the best literary work to represent a district was set by literary experts and readers. A judging panel comprising professors was set up to select 50 books, one for each district.
To make the winning work a part of the district it was going to represent, a survey was conducted to ask the residents to find a title that most agreed was representative of their area.
One of the main criteria for selecting a book to represent a district, according to Ms Petchyupa, was the setting which had to have a connection. The house of at least one of the protagonists had be located in the district.
The selection process wasn't easy for Ms Petchyupa and her team. After the first screening, dozens of book titles for the 50 districts came down to just 30, which was inadequate to represent the whole city. The team had to expand the choices and recruit more book titles so that each district could have a literary work to be proud of.
National Artist Prabhassorn Sevikul's four books were selected for four districts: Lod Lai Mangkorn for Bang Kholaem district, Wela Nai Kuad Kaew for Yannawa district, Ko Mon Bai Nan Ti Ter Fun Yam Nun for Watthana district and Dekchai Maliwan for Sai Mai district.
"It's a great honour, something I never expected," Mr Prabhassorn said, adding he was more than glad for his works to be recognised by the city as an author and a Bangkok city resident.
However, the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said the settings portrayed in the books have changed quite a lot. Ratchawong pier, where the male protagonist worked in Lod Lai Mangkorn, has completely changed, so has his neighbourhood of Trok Chan (now Chan Road).
Mr Prabhassorn noted reading has never been a habit among Thais. One of the main reasons is that reading and writing has always been overlooked by the Ministry of Education. The situation may get worse as modern forms of entertainment, including television and social media, have become a serious distraction for people.
Online articles, he said, don't really promote reading as most online content is presented in small chunks to appeal to those with smaller attention spans.
Mr Prabhassorn suggests teachers assign more books for children to read, in addition to textbooks, and more writing assignments.
He said parents play a leading role in cultivating reading habits among their children. Facilities that are conducive to reading are also of paramount importance to create an inviting reading environment.
"It's unfair to expect children to read if their parents don't," he said, adding parents should provide a good example for their kids. "Let them see you read daily, so they will copy you."
He also suggested creating reading corners in schools in addition to a library and other areas like parks, restaurants, hospitals and department stores to promote reading among Thais.
"Environment can make reading a fun and entertaining habit for children," he said.
Mr Prabhassorn said authorities should also provide a large number of books for people to read. They should also consistently bring new books to shelves. Sharing of books should be also encouraged.
Funds are needed to set up spaces conducive to reading, Mr Prabhassorn said.
These factors must be taken into account seriously by the authorities, he said.
Deputy Bangkok governor Amorn Kitchawengkul said the BMA took great pride in the organisation of a ceremony to submit literature for each district.
People can learn a lot from literature that usually tells a story about human interests in which the authors express their thoughts through language, he said.
City Hall hopes the "one district, one literature" project will help encourage residents to learn about their district and value their community.
He urged officials in all 50 districts to use the books as material to develop reading habits among residents in their districts.
"Cultivating regular reading habits is vital. Reading is the main part of education and more importantly learning that is a lifelong process," he said.