The governor of Lampang has defended a bid to the change the province's name, saying the original name of "Nakhon Lampang" reflects a glorious and precious history.
Lampang governor Thanin Suphasan yesterday said Lampang may revert to using its original name if the move to use the old name is passed in a vote by local officials from 13 districts due to be held next Tuesday at the provincial administrative organisation office.
"We aren't renaming it. We will use the old name which reflects the province's history," Mr Thanin said.
The idea of changing the name "Lampang" to "Nakhon Lampang" was floated by a group of officials from the Provincial Cultural Department led by Borphit Wittayawiroj at a recent meeting of the provincial council.
The plan has been widely criticised by many locals in the province along with netizens on social media, who say it could cause administrative headaches.
Nakhon Lampang is not new, Mr Borphit said, adding the name has been in existence for a long time.
Mr Thanin said "Nakhon Lampang" was used in the 43rd volume of the Royal Gazette, where laws passed by the government are generally published, on page 4,054.
At next Tuesday's meeting, cultural experts will explain the history behind the name Nakhon Lampang, he said.
"We want local people to understand our province's history and the reasons why we want to change the name back to the way it was," Mr Thanin said.
Nakhon Lampang was one of King Rama VI's favourite provinces and the monarch always referred to it as Nakhon Lampang back in those days, according to the governor.
Looking back, Nakhon Lampang experienced a period of growth and prosperity and peace that was a source of happiness for the locals under King Rama VI's guardianship, he said. "That is something we should all be proud of," Mr Thanin said.
"Nakhon Lampang, the Province of Happiness" would be used as the marketing slogan to promote the province's tourism, according to the governor.
Nakhon Lampang has a rich, long and colourful history. The city is 1,335 years old, making it the oldest city in the North, he said.
Some district chiefs who conducted an opinion poll on the use of the province's original name with locals as respondents told him many supported the plan.
The residents believed the name would bring good luck and auspiciousness to the province, he added.