On the evening of 6th March 2025, Former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun hosted Asia's 4th Amartya Sen Lecture in Bangkok at the Intercontinental Hotel. The lecture, titled "Dialogue with Development Maverick Mechai Viravaidya on Spreading Consciousness in Education and Health", featured Khun Mechai Viravaidya, founder of the Population and Community Development Association or PDA, and Dr Ravi Kannan, Director of the Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, whilst Nobel Prize economist Prof Amartya Sen joined via video link from his home in Boston. Joe Horn-Phathanothai, CEO of Strategy613 and organiser of the event, moderated the lecture.
In his opening address Khun Anand recalled the previous lectures, which included luminary guest speakers such as Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, Nobel Prize winning chemist Sir Greg Winter, OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria, and LSE President Baroness Minouche Shafik, and mentioned how delightful it was that this Amartya Sen Lecture featured a speaker from Thailand.
Khun Mechai, in his captivating lecture, shared many lessons learned during the past fifty years working on five main areas of development, namely: reducing births, reducing deaths, reducing dependence, reducing poverty, and reducing ignorance. His efforts are marked by an openness to work with unorthodox partners, and a unique can-do attitude characterised by his motto: "Take no as a question".
Khun Joe commented that Khun Mechai's approach was a unique combination of street smart and academic grounding. As a pioneer in several areas of social development, Khun Mechai has often had to resort to unconventional methods in order to bring about change.
Dr Ravi Kannan shared his perspective of how, in building his revolutionary cancer center, his challenge was to convince the poor to have trust in his work. In order to do that he had to empower the local community in Assam, a poor and neglected region at the foot of the Himalayas.
Prof Sen reflected on the teachings of the Buddha in the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta in relation to family planning. He pointed out that it was important to educate the population to strengthen their ability to use reason in determining their choice in such matters.
The evening was attended by 250 notable guests including Privy Councillor Dr Chirayu Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.