Khun Yai: A Glimpse into the Life of Chand Khonnokyoong : หน้า 53/200

"Khun Yai" Chand Khonnokyoong was born on January 20, 1909, in Nakorn Chaisri, a rural municipality of Thailand. She was the fifth of nine children in the family. Her father, Ploy, and mother, Pan, were rice farmers. The word "Khun Yai" means "grandmother" in Thai. It is a respectful way to call a woman of advancing age. Khun Yai's given name was Chand, which means "moon". Her last name was Khonnokyo-on, which means "peacock-feather". In those times, Thai families seldom send their daughters to school. Because of this, Chand never learned how to read or write. Chand’s father was a good family man but he was addicted to alcohol. One day, he became so drunk that he fell asleep under the house while the family slept inside (a village house is usually built on stilts to protect from wild animals and flooding). He was mumbling and snoring so loudly that it bothered the family. In disgust, her mother called him a “sparrow” (a Thai expression for a worthless person) that leached off her. This remark wounded his pride. He angrily asked all the children if they heard their mother insult him. The children stayed quiet. Innocently, Chand said that she did not