The Right of Discipleship: Cold War History and Memory as Dynamic Cultural Capital of the Phu Khiao–Tham Pha Nam Thip Community, Roi Et Province

Abstract

This study explores the historical dynamics of the Phu Khiao–Tham Pha Nam Thip area in Roi Et Province from the Cold War to the present, focusing on how state policies, socio-political contexts, and community memories have interacted to transform the meaning of the landscape. Employing a historical methodology integrated with the anthropology of memory, the research draws upon archival documents—such as Prince Damrong Rajanubhab’s 1906 inspection report of Udon Monthon, Cold War security policies, and Royal Gazette announcements—alongside local chronicles, oral narratives from Luang Pu Sri Mahaviro’s disciples, and in-depth interviews with community leaders. Findings reveal that Phu Khiao–Tham Pha Nam Thip has undergone multiple transformations—from a “forest of life” in pre–Cold War memory to a “red zone” under the Cold War security regime, and finally to a “wildlife conservation zone” in the post–Cold War era. Facing the loss of access to natural resources, local communities selectively reconstructed collective memories of forest pioneering, Buddhist virtue, and ecological stewardship to legitimize their cultural and moral rights. After the COVID-19 pandemic, these memories were further reinterpreted as creative cultural capital through learning tourism, exhibitions, and the Young Local Guides project—revitalizing the local economy and negotiating coexistence with the state. The study demonstrates that memory functions not merely as a reflection of the past but as a living cultural force that continually mediates the relationship between history, identity, and sustainable local development.