Native name សុត្តន្តប្រីជាឥន្ត Years active 1914–1924 | Occupation Author
poet
monk Spouse(s) Lok Yay Tuet | |
Full Name Suttantaprija Ind Born July 22, 1859 Muk Kompul, Kandal, Cambodia Children Son, San, Ly, Lone, and Yueon Died 8 November 1924, Battambang Province, Cambodia | ||
Lok Okhna Suttantaprija Ind (July 22, 1859 – November 8, 1924) (Khmer: សុត្តន្តប្រីជាឥន្ត) was a Cambodian monk, writer and famous poet. His royal title, Okhna or Lord in English, was bestowed upon him by the King of Cambodia due to his extensive works in helping to preserve Khmer literature, his writings and his poetry skills.
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Biography
He was born to Mr. Bongchong Keo in Rokar Korng Village, Tonle Thom, Muk Kampoul, Kandal Province, on July 22, 1859.
He studied Khmer literature when he was 10. When he was 15, he translated 'Prash Bakriyath', and then became a monk at Wat Pri Po for one year. He then went to study with Lok Archa Peach in Prash Tropang. When he was 18, he studied with Buddhist Professor Brak at Wat Una Lom in Phnom Penh. When he was 19, he studied with Lok Archa Sok at Wat Keo, Battambang. He became a monk again when he was 20 at Wat Keo for one year, and studied in Bangkok.
After 7 years in Thailand, he came back to Cambodia during the time of Lok Prash Yakatha Choun Gnogn and stayed at Wat Kandal, Battambang for 10 years. He then married Lok Yay Tuet from Chomka Somroung village, Battambang and lived in Chvia Thom village. Lok Prash Yakatha Choun Gnogn gave him the title of Khon Vichit Voha and then as Hlung Vichit Voha. He wrote and translated Pali texts into Khmer for 44 different titles. After Lok Prash Yakatha Choun Gnogn left Battambang, he went to work in Phnom Penh for 10 years (1914-1924). When he was 55, he was promoted to be Lok Oknha Suttantaprija. He helped create the Khmer Buddhist Dictionary at the Pali school. Between the age of 55 and 65, he came back and spent the rest of his life with his family in Battambang.
He died on November 8, 1924.
Works
His work includes the Katilok series, Nirasnatavat, Hombang back, Bakthom Sompoth, Loknitbakor, Sopearseth Chbap Srey, and many poems. Some of his works, such as Katilok and Chombang Takoa, were written to reflect the Khmer culture and life during Lok Prash Yakatha Choun Gnogn's time. At the turn of the century, Lok Oknha Suttantaprija Ind was prominent in Battambang Province. Everybody called him Lok Archa Ind, admired his work, and respected him for his contributions to the society. Before there were books published in Battambang, people borrowed his books and hand copied. They circulated the hand copied books from one to another to read and study. Some people memorized his poems for the whole books by heart. He also worked with a French Catholic missionary, Tong Da, and created a French – Khmer dictionary which is known as "Dictionary Tong Da".
According to Ind Lone, his daughter, there were a lot of books collected by French government right after he died. So, there might be other work that was never published and taken away by French. She also said, he was invited by people to talk about dharma and tell stories when there was a ceremony or events such as a wedding, open house, etc. He would come back home with a lot of money and he would always like to give his money away to his grandchildren. He would lay flat on his stomach writing all night long.
Family
He had 5 children: Ind Son (son- deceased), Ind San (daughter - deceased), Ind Ly (daughter - deceased), Ind Lone (daughter - deceased, and Ind Yueon (daughter - deceased).
Currently (2015) there is only one grandchild - Ind Yueon's daughter, who still lives in Chvia Village, Sangke District, Battambang. He has many great-grandchildren, who live in Cambodia, France, America and other countries.