History Sombo Manara   

On the morning of April 20, the sad news emerged about the death of prominent history professor Sambo Manara, at the age of 67 in Phnom Penh.  https://youtu.be/tqyMVbWAjPA?si=AIOoRZoiesF3Iwln

Having a selfless sacrifice scholar after the atrocities of the Pol Pot regime was an exceptional blessing for Cambodia and students. All his life Prof. Sambo Manara stood unswervingly for the truth in Khmer history and lectured students to learn from the past, reflect on the present and shape a brighter future for Khmer.

What is his philosophy and ideology?

When coming to the deep details of Prof. Sambo Maran’s thought, the idea of Khmer developed by his discerning version​​​ is proud of “being KHMER”: knowing about the strengths and weaknesses of predecessors, embracing hope, honour, and honesty over negativity, humiliation, and insincerity, adhering to morale with the quality education, building the strong economics and survivability, remembering the gratitude​ then compassionately paying the price, reminding what spurs our failures and what drives our successes, reflecting what more to be done and ways to avoid the repetition of the past historical mistakes.

Central to Prof. Sambo Manara’s ideology is the imperative for individual and collective responsibility in nation-building. His aphorism, "កុំមើលបំណាំ កុំដាំបំណុល" or “Do not see the problem, do not growl at the burden”, encapsulates the call for citizens to eschew complacency and actively contribute to societal solutions. Moreover, he advocates for unity across diverse backgrounds, invoking a proverb “កុំរស់នៅក្នុងអម្រែកសង្គម ត្រូវរស់ជួយសង្គម” or in English, “Ones must not live to be a social burden; they must live to help the society,” emphasising collective endeavour towards Cambodia's advancement.

                      

In conclusion, Sombo Manara's passing is an overwhelming source of grief for Cambodia, but his legacy will endure for generations to come. He leaves a legacy of courage, integrity, and selflessness that will continue to inspire and guide those who follow in his footsteps for the future dynamism of Cambodia.  

A hero in the modern history of Cambodia