Chetana Nagavajara (Thai: เจตนา นาควัชระ RTGS: Chettana Nakwatchara; born 19 July 1937)[1] is a Professor Emeritus of German language at Silpakorn University.

[10] Nagavajara commuted daily along Phaya Thai road on his bicycle, and showed enthusiasm for music and sports, which attached him to the community.

He spent three transformative years in Manchester, honing his linguistic skills and expanding his intellectual horizons by studying German and Latin alongside his primary curriculum.

Subsequently, he transitioned to the Sanam Chandra Palace campus of Silpakorn University in Nakhon Pathom, marking the inception of his enduring association with the institution.

[27] His scholarly endeavors were further enriched by his engagements in Germany, supported by the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD),[28] and his receipt of the prestigious Humboldt-Forschungspreis from the Humboldt Foundation.

[29] On September 30, 1997, Nagavajara concluded his distinguished career as a senior professor (level 11), the highest attainable rank for a civil servant (Thai: ข้าราชการ, RTGS: Karatchakan).

[30] In a 1998 interview with the Bangkok Post, he expressed that his decision to remain a civil servant was driven not by personal preference, but rather by a deep sense of gratitude towards the Thai Government for the scholarship that facilitated his education in Europe.

Furthermore, in recognition of his invaluable contributions, a memorial dedicated to Professor Nagavajara was established on the second floor of the Sanam Chandra Palace Library, housing the books he generously donated to the institution.

[6] Nagavajara's scholarly pursuits have focused on the works of German novelists, showcasing a breadth of research publications in various languages, translations, and student handbooks in Thai.

His expertise in multiple languages, including German, French, and English, has enabled him to produce a body of work that integrates Eastern and Western literary traditions.

[35] In his doctoral dissertation completed in 1965, Nagavajara delved into August Wilhelm Schlegel's leading role in French literary criticism from 1807 to 1835.

Notable examples include "Geschrieben" by Werner Lutz, "Ein Tag für Impressionisten" by Rainer Malkowski [de] and "Der Aufruf" by Friederike Mayröcker.

The analogy of this theory mainly proposed that in the subtype of Pi Phat band (Thai classical music band) that is called Wong Pi Phat Khrueng Khu, the treble xylophone is the main instrument that the audience hears during the play, while the bass xylophone sounds deeper and harder to notice.

Translated Plays, such as Bertolt Brecht’s Der gute Mensch von Sezuan (The Good Person of Szechwan) and Jean Anouilh’s Antigone (อันตราคนี or Antrakani in Thai) are also included.

[52] He was a member of the Governing Board of Ministry of State University Affairs (Thai: กรรมการทบวงมหาวิทยาลัย, RTGS: Kammakan Thabuang Mahawitthayalia) for more than a decade (1987–1990, 1992–2002).

[56] Released in 2011, the manual provides details and clarity for the interpretation of the Thai Ministry of Education rules for academic promotion of tertiary instructors which were nationally standardized and enacted for the first time in 2007.

[57] Nagavajara was profoundly influenced by renowned figures in the arts and literary criticism domain, including Charles Baudelaire, Bertolt Brecht, Albert Camus, Neville Cardus, Reinhold Grimm, Alexander von Humboldt, F. R. Leavis, Ekavidya Nathalang, Ronald Peacock, Soedjono Djoened Poesponegoro [id], Friedrich Schiller, Oskar Walzel [de], René Wellek.

Bangkok Post mentioned Chetana as "...The criticizer who writes sharply, his opinions could make screen writers review their works again despite being in the middle of the show and selling like hot cakes.

And visual artists also pay good attention to what he comments..."[7] Moreover, Chetana was also a directional committee for the project 100 great books Thai people should read [th] by Witayakorn Chiengkul [th][61] The life and works of Nagavajara were studied in the research project "Thai thinker-researcher: Chetana Nakavajara", which was supported by the Thailand Research Funds in 1998.

"[64] Academics and artists who have been influenced by Chetana Nagavajara include Korakoch Attaviriyanupap, Chamaiporn Bangkombang [th], Sodchuen Chaiprasathna, Kanya Charoensupkul, Duangmon Chitchamnong, Parichart Chuengwiwattanaporn, Khumron Khunadilok, Suntariya Muanpawong, Pradit Prasartthong, Ratsami Chusongdet, Siraporn Na Klang, and Sukanya Sompaiboon.

Nagavajara's role in the series of TRF-funded criticism projects inspired an award-winning children novel Khun Pu Waen Ta To (Thai: คุณปู่แว่นตาโต ,2001) by Chamaiporn Bangkombang [th], a 2014 national artist of Thailand in literature.

[66] The sequel to the novel Khun Pu Waen Ta Taek (Thai: คุณปู่แว่นตาแตก ,2011) by the same author also featured him as the main character with a new batch of primary level students.

[67] The adventures of a grandfather and children in field trips to Wat Pho, National Gallery, Bang Lamphu, Amphawa and Spirit Cave at Pang Mapha and attempts to instill appreciation of the arts and their native roots were the main themes in the two books.