Thích Quảng Đức Net Worth

Background and career

Thích Quảng Đức (born Lâm Văn Túc; c. 1897 – 11 June 1963) was a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk who is best known for his death by self-immolation at a busy Saigon road intersection on 11 June 1963. Quảng Đức was protesting against the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government of Ngô Đình Diệm, a staunch Roman Catholic. Photographs of his self-immolation circulated around the world, drawing attention to the policies of the Diệm government. John F. Kennedy said of one photograph, "No news picture in history has generated so much emotion around the world as that one". Malcolm Browne won the World Press Photo of the Year for his photograph of the monk's death.

Quảng Đức's act increased international pressure on Diệm and led him to promise reforms with the intention of mollifying the Buddhists. The reforms were not implemented, leading to a deterioration in the dispute. As protests continued, the ARVN Special Forces loyal to Diệm's brother, Ngô Đình Nhu, began the Xá Lợi Pagoda raids on Buddhist pagodas, seizing Quảng Đức's heart and causing deaths and widespread damage. Several Buddhist monks followed Quảng Đức's example. Eventually, a US-backed coup toppled Diệm, who was assassinated on 2 November 1963.