Memorial Day of “Lt. Colonel Kalayalagan (18.04.2007)

Memorial Day of “Lt. Colonel Kalayalagan (18.04.2007)

A Tamileelam freedom fighter and the Deputy Head of International Relations who will never be forgotten by the diaspora community. He became maveeran in the Vishvamadu area on 18.04.2007 in an attack carried out by the chauvinistic Sinhala Air Force bombers.

“Lt. Colonel Kalayalagan is the place of character.”
When one thinks of Kalayalagan, his ever-smiling face comes to mind. His unwavering smile, his friendly and polite manner with everyone, and his hospitality to everyone are his characteristics. But not many know the amazing talent, deep personality, and versatility that he had. Only a few know that the owner of a childish face was a wonderful fighter who shouldered various responsibilities.

After completing his initial training, Kalayalagan was enrolled as a student of the Colonel Kittu College of Political Science, which was started by the National Leader in April 1994. In accordance with the national leader’s wishes, political science and military training were given alternately to the students at this college. One of the foremost students at the college was Maveeran Kalayalagan. He developed his oratory and tactful response skills in college. His discipline, restraint, ability to get along with others, helpfulness and honesty made him a pure fighter.

Kalayalagan, who studied political science for more than four years, was molded into a complete fighter by the comments of the national leader and the series of classes of “The voice of the nation” Anton Balasingham. During this period, he received various types of military training from commando training to heavy infantry training. His combat operations, which began in Mathagal in 1995, extended to Rivirasa, Satjeya, Jayasikuru, Oyaatha Alaikal-03, and Aanayiravu Battle. He also participated in the recent Muhamalai offensive. Graduation of the first batch of students at this college Upon completion, Kalayalagan was selected as one of the best students and was honored by the national leader with a special prize and the title of “Opener”. He had developed into the versatile fighter that the national leader expected, combining political knowledge and military knowledge.

During his college days, Kalayalagan worked part-time as a telecommunications operator. Later, after receiving education and security training to acquire translation knowledge for a short time, Kalayalagan got the opportunity to engage in the work of documenting the historical records of the National Leader. He considered this opportunity to be the greatest blessing he had received in his life. Although his workload increased over time, he had the enthusiasm and drive to do the work of documenting the history of the national leader himself. He was very interested in searching for and compiling the events of the national leader’s early days and collecting information from the national leader’s early comrades and supporters, verifying and documenting it.

Along with some other patriots, because of Kalayalagan’s hard work, a photo documentary about the national leader, “Leader for All Seasons,” and a compilation book about the national leader, “The Light of Liberation,” were published.

To make the future life of the children of Sencholai and Kantharoopan better, the responsibility of setting up beautiful and peaceful places for them was entrusted to Kalayalagan. Kalayalagan, who accepted this task willingly, worked hard for it. He made a great effort to raise financial resources for this among the people and organizations of the diaspora. He met many people, talked to them, and presented plans. In the end, he was completely successful in this task. The fact that the places for the children of Sencholai and Kantharoopan were set up and opened by the national leader gave him great joy and satisfaction. His soul was fulfilled that day. Kalayalagan’s role in the setting up of the place for the Navam Arivu Koodam fighters was considerable.

Kalayalagan was sent to various countries to prepare for foreign relations and international work for our nation. The foreign trip was an opportunity to see and learn many things that he had learned in college. He understood the patriotism, sense of freedom, and living conditions of our people living in the diaspora. He told his comrades about the hard work of our national leaders and activists and the problems they were facing. At the same time, the national leader presented clear views on the liberation struggle wherever he went. He maintained friendly relations with many people. He insisted that the issues related to the homeland of our relatives living in the diaspora should be seen from the perspective of those people. He worked hard in coordinating homeland work for Tamils living in Canada in particular. The work he did in coordinating the strength and resources of the Tamil diaspora was immense. They should be recorded in history.

In mid-2006, Kalayalagan was appointed as the Deputy Director of International Relations. This was due to his character, personality, and ability to handle matters with ease. He respected his fellow fighters, opened to them, adapted to them, and understood and fulfilled their needs. He wanted to develop the fighters, integrate them into the work, and bring them to a good position. He had the ability to be accepted by everyone even when there were people older and more experienced than him. That charming personality attracted everyone to him. He grew very quickly in a short time. With his energy, range of personality, and maturity, he had reached a point where he could handle a big responsibility alone. It is true that he was not only good but also powerful.

It was at such a time that we all trembled and panicked when the news of Kalayalagan’s heroic death in an unexpected explosion on 18.04.2007 came. The feeling of being hit by a tsunami, a state like the earth shaking and the ground splitting, the vibration of someone hitting the heart with a hammer. The sorrow and pain that cannot be expressed in words. The sadness of being trapped in a painful world. The question that arises with deep pain in the mind is why he left us so quickly. I knew the value of the loss of art, the heartache of loss, its overall dimension. It had completely affected me.

He was handsome, kind, pleasant to be around, and a man of unadulterated whiteness. He was a person who took his personality and did important work. No atter how much loss and danger we endured, we remained steadfast. We swear on the seed of Colonel Kalayalagan that we will carry in our hearts the thoughts of devotion and affection for the national leader, the desire for freedom and national consciousness and make his ideal dream come true.

– V. Manivannan / Catro (International Relations Officer)
Liberation Tigers Magazine (May – June 2007)

(Translation by Kaanagan)