Lt.Colonel Santosham – Heroic Historical Memories
Lt.Colonel Santosham – Heroic Historical Memories
Lt. Colonel Santosham
Ganapathipillai Umainesan
Tamileelam: Yarlpanam District
Birth: 04.01.1959
Death: 21.10.1987
When the LTTE movement had double-digit members, the responsibility of throwing bombs when plans for attacks were made fell to Santosham.
That was a time when ammunition and the financial resources of the movement were very limited. A lot of benefit was expected from each bomb thrown. Therefore, Santosham was registered as the person who was suitable to throw bombs calmly and accurately. In every attack, Santosham acted in a manner that met the expectations of the movement. Later, he was also selected as the person who was suitable to detonate the landmines correctly. In the development of the struggle, he also became the commander of the Thirumalai District.
He played an important role in the first major attack in the history of the LTTE, the attack on the Nelliyadi police jeep, the attack on the Savakachcheri police station, the attack on the Kaluvanchikudi police station in Mattacalappu, the mine attack on the navy in Ponnalai, YUarlpanam, the mine attack in Umayyalpuram, Vanni, and the historic Thirunelveli attack. He also played a key role in supporting the national leader. Similarly, Santosam’s name has become indelible in the history of Thirumalai.
“Master” – This is how Santosam became known to the people of Thirumalai during the 80s. The post of Member of Parliament, the administration of the Municipal Council, etc. were only in name to the Tamils, but those who were administering many parts of the city, including the bus station, were Sinhalese immigrants. At the same time, Sinhalese immigration was spreading like a poisonous fever in various parts of the district. It was in this situation that Santosam was operating under the guise of “Master” as a representative of the LTTE.
Just as one selects each good stone for a solid building, Santosam selected and disciplined youth one by one. Santosam was a role model for those youth. He lived in the forest as one of them. Santosam belongs to all the people of Thirumalai district.
It can be said that his footprints have been imprinted in all the villages from Thennaimaravadi to Verugal. He knows all the village. He knows the problems of the people of each area. In total he can be said to have made Thirumalai a paradise.
Furthermore, Santhosam’s role in the expansion of the political work of the movement was also great. He was one of the editorial board members of the magazine “Unarvu” and played a major role in preparing the pamphlets published by the movement in the early days and was a pioneer in that.
At the same time, he used his position as a university student to rent houses and rooms for the fighters and use them to accommodate them. Santhosam’s role in all these works was great. Once, with the intention of attacking the military, he had to stay in one area for a few days. In those days, the university was conducting an examination. He was told to “take part in the final year examination” but his mind was not set on the examination at that time. He said that he would not go until the attack was over. His position was that the struggle was first and everything else after that. This is the message he left to the present generation.
When the struggle was a fire that had been ignited by the Sri Lanka-India Accord, he paid great attention to the resettlement of the people of Thirumalai and their rehabilitation and warned the Indian Army.
“The Indian Army did not come here to maintain peace. They came to destroy us. We should not be afraid. We should fight back. We should not let anyone occupy our land,” he advised the fighters. He showed the same in action. The Indian Army soldiers, who had been aware of his power until then by the Sri Lankan Army, later realized it. He made the Indian Army realize what the power of the fighters was.
Santhosam, who was calm in words and quick in action, fought against the Indian forces for twelve days and on the last day. In the battle with them at Kondavil, after destroying two of their tanks, he was the target of a mountaineer launched by SL army and he became maveeran.
He became the first Lt. Colonel to die a heroic death in a clash with the Indian army. The name of General Santhosam is mentioned as the first chapter in most of our struggle. History says that was the first maveeran Lt. Colonel in a battle with the Indian army.
Source: Eelanatham
(Translation by Tamilpriya)
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