Major Albert

Major Albert
S. Kandhaiya Rupathanidhi
Achuveli South, Yarlpanam
Birth: 24.06.1961
Death: 21.12.1985

Event: Martyrdom in the battle that occurred when Sri Lankan troops surrounded one of our camps in Sudumalai, Yarlpanam.

We have seen a lot of death. The death of our comrades does not affect us. Martyrdom is a test for us. We were proud that we were ready to face death. But when we met your death, how can we express the fact that our hearts were crushed and weakened, and our souls became witchcraft.

Seeing your tall body of 6 feet 2 inches lying motionless. The people were shocked. Your village was in turmoil. We were shocked to know how much your death had affected the Tamil people. You were freed from our bonds of love when you learned that one of our camps was being attacked by the army. Your simple appearance, which merged with the villagers while interacting with them, amazed us all.

Stopping our lamentations and talking about Alphabet.

During the time when Pandit was in charge of the arms depots, he worked next to Pandit and earned the respect of the movement. He was affectionately called ‘Kandhai’ by Pandit. He fought until the bullets in his gun ran out during the military siege of our base in Atchuveli and successfully escaped. His successful escape from that great siege that killed Pandit is a testament to his ability.

After Pandit’s death, he worked as the in-charge of the arms depots and compensated for Pandit’s loss. He dedicated himself to the liberation of our nation since 1982. Anyone who sees Albert can guess without a doubt that he is experienced in fighting. At first glance, he seems to be in his mid-twenties or early thirties. But after observing his face, which was battered by the sun and the wind. The wrinkles that had formed in fine lines around his eyes, on his forehead, and on the sides of his mouth, and the deep, tired eyes of thought. It seems that he could add another ten years to his age.

We can say that we do not see Albert get angry. For some reason, he does not get angry. We sometimes scold him intentionally. Even then, he is like a buffalo. We bow our heads in amazement to see that his comrades, whom he led with love, protected with warmth, and raised, have developed just like him. The young fighters are something that Albert loves immensely. There were many times when we laughed when we saw him become a child and speak in baby language while interacting with the young fighters.

There is a small circle around Albert in our camps. Those young fighters, the ones who have been suffering from the loss of Albert, as far as they are concerned, he has gone to the temple. He will come from the temple. When they come, they often come to ask for the things they have asked for and told. Albert used to call them ‘little devil’. Those little devils shared the news of Albert’s departure to the temple with great joy and excitement.

During the attack on the Yarlpanam police station, according to military tactics, Albert was given the responsibility of preventing the enemies from coming out of the fort and the responsibility of conducting a continuous attack on the fort. He completed his task perfectly and led to our victory.

One morning, while Albert was preparing his comrades in his camp for their daily morning exercise, the radio (walkie-talkie) rang. When he turned on the walkie-talkie and established contact with the place he had called, he received news that one of our camps in Sudumalai was under siege by the army. Albert called out to his comrades, rushed into the air (vehicle) with his weapons and rushed. As the air force approached Sudumalai from the Inuvil area, three ‘Bell A, B, 412′ helicopters were circling the area, raining down machine guns.

One of the aluminum birds that was circling in the sky above, as if it were gliding down the mountain, flew very quickly towards the vehicle and fired at it with its ’50 caliber machine gun. The bullets streaked the ground very close to the vehicle. The target was missed. Albert looked at his comrades and said, “Be careful, we’re shooting from the hump.” (We used to call Bell A, B, and 412 helicopters “humps”), and another aluminum hump painted in camouflage came flying sideways. “He’s going to shoot, turn the van somewhere and keep it away,” Albert shouted. As the van jumped down, Albert and his comrades jumped down with the sound of the plane’s engine and the incessant gunfire of the machine gun. A line of bullets streaked across the ground in front of the van. They missed their target. Once again, Albert and the van escaped unharmed, even closer.

When Albert contacted the camp with his “Walkie Talkie”. He was ordered to go to the plantation area behind the camp where the helicopters had landed the soldiers. When the group approached the place, the army commandos had positioned some of them where they had landed, and some were moving towards the camp.

Albert was agitated. But it was not fear of death. It was normal for very, very brave and fearless men. It was not a premonition of danger. He was worried that he would somehow stop the commandos. In some places in the plantations, the cassava plants had grown very beautifully and densely. The tall and dense cassava stalks were giving darkness without letting in any light.

Albert and his team began to attack them. The soldiers counterattacked with 2-inch small mortars. The advanced army commandos were also heavily attacked. Attacks were made on the advanced ones, attacks on those who were standing guard, and attacks on the aluminum bird that was circling in the sky and guarding them. The attack continued for several hours.

The commandos began to retreat, and Albert stood like a Yemeni in the rear to prevent them from boarding the plane, so a heavy attack was made on the Albert team.

Three multi-colored Bell A, B, and 412′ helicopters circled with their M60 machine guns and continued to attack. The mortar shells that came towards the Albert team were exploding. Suddenly, Albert collapsed. A large hole under his left eye was bleeding like streams of blood. Some people rush after him, carrying the alphabet. Even before he could treat the alphabet, he had dedicated his life for the liberation of this land.

Memory Sharing:

– Kittu.

(Translation by Tamilpriya)