The heroic historical memories of the Major Mangai of Naval Team

Karumpuli
The heroic historical memories of the Major Mangai of Naval Team

The heroic historical memories of the Major Mangai of Naval Team

Naval Team Major Mangai
Ganapathipillai Bhuvaneswari
Vettilaikeni, Vadamaradchi East
Yarlpanam
Birth: 16.12.1965
Died: 19.09.1994

The Naval Team of LTTE who attacked the Sinhala Navy’s naval fleet in the Kalpittiya sea.

“Mangai, I wish you were still alive and could have raised fighters like us,” said the little fighter. She had taught swimming to many fighters of the Naval Team Women’s Brigade. Mangai would stand alone with the children day and night. Mangai, you would set an example for us and show us how to do any difficult exercises.” Even if it was difficult for us, Mangai would do it herself. We can’t do it.

We always saw her as a model fighter. Whenever the children woke up at four thirty, she would wake up at four. No child should not be able to swim. She was determined that they should have swum at least five nautical miles.

For that, she stood with the children, wet and dry, regardless of the sun or rain. She would drop the children into the sea to practice swimming, and then stand there, soaking wet in the waves. Even though her legs were stiff, her eyes would be visible only as dots in the distance, watching the movement of the enemy’s motorboat.

Once, Mangai had gone to the eastern region of Vadamaradchi on an official visit. From there, news came that four boats were coming towards them. The children would go swimming, and all four boats could launch attacks, and it would be dangerous if the children went into the sea. She had covered long miles on her bicycle and arrived with tears in her eyes. She kept an eye on each fighter for that long.

The fighters should not die in vain. She was serious about achieving a lot in this struggle. She taught every fighter everything from boat engine spare parts to boat driving. She had achieved a lot.

Many of the fighters who came did not know about the sea, did not know how to swim. Remember your elder brother (the national leader) and train. She always stood as a trainer with her children, giving them courage and confidence that they did not know hardship. She was a fighter who always told them about the upbringing of the national leader and the struggle.

Her first fight was an elephant crossing. She went as part of the distribution team. She went with the determination that she would return to that fight. She had many dreams, even though she came with a small wound in her hand. She filled her heart with the dream of becoming a Karumpuli and prepared herself for that.

She accompanied Lt. Col. Bama to the Poonagari battle. She stood as the pilot of the observation boat. When Lt. Col. Bama took the submarine, she stood as the pilot of the boat, brought it back with great triumph and returned with great triumph. Her role in that battle was considerable. She collected the enemy’s weapons, removed the 50 caliber magazine, and reached the shore without missing a target.

Finally, before going to the Karpitti sea as a Karumpuli, she stood in charge of the technical section of the boat department. She explained and encouraged each fighter carefully and looked after every need from close quarters. Mangai would ask any fighter if she did not know anything. She always had the ability to probe carefully for anything. She would come up with new and innovative ideas.

After the attack by the Angaithkanni, her patience had crossed the limit. She waited every day for the opportunity to come. Her mind was never rested, and in those in-between moments, she taught the fighters swimming and boating as much as she could, and she intensified herself in them.

Carrying the death of the Kalpittik attack in her heart, she kept talking about the national leader without stopping. If the target was not right, she would have told the fighters standing on the shore, who were still in the forest, to stay and wave their hands.

At 11.25 pm, the full moon had risen and set. The sea stood spread out in the middle of the incessant waves in the Mannar Karpittik sea. The boat of Mangai, led by Nalayini, went forward like lightning, tearing through the high-rising waves, crashed and exploded. The boat carrying Lakshmana and Vamana crashed into the side of the ship, bursting into flames, and slowly sank to the bottom of the sea.

The waves rose.

(Translation by Tamilpriya)

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