Major Sajanthan
Major Sajanthan Veerasavu On Tuesday morning, the 7th January 1992
On Tuesday morning, the 7th January 1992, I was studying in the office room in my camp. At that time, a fighter who had come from Mannar and was studying medicine came to our camp and asked a fighter who was with me, “Is sister here?”
The way he sounded was tense. This caused an unknown disturbance in my mind. So, I immediately came out of the room and asked him, “What’s the matter?” He was already crying a lot. As soon as I asked, he said, “Sister, is Sayanthan brother dead?” and started crying again. My chest tightened for a moment. I couldn’t find the words. My body was shaking. I somehow felt myself shaking and thought, “He just left here? Not even gone for five days.” He said, ‘Not only Sayanthan, but Venu, Kugan and Kuttimani, a total of four people. Yesterday, they missed the mines. They say they did not even get Sayanthan body.”
What a cruel thing. How are the people in Mannar going to bear this together? Where is Sayanthan in this? Will he not continue his sacred service anymore? Is this true? I still cannot believe it. I wonder if this news is false.
You discussed with me five days ago what developments should be made in the medical service in the future. In the future, I am going to study in Mannar to perform some surgeries and gain experience with the aim of saving the lives of our fighters. Plan for that. I said that I would come back soon and left. Who would have believed that he would leave all this behind and go so quickly? For this reason, even my heart, which has endured so many losses, was momentarily heavy with this loss.
The first time I met him is still fresh in my mind. During my stay in Madurai August 1989, he had brought wounded fighters from Mannar for further specialized treatment. Then one day he came to me and said, ‘Sister, we must stay here for a few days. I don’t want to stay idle until then and want to study something in medicine. Another medic has also come with me. Why don’t you teach us something?’ One thing about this is that both already know a lot about medicine. They had treated many wounded fighters in Mannar and saved their lives. They had gained a lot of experience in the field. Even so, the way they came to me and asked me to teach them medicine made me feel very good. In addition, a few hours of talking with him showed me his dedication to medical service, his concern for saving wounded fighters, and his desire to improve medicine in his district. I immediately agreed to this and started studying war wounds and first aid treatment for them for a few hours every day to the best of my ability. While studying like this, sometimes I would lie down exhausted due to the heavy workload at the hospital. But he would not let me go. I would come and slowly slide into bed and knock on the door and ask, “Sister, are you here? Can I come and study?” Such intense interest of his would dispel my fatigue in an instant, and I would immediately get up and start taking classes.
Although he was enthusiastic about his studies and work, he preferred peace during his free time. He would silently think about something. When I noticed this and asked, ‘What’s your idea? Is there a problem?’ He would say, ‘No, nothing. Why did you ask that?’ and smiled. I don’t understand anything in that smile. He doesn’t complain much. Even if I praise him, it’s a smile. Even if I criticize him, it’s the same smile. Sometimes he gives me ‘advice’ and comforts me. At that time, he became an older brother to me. After studying this diligently, it was time for him and Rangan to return to Mannar. Immediately, he and I made a list of the necessary medicines, medical equipment, etc. for the medical project we were to undertake in Mannar, all night long, and then he went up and down the street, bought them, wrapped them all in polythene, and got ready for the sea voyage.
He is going to leave us all. Then, not only me, but all the other fighters who stayed with me felt an unknown pain. The reason for this is the way he behaves, shows compassion. Respect, affection, character etc. These can never be forgotten. The quality I like about him more than all this is that, if I tell him any thoughts, ideas, suggestions that are in my mind regarding medicine, he will never forget it. He will not ignore it. He will take it into consideration with care. Later, he has shown all this in action on many occasions and has also achieved success.
When he was talking to me before going to the car on the day of leaving for Mannar, he asked me for a favor. It can be called a request rather than saying it as a favor. That is, ‘Sister, let’s go to Mannar today. We will show in action what you have taught and told us. You should continue to teach our fighters like us. One day when we look at Tamileelam, I want my child to be a medic wherever I see him. This is my wish. If I go to the country, I will get permission from our national leader and come to the Mannar forest (back then they lived in the forest) and give us advice on setting up a medic with a mini theater. If you know anything new about medicine or if you get any new information about medicine or if you have any suggestions, please write them down clearly and send them to Mannar, under my name. I have never rejected his requests until today. I continue to wait until my last breath to fulfill his wish. I have been in contact with him through letters since I came to our land from India in 1990. But I met him directly for the first time during the historical battle of Silavathurai. When we went for this attack, he and the other medical fighters with him had already made all the arrangements. He had prepared the medical team without any flaws, just as a medical team should prepare for a field attack. He stood with me in a hospital in Adampan during the attack.
He said, “Sister, you know all the activities he did after this, starting from the Silavathurai attack in March 1991, right?” Yes, it is true. I was with him in many attacks that took place after that. If we take the Periyathambanai attack, which is talked about by many. In that attack, he was not only providing medical services but also doing tasks like laying mines and driving vehicles at the same time. When I asked him, “Why are you doing this? Are you going to leave the medics?” he said, “No, sister, I will not leave the medics. But we have a lot to do for the country. If you do private medics, you will not see it.”
It was during this attack that Lt. Col. Rajan was injured in the hand on one occasion. He was bleeding heavily. It was daytime. Two of his colleagues were continuously taking turns throwing bombs at each other. There was no time to think. He took courage and took the vehicle. He loaded Lt. Col. Rajan. Through the forest, during the rain of bullets, he quickly and skillfully brought him to us without any harm or damage. I was happy to hear that all the people responsible later praised this event.
Finally, he met me in Yarlpanam on 1st January 1992. Then he again asked me for two favors. One: he wanted to study more about surgery. He asked me to arrange it, and the other was to write a book on first aid that was completely comprehensive and give it to his district. I have never rejected his request. His desires and requests are realistic. His longings are reasonable. After asking for these favors, he left his noble duties and left us in a hurry. When I went to Mannar for the last attack, he was not there. To welcome me. The places he showed me, the places he walked, I felt as if he was looking at me blankly. Especially when I walked on the suspension bridge in Kunjikul, it was an illusion as if he was also there.
But today, he is not among us, but many doctors who have the same qualifications as him, who have been raised by him, have started providing medical services, carrying his wishes, expectations. Today, his dream is coming true. His wishes are being fulfilled.
-Dr. Sister-
(Translation by Tamilpriya)
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