Mr. Prabhakaran – in the eyes of Adele Balasingham
Mr. Prabhakaran – in the eyes of Adele Balasingham
Mr. Prabhakaran would often visit our house. His visits would be both official and personal. He would come alone with his personal bodyguards. And sometimes, he would come with his family.
It was then, in the middle of 1998, more than twenty years had passed since we had known and lived with Mr. Velupillai Prabhakaran, the historical hero of the Tamileelam liberation struggle. During this long period, the personal and political relationship we had, and the deep experiences we shared with him, became a means of understanding him. It was possible to understand the very complex personality of a great man who had the power to determine the political destiny of the island of Sri Lanka. This twenty-year relationship can be said to be an era in the liberation struggle of the Tamils.
During this era, we traveled together through the joys and sorrows of his political and personal life, his ups and downs, and his triumphs over obstacles. During this long journey, we could see that the liberation ideals of a young freedom fighter were gradually taking shape on the path of progress. While marching victoriously on the path of liberation of his people, Mr. Prabhakaran also became a living symbol of national independence. He also grew into a saint who was revered and venerated among his oppressed people. For his own safety, Mr. Prabhakaran was forced to live in isolation.
Some people considered this wrong and tried to portray him as a reclusive monk. Because of the ongoing war environment and the fact that he had to live in isolation, the world did not understand him. Therefore, in today’s modern era, he is considered a very misunderstood man and a feared guerrilla leader. His extraordinary military victories earned him fame. Prabhakaran’s skill in the art of war continues to amaze even the world’s military experts.
What made this short, well-built, pure man, who had the deep love of his people on one hand and the fame of the world on the other, seek these things? What is the reason for the emergence of two conflicting perspectives, one among his own people and another among the world?
Born on November 26, 1954, in Valvettithurai, a coastal village on the Yarlpanam peninsula, Mr. Prabhakaran took up arms and jumped into the political struggle at the age of 16. In today’s language, he entered the field as a ‘child’ warrior.
From an early age, he did not live an ordinary life.
As his idealism intensified, he rallied like-minded young men to form a revolutionary organization. This took the form of an underground guerrilla movement and began an armed struggle. Prabhakaran’s courageous armed struggle attracted the attention of government officials. As a result, he was made a ‘wanted person’ and forced to live in hiding in Yarlpanam. Prabhakaran’s bold challenge to the powerful Sinhala government made him a respected figure among the Tamil people.
Over time, he was hailed as a historical hero by the people. The Tamil people took pride in his achievements in challenging the government with great tact and intelligence. They also considered these achievements to enhance their identity and national prestige. As state repression increased, Prabhakaran’s armed struggle also advanced with successive victories. As a result of this successful liberation war, Mr. Prabhakaran secured for himself the lofty position of the national leader of the Tamileelam people.
The national independence of the Tamileelam people became his idealistic aspiration and unquenchable spiritual thirst. The liberation struggle became his life, and his life became the liberation struggle. Mr. Prabhakaran never pretended to be a philosopher or an ideologist. If we look deeply into his political ideals, we can consider him as a patriotic nationalist. Prabhakaran’s nationalism did not reflect Tamil racism, as some Sinhala political commentators argue. Mr. Prabhakaran was determined to overcome the Sinhala communal oppression that sought to ethnically destroy the Tamil people.
Prabhakaran’s Tamil nationalism was born from this rigid ideology. In other words, it was the racist policy of the Sinhalese government that turned Prabhakaran into a passionate patriot. His deep affection for the Tamil people and his undying love for their culture, especially the Tamil language, form the basis of Prabhakaran’s desire for liberation. Prabhakaran does not care much about political ideologies and principles. For him, the problem faced by the Tamil people is not a complex issue full of problems. He views the Tamil problem very clearly. He also considers the Tamil struggle to be justified.
Prabhakaran’s heart is deeply rooted in the homeland of Tamileelam. Prabhakaran has an unshakable belief that the Tamil people deserve to live in peace, dignity and harmony in their historical homeland. Prabhakaran’s Tamileelam policy does not have any separatist or expansionist intentions. Prabhakaran’s position is that Tamileelam belongs to the Tamileelam people alone, and the Tamileelam people alone have the right to sovereignty over their own state. Prabhakaran’s intention is not to occupy or take the traditional territories of the Sinhalese people. Such an intention cannot be seen in his thinking and actions.
As some Indian political commentators say, he never even dreamed of expanding Tamileelam into a greater Eelam. Prabhakaran has always maintained a unique and individual approach in directing the armed struggle of the Tamil people. Despite being well-versed in the history of world liberation struggles and the independence movements of other countries, Prabhakaran did not want to blindly follow foreign forms of struggle. Prabhakaran’s position was that any liberation struggle should develop in a way that suits its respective historical context and realistic objectives. He regulated his methods of warfare in accordance with the objectives and needs of his people’s struggle.
Some of his war tactics and strategies have been subject to strong criticism, especially from Sinhala political and military analysts. Prabhakaran would justify his war operations by saying that it was necessary to employ ruthless strategies to protect a very weak, small national population from a very strong, powerful, and ruthless enemy. Prabhakaran is a hard-working warrior. He believes in action. He has an unwavering belief that human action is the driving force behind history. He led his liberation movement forward on the path of progress because he believed in constructive action, rather than analyzing problems through closed theoretical theories.
Prabhakaran’s effective path of struggle greatly attracted the revolutionary youth community, who were deceived and frustrated by the rhetoric of Tamil politicians. He was able to mobilize the young community, amidst many dangers, and build a strong national liberation army to fight against the Sinhala state machine. It is true that Prabhakaran has not yet achieved his goal of struggle. It is because of Prabhakaran’s wise war plans and his immense ability to effectively complete them that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which he built and nurtured over a period of more than twenty-five years, stand tall today.
The people of Tamileelam also stand firm with a national ethnic structure. Without Prabhakaran, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Tamil national race would have been destroyed many years ago. I say this from my experience of living with the freedom fighters. The Tamil people certainly share this opinion. While Mr. Prabhakaran worked to prioritize the need and necessity of armed struggle to achieve the political aspirations of the people of Tamileelam, Bala worked to make the political dimension of that armed struggle exist.
The relationship between these two individuals with the same mindset is very rare. This is one of the rare relationships where two men with different personalities play important roles together at a crucial juncture in the historical movement. Bala will always consider his role to be that of an advisor and philosopher to Mr. Prabhakaran and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Bala has no ambitions for power. He will define his contribution with writing, teaching, advising, etc. He is also a man of unwavering ideals. Because of this, he was able to serve as Mr. Prabhakaran’s most trusted advisor.
Bala has the honest character of speaking the truth. It is because of this character that Mr. Prabhakaran loves and respects Bala. Bala’s goal is to always give correct and truthful advice on any matter, keeping in mind the interests of the liberation struggle and Mr. Prabhakaran. Bala does not care whether Prabhakaran will accept his advice or whether he will be offended by his openness. Bala has often told me that as Mr. Prabhakaran’s advisor, it is his duty to tell the truth, no matter how bitter it may be.
Mr. Prabhakaran can only be understood deeply by looking at his personal qualities. Unlike the outside world portrays him, he is a loving man. He gets along easily with others. His unique trait is his ability to get along, get along and have fun. He is interested and concerned in various matters. He also has a strong stance on some issues. I have a difference of opinion with him on some issues. He has a special interest in the field of science and technology. He often encourages the fighters to develop scientific and technological knowledge. He also has a deep attachment to Tamil culture.
He wants the struggle to find expression in cultural forms and emphasizes it at the movement and social level. He gives an important place to artistic performances in military training camps. He insists that the fighters should directly participate in these events. He is interested in the development of artistic and literary works based on the values of liberation in Tamileelam. He has been encouraging such creative works. He has a special love for eating and preparing delicious dishes. This has led him to develop a special sense of taste. He believes that tasting food is one of the fundamental pleasures of life, and cooking is an art.
He could not understand my limited taste for a few types of vegetables. Whenever he invited us to his place for a feast, he would specially arrange the most delicious vegetable dishes for me. He would often prepare and send delicious dishes to Bala from his place. Then I would also get vegetable food. With such attention, my cooking burden would be reduced. It is a known fact that Mr. Prabhakaran is an immense talent in the art of war. What deeply attracts him in the life of armed struggle is not just weapons, uniforms or military techniques. I believe that he greatly values some war qualities that regulate a balanced life.
In his social philosophical view, these qualities also occupy an important place. The most important of these war qualities is discipline. In Mr. Prabhakaran’s view, the central principle of life is discipline. Discipline and control are the qualities that govern his personal life, social view and military-political leadership. Prabhakaran has lived a disciplined life in all aspects of his life. From the beginning of his struggle until today, there has never been a single trace of disorder or any slander against him.
Prabhakaran has never smoked. He has never drunk alcohol. He does not want this habit in others. If Prabhakaran tolerated a person who smoked in the LTTE, it would only be Bala. Bala’s age and the personal respect he has for him are the reasons for this. Whenever he comes to our house, Prabhakaran would make fun of and tease him about this unhealthy habit. Prabhakaran does not like the cigarette that comes from Bala. Bala also stopped smoking in Prabhakaran’s presence. Prabhakaran considered bravery and courage to be admirable qualities in people.
He would admire and honor the expression of heroism not only among his fighters but also among the public. Heroism is a trait deeply embedded in his personality. No matter how great the force in the struggle, the fearless and unwavering character is ingrained in Prabhakaran. Prabhakaran has an unwavering conviction that if one works diligently and with dedication towards any issue or ideal, one can achieve anything.
Success is a mantra that Prabhakaran often says. ‘What is the most important quality that you have observed in Prabhakaran?’ I asked Bala.
‘The rare quality that I have observed in Prabhakaran’s personality is his unwavering self-confidence in times of crisis when hardships and dangers have arisen,’ Bala said. Bala has observed many times the firm, decisive, and unwavering self-confidence that he finds in his work for his liberation ideal. Mr. Prabhakaran is a believer in Dharma. The ideal of his people’s struggle is right.
Bala explains that the belief that justice is fair, and therefore the ultimate victory in the struggle is certain is deeply rooted in Prabhakaran’s heart. As a political leader, Prabhakaran, who is kind and polite to everyone, is also an excellent family man.
Despite being engaged in duty every day, twenty-four hours a day in his life, he has maintained a harmonious balance between the great responsibilities of the struggle and his family obligations as a husband and father. In this rare relationship, it must be said that Prabhakaran’s wife, Mathivathani, has made the supreme sacrifice. As much as she wanted to live together with her husband in their married life, she does not have the time and opportunities that life has given her.
Since he is always in charge of taking care of the children, his influence is the most important. Prabhakaran’s family life cannot be considered an ordinary life.
Prabhakaran’s wife and children have a unique social status. It is from this social status that their lifestyle and relationships should be examined. As parents, the children’s safety and future life are the concern of Prabhakaran and his wife. In a manner that suits the aspirations of Yarlpanam parents, Prabhakaran and Mathi encourage their children in their education. Since he deeply values the development of literacy in children, he will teach his children at home, alone, for many hours. Prabhakaran is family-oriented. A virtuous life is also the foundation of his life.
When Prabhakaran gets a ‘break’, he brings his wife and three children to our house.
His eldest son, Charles, was born in 1985. His daughter, Thuvaraka, is a year younger than Charles. In 1996, the baby Balachandran arrived in the family as an unexpected miracle.
When I helped with the delivery of the first child, I did not think that the child would grow up to be like his father not only in appearance but also in character. Thuvaraka, the only daughter, is deeply interested in studies and has a sense of responsibility. Prabhakaran’s youngest child, Balachandran, is the favorite of everyone in the family. Prabhakaran’s reappearance is like a mold.
When I left Vanni, baby Balachandran had not developed much. Therefore, I cannot say much about his personality.
Thank you
-Adele Balasingham-
(Translation by Tamilpriya)
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