Who is this, Radha? Those who know the history of the Tamileelam struggle surely know Radha.

Lt. Col. Radha 20.05.1987

Who is this, Radha? Those who know the history of the Tamileelam struggle surely know Radha. Harichandra, who was a young man of great energy and personality while studying at Hindu College in Jaffna, joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1983 and was named Radha by the national leader and became the commander Radha in our liberation journey.

During his college days and even after, Radha always had the habit of wearing beautiful, natural clothes. As a result, to those who saw Radha riding his motorbike on the streets of Jaffna, he looked nothing but like a government official or a doctor.

His calm and charming appearance was matched by his attitude. Radha, who joined the scouting movement while studying in the 8th standard, was the leader of the scouting movement and the college’s training camp until he studied in the advanced level, so he was full of administrative rules and regulations right from his college days.

Radha, who was the main student leader of the student leaders at Hindu College in Jaffna, would walk along the corridors of the classrooms and the students would become as quiet as if they had seen the school principal. These are Radha’s memories of his student days.

Radha, who excelled in all fields, including education, sports, and work, finished his college life and worked at a warehouse in Colombo. Harichandra, who witnessed the genocide that took place in 1983, immediately joined the LTTE.

The LTTE gained a cadre who combined knowledge, energy, bravery, and wisdom. The national leader, who recognized this great freedom fighter and the mobile university, realized that Radha’s energy and personality would produce hundreds of freedom fighters like him and entrusted Radha with the task of running the training camp. How many subjects did the LTTE fighters study from that university? How many?

The tiger flag flies in the training camp. The freedom fighters are lined up. Now, in college, the Harishchandra I saw on the streets was not there. There was someone there who looked like a big army commander who was just pretending to be in English films.

The commanding call of “Scout Attention” and the clanking sound of camouflage uniforms were his own. Just seeing Radha in the training camp was scary. So much toughness, so much speed. That was Radha.

Radha was unshakable in his self-confidence. Similarly, the national leader had faith in Radha. When the freedom fighters undergoing training in the training camps received rigorous commando training, it was a war training tradition to use dummy bombs behind them to create a battlefield-like mental state. But Radha violated these traditions. Radha did not want to use dummy bombs and sought permission from the national leader that he was going to use real bombs. The national leader, who had faith in Radha’s ability and confidence, gave Radha permission.

“Down Position” is Radha’s command. The trainees quickly take up positions and move. Then Radha, who is standing behind them, aims and shoots their shoes with an M-16 rifle. Real bullets miss the shoes. Ponnamman, who is standing nearby and supervising the training, says, “That’s it, Radha.” After the day’s training, the freedom fighters go to their quarters. There, they take off their iron-soled shoes. Some of the shoes were pierced by M-16 bullets. During this break, the “commander Radha” was not seen. A good friend was seen there. “What do you want, I’m sorry.” This is Radha’s habit of talking.

Radha would get used to listening to school love stories. One evening, after the training, everyone was talking excitedly. A fighter told Radha that his schoolteacher’s name was Rasathi and she told him stories about her. Soon, the camp’s loudspeaker was softly playing the song “Rasathi Unnai Kaanatha Nenju”. This is how Radha was different.

Radha, who knew all three languages, Tamil, English and Sinhala, would have piled up books on his desk. It can be said with confidence that there was no field he did not know. The national leader himself had once been amazed and praised by Radha’s ability.

The dense forest was filled with a certain number of freedom fighters, Ponnamman and Victor, along with the national leader and some commanders. Radha was with them, carrying a communication device in his hand. Everyone was walking through the forest happily listening to the stories told by the national leader and Ponnamman. Radha, who was walking along with everyone, laughing and chatting, suddenly gave the order “Down Position” in a loud voice. Everyone, including the national leader, obeyed the order. The national leader and the commanders gave the order by gesture to plan a strategy from inside to outside. Until then, nothing happened. Only a buzzing sound that was heard little by little was gathering. Until then, no one except Radha understood anything. In a short time, a large swarm of wild bees passed everyone with a loud noise.

When the bees disappeared, everyone got up. Ponnamman and the national leader looked at Radha. “I read in a book about the forest, Annai. I thought it might be this one, so I gave the command even when the sound was small. That’s how it happened. This swarm of bees will not change its path and will fly the way it came. If we had walked without lying down, the eyes of the nobles among us would have been opened,” Radha concluded.

Following Radha, Ponnamman looked at the freedom fighters and said, “You have read two things about this group. One is how to take a position when a sudden order comes, and the second is that you should not ask questions when an order comes. If anyone had been standing there asking why you want to lie down or what you want to lie down for, you would have lost your eyes by now. Down means Down.”

Thus, Radha, who had countless talents, also trained the special commando team that was held under the direct supervision of the national leader. Radha, who was a trainee, went to the Mannar field with Lt. Col. Victor and began to achieve feats. Victor used to mention Radha’s skills in the Mannar police station attack in many places.

After Victor’s heroic death, Radha, who took over as the Mannar District Special Commander, showed the world the technical capabilities of the LTTE by destroying the “Paval” armored vehicle, which was famously invulnerable to landmines.

After Colonel Kittu lost his leg, Radha, who took over as the Jaffna District Special Commander, attacked many camps such as Kurumbasity Camp, Mayiliyathanai Camp, and Kankesanthurai Caberview Camp in a short period of time and scored many victories. If this mobile university with its skills on many fronts had existed for some more time… This is the question that arises in everyone’s mind, including the national leader. “If we go to fight and die, I say, we have a round or a piece of cell, and if it comes, we will die. Otherwise, we will never die.” This is a line that Radha often says to the freedom fighters. Yes, as he said, on 20-05-1987, an enemy shell fired in search of him pierced his chest. Even after many years have passed, Radha, known as Harichandra, has become an epic, but his memories will remain in our land. Some of the facts that are still silent about Radha’s achievements will be spoken only after our nation recovers.

(Correction by Tamilpriya)