Major Visu embodied the proverb, “Where smoke doesn’t go, the Tiger will.”
Major Visu’s Memorial Day today 13.07.1989
Major Visu embodied the proverb, “Where smoke doesn’t go, the Tiger will.” Those who knew Visu never harbored dislike for him; he had an endearing nature. Typically, it’s difficult to be liked universally, yet Visu achieved exactly that. He clearly and compassionately communicated every point, making it understandable and comforting for everyone. This quality earned him the affection of newcomers to the movement. His method of interaction and clarity in explaining the struggle left an unforgettable mark on all.
Always impeccably dressed and seen with a smile, Visu was unforgettable. During his initial involvement, the movement had few members, just double digits. Despite international recognition, Tigers remained mysterious and hard to identify. Visu and a friend eagerly sought genuine Tigers amidst impostors distributing false leaflets, claiming to represent the movement while accusing Prabhakaran’s group of killing their comrade Sundaram.
Liberation seekers struggled in confusion over who the real Tigers were. One day, the movement’s deputy leader came cycling, distributing leaflets titled “Reward for Betrayal,” clearly explaining the reasons behind Sundaram’s execution: escaping with weapons and money, and attempting to start a separate faction against the disciplined organization. Recognizing the genuine leaflet with the Tiger emblem, Visu and his friend eagerly requested to join. They received the response, “Your request will be considered.”
Passing through the stringent scrutiny of that period, they were accepted as supporters. Visu played a key role in the Tigers’ first attack on a police jeep, gathering essential intelligence—timing, weaponry, number of personnel—ensuring the attack’s success. Four Sri Lankan policemen were killed, and weapons were seized.
When an attack on naval forces from Karainagar camp at Ponnalai bridge unexpectedly failed, escaping fighters directly approached Visu. He safeguarded and sheltered them. During those formative years, such unseen efforts were invaluable and had to be executed secretly, even from neighbors. Visu managed this perfectly.
In 1983, Visu became a full-time member. After military training abroad, he returned home and chose political work. Later returning to the battlefield in Vanni, he led numerous successful operations. Notably, his involvement in the attack on a Sri Lankan army convoy on the Jaffna-Kandy road (18th milepost) and in the campaign capturing Kilinochchi earned him the name “Courageous Visu.” He became deeply familiar with the land and people of Vanni, remembered fondly by locals.
Visu played a significant role in the first Black Tiger attack on the Nelliady military camp following the Sri Lankan Army’s Operation Liberation in Vadamarachchi in 1987. Being from that area, his responsibilities were immense. He was among the first group infiltrating the camp, where his comrades Kamal and Vincent were killed, and Visu himself sustained eye injuries impairing his sight. He went to India for treatment but returned to Eelam, not fully recovered, driven by his identity as a fighter. He actively fought Indian forces and was entrusted with intelligence responsibilities—a critical role emphasizing the leadership’s trust in him.
Visu was committed to punishing traitors who jeopardized the national struggle. Failure to swiftly punish betrayal, he warned, would result in ongoing casualties. Thus, Visu set out to prove, “Where smoke doesn’t go, the Tiger will.” Knowing he might not return, he pursued traitors resolutely. Even amidst opposition, the guns of Visu and his comrades rose determinedly, reinforcing the principle that the duty of Tigers must be fulfilled at all costs.
History records the irony of those who once condemned the fight for a separate nation as suicidal eventually confronting the determined fighters led by Visu. Ultimately, Visu connected deeply with Tamil Eelam through that initial leaflet, “Reward for Betrayal,” committing himself fully alongside comrades Captain Arivu and 2nd Lieutenant Peter.
— Thanks,
Vizhuthugal, Eezhanaatham, 1993
Translated by Pooja
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