ANGAMPORA: THE ANCIENT MARTIAL ART FOUNDED BY TAMIL KING RAVANA AND TAMIL POET AGATHIYAR AND TAMIL GOD MURUGAN: THE FALSE PRIDE OF THE SINHALESE

For a while now, I had been inquisitive about the ANGAMPORA - THE MARTIAL ART OF SRI LANKA.

This Martial Art had caught my attention a few months ago, and I kept Researching on this subject.

FINALLY - I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT ANGAMPORA IS THE FALSE PRIDE OF THE SINHALESE..!

I checked about Angamporas History and the Rituals practiced in Angampora, in one of the Angampora websites, which you could clearly see below:

It clearly states that the Ancient Fighting Art of Angampora was protected by TAMIL KING RAVANA and TAMIL GOD KATARAGAMA

TAMIL KING RAVANA AND ANGAMPORA:

We have already previously seen that RAVANA was a TAMIL KING, and the RAVANA'S MEDICAL SYSTEM called THAI (THANI) TAMIL CHINTHAMANI MEDICINE IS WRITTEN ONLY IN TAMIL LANGUAGE. THERE IS NO OTHER RECORD OF RAVANA'S MEDICINE IN SANSKRIT LANGUAGE OR SINHALA LANGUAGE TO CLAIM THAT RAVANA WAS A BRAHMIN OR A SINHALESE.

 

RAVANA WAS A TAMIL KING. RAVANA WAS NEITHER BRAHMIN NOR A SINHALA

SRI LANKA: A PURELY TAMIL KINGDOM

Till today in Kanyakumari and other Southern districts in Tamil Nadu, they teach RAVANA'S SCHOOL OF MARTIAL ARTS (VARMAKKALAI) AND RAVANA'S MEDICINE CALLED "TAMIL CHINTHAMANI MARUTHUVAM"

Please check out this YouTube Channel, where Master Pushparaj, from Marthandam is teaching TAMIL CHINTHAMANI MARUTHUVAM AND RAVANA'S VARMAKKALAI MARTIAL ARTS.

TAMIL GOD MURUGAN (KATARAGAMA) AND ANGAMPORA:

Fine, we know for sure now that RAVANA was a TAMIL KING. The other God who protects Angampora is "KATARAGAMA DEVIYO" who is NONE OTHER THAN TAMIL GOD - MURUGAN

IN INDIA, MURUGAN WORSHIP IS NOT FOUND BEYOND TIRUPATHI OR BY THE BRAHMINS (EVEN IN TAMIL NADU) JUST LIKE THE SAPTHA KANNI AND SAPTHA RISHI WORSHIP.

The God Kataragama, worshiped by the Sinhalese is the TAMIL GOD - MURUGAN

The city of Refuge of Tamils (Murugans Descendants)

There is a city called KATARAGAMA in the Southern most Part of Sri Lanka, named after Kataragama in Sinhala and KARTHIKEYA in TAMIL. 

KATHI means Sun's Rays, or Enlightenment in Tamil and Kaamam means Love and Village.

It is said that Tamil God Murugan, was the Chiefest Guru of ALL Siddhars, including Agathiyar, and he was an ENLIGHTENED person. Similarly, Murugan found the Love of his life, called Valli in South Sri Lanka

TAMIL INSCRIPTIONS IN SOUTH SRI LANKS TILL 14th CENTURY CE, PROVES THIS FACT.!

This was the Inscription given as proof by the Chinese general Zheng He, the Ming General of 14th Century CE, which clearly states that

A TAMIL KING NAMED AZHAGESARAN , RULED OVER SOUTH SRI LANKA AND THAT THE POPULATION WAS A TAMIL MAJORITY, KNOWN FROM A TAMIL TEXT (NO SINHALA TEXT FOUND) IN THAT STONE INSCRIPTION

THIS INSCRIPTION PROVES THAT TAMIL WAS THE LINGUA FRANCA OF NATIVE OF SOUTH SRI LANKA AND THE MASSES EVEN IN 1410 CE, TILL THE END OF 16th CENTURY AD, UNTIL THE EUROPEAN INVADERS TOOK OVER.!

AGATHIYAR'S CONTRIBUTION TO SRI LANKAN ANGAMPORA:

While watching one of the Famous Angampora YouTube channel, I happened to notice this 

IT CLEARLY STATES THAT THE STAFF/ STICK FIGHTING METHODS OF ANGAMPORA WERE ENDOWED TO ANGAMPORA BY AGASTHI MUNI

While searching for more details about Agathiyar's Staff fighting methods, I found out that Agathiyar has written a lot about the Staff Fighting methods in a Palm Leaf Manuscript titled "AGATHIYAR KAMPU SOOTHIRAM" which is written purely and only in TAMIL LANGUAGE 

  

Confessions of an Angampora Artist, that Stick Fighting of Angampora was from Agathiyar

ANGAMPORA AND THE CHOLAS CONTRIBUTION: 

The Ancient Record of the Cholas called Valamkaimalai, which speaks about the Right Hand People, known as Puja Valiya in Mahavamsa, speaks about the Two branches of the Chola Kingdoms Army.

One is the Idamkaiyar (Left Hand people), and the other is the Valamkaiyar (Right Hand people) 

THIS POEM BELOW, WHICH SPEAKS ABOUT ILLANGAMPORA (ELANGAMPORA) IS FORM VALAMKAIMALAI:

This passage from the Chola Kings Record states that the art of ILLANGAM (ELANGAM) WAS FROM THE PANDIYAN KINGDOM OF KORKAI & MADURAI, AND THOSE WHO PRACTICE THIS ARE WORSHIP BADRA KALI.!

 

The above two screenshots that I have taken are form an Angampora website.! 

It states that before training in the Art of Ilangam (weapons) one has to take atleast 2 Years of Unarmed Combat Training. 

The Weapons used in Ilangam are those used exactly in Silambam Martial Art. 

For example, the Deer Horn and Knuckle Duster are weapons that are used ONLY in Silambam, Angampora and Thekkan Kalari of Trivandrum and Kanyakumari districts.!

SILAMBAM (THEKKAN KALARI) AND ANGAMPORA:

Though many people today be it practitioners, researchers on martial arts or just people who view the Martial Arts of Kalari Payat and Angampora, see a lot of similarities between these two arts, it should actually be noted that Angampora is closely related to Kuthu Varisai in Empty Hand Fighting System and closely related to Silambam in Weaponry Fighting Techniques.

ANGAMPORA VIDEOS:

 

 

KUTHU VARISAI AND SILAMBAM VIDEOS:

 

In the case of Kalari Payat, Angampora is closely related, but also distinct from the Thekkan Kalari style, known as Adimurai in Trivandrum and Kanyakumari districts. 

 

Secondly, both Varmakalai (Kuthu Varisai & Silambam) of Tamil Nadu and Angampora of Sri Lanka has got Karthikeya (Katharagama), Ravanan (Ravana) and Agathiyar (Agasthi muni) as the progenitors of their Martial Arts, 

CONTRARY TO THE MYTHOLOGICAL STORY OF PARASHURAMA WHO FOUNDED THE VADAKKAN STYLE KALARI PAYAT.

Thirdly, the Concept of Cheena Ati is present in Varmakalai of Tamil Nadu and Angampora of Sri Lanka, which concept is absent in the Vadakkan Kalari Payat tradition of Kerala.

CHEENA ATI FROM TAMIL NADU: 

 

CHEENA ATI IN ANGAMPORA FROM SRI LANKA:

 

ANGAMPORA AND VADAKKAN KALARI PAYAT:

By external appearance, both, the Vadakkan style of Kalari Payat and Angampora, share a lot of similarities on their external aspects.

The Kalari Kalam and the Angam Kalam both are made of Mud Pit and below the Ground Level

The Meypayattu in Vadakkan Kalari Payat, shares a lot in common with the Angampora Physical Exercises 

The Low deep Stances and  High Jumping techniques and Circular movements are common in both Angampora and Vadakkan Kalari Payat. 

VADAKKAN KALARI DOCUMENTARY:

 ANGAMPORA DOCUMENTARY VIDEO:

 

MARMA KALA (KERALA) & MARU KALA (SRI LANKA):

Marma Ati practiced in Northern Kerala by Vadakkan Style Kalari Payat practitioners used 107 Marma points which are classified as per Susrutha, Charaka and Vaghbhata, written in Sanskrit Language.

 

MARMA POINTS OF KALARI PAYAT ARE BASED AYURVEDIC MEDICAL SYSTEM

 

Maru Kala practiced in Sri Lanka uses Nerve point attacks given by Tamil King Ravana. As per Angampora texts, the Maru Kala points are only 107, which are similar to the Ayurvedic Marmas practiced by the North Kerala Kalri Payat masters and they give primary importance to Nerve Strikes

 

ANGAMPORA MARU KALA IS BASED ON HELA WEDAKAMA MEDICINE 

 

KALARI PAYAT OIL MASSAGE: 

 

HELA WEDAKAMA OIL MASSAGE: 

 

VARMAKALAI (TAMIL NADU) & MARU KALA (SRI LANKA):

Varmakalai literally means the "Art of Vital Points", which is used to manipulate the Pressure Points in the Human Body to cause harm or healing to an individual. As per Tamil Siddha texts, there are 108 Varma points on the Human Body. As per Ravana's text, there are 107 Varmas, and the 108th Varmam is considered to be the Pineal Gland, which could not be manipulated by touch. 

 

 

Maru Kala practiced in Sri Lanka uses Nerve point attacks given by Tamil King Ravana. As per Angampora texts, the Maru Kala points are only 107 and they give primary importance to Nerve Strikes, which is just one part of Varmakalai, known as Varma Narambadi

ANGAMPORA MARU KALA IS BASED ON HELA WEDAKAMA MEDICINE

VARMAKALAI IS BASED ON TAMIL SIDDHA MEDICINE AND TAMIL CHINTHAMANI MEDICINE 

VARMAKALAI OIL MASSAGE: 

 

HELA WEDAKAMA MASSAGE: 

SO, COMING TO THE END POINT - ANGAMPORA IS NONE OTHER THAN THE MARTIAL ART OF KUTHU VARISAI AND SILAMBAM, GIVEN BY TAMIL GOD MURUGAN, TAMIL SAGE AGATHIYAR AND TAMIL KING RAVANA.

ANGAMPORA - AN ANCIENT WAR ART OF TAMILIANS; IS THE FALSE PRIDE OF THE SINHALESE...!!!!

THE BETRAYAL OF TAMILS BY PADMANABHAN AND AMIRTHALINGAM IN SRI LANKA

LTTE didnt have any issues with other Tamil Millitant Orgnazations if they worked for a independent Tamil Eelam. LTTE chief V.Prabhakaran was a admirer of the TELO founders and called them Maaveerars until his death. Prabhakaran learned eveything from Kuttimani & Thangadurai and Solo Figther Pon Sivakumaran. Hon-Prabhakaran even joined TELO for a short time and did many missions like attacks and robberies together. LTTE worked together with TELO, EPRLF and many organizations and even founded the umbrella united front ENLF (Eelam National Liberation Front).

The BIG 5 (TELO, LTTE, EROS, EPRLF) without PLOTE who didnt want to meet Prabahakaran of personal problems and the shooting incident in Pondy Bazar. Tall Sri Sabaratnam (TELO) ,V. Prabhakaran (LTTE) V.Balakumaran (EROS) K.Padmanaba (EPRLF)

TELO, EROS and EPRLF leaderships with DMK and Tamil Nadu Opposition Leader Karunanidhi

Realizing that unity among the liberation movements is essential to take forward the freedom struggle of the people of Tamil Eelam, the leaders of the Eelam Progressive Revolutionary Liberation Front, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization and Eelam Revolutionary Organization have decided to form a united front and name it Eelam National Liberation Front. - Statement from EPRLF, EROS and TELO after the meeting with Former Chief Minister Karunanidhi and imposition Leader while V.Prabahakaran and Uma Maheswaran was in a meeting with MGR.

Chief V.Prabahakaran and Lt. Shankar with MGR

“Before my death sentence is carried out, please remove my eyes and transplant them to a Tamil without eyesight. I will not be able to see the free Tamil Eelam but, at least, let my eyes see it.” - Kuttimani (TELO) before his murder in 1983 riots

V. Prabahakaran as mentioned didnt have problem with anyone aslong they worked full heartly for the liberation of the Tamil People and the creation of Tamil Eelam. Even when Uma Maheswaran and his loyal figthers started their own organization most known as PLOTE, LTTE chief V.Prabhakaran never called Uma Maheswaran and his cadres for traitors to Tamil Eelam or the Tamil People but traitors to the LTTE and it was a personal conflict, but this changed after Indian RAW murdered Uma Maheswaran after the Maldives Coup incident and PLOTE joined the Premedasa Goverment who was known to be Anti-Indian and even supplied weopons both to the LTTE and PLOTE to fight the Indians. When PLOTE started to attack LTTE bases with the help of the “enemy” thats when PLOTE was considred as traitors. It was simillar with Padmandba and Tall Sri.

The ENLF was short lived mainly beacuse of the involvment of India. India didnt want the millitants. The Indians didnt even want to train the Tamil Millitant Orgnazations together beacause India kne w if the Tamil rebels worked together they wont be easly to control and the Indian supremacy will be lost. LTTE knew this and saw TELO and EPRLF becoming to close with the Indians working as a mercenaries to teach Sri Lanka a lesson for aiding Pakistan during the war and fearing the relationship Sri Lanka had with the USA during the Cold War and even fearing American Supremacy in their own backyard simillar to the Cuba crisis.

Both TELO and EPRLF was dependent on Indian aid unlike the LTTE and PLOTE (Pre 1989). Both Tall Sri and Padmanaba was seen as puppets of India.Both EPRLF and TELO began to have internam issues where many cadres like popular Day didnt like the way it was going. Many of the cadres was against the thought of imperialism. People from EROS even PLOTE like the popular Brigafier Balraj which was going to give LTTE big sucsess on the battlefields were the people who didnt approve of this.

Unknown hungerstrike of Prabahakaran for releasing prisoners and weopons by the Indians where later Tamil Nadu politicans forced him to drink water.

The 13 cadres who forced themself to take sucide and this incident was seen as the betrayal of India and a reason to attack pro Indian groups.

TELO and EPRLF went to extent to supporting the Indo-Lankan accord in 1987 where the Tamil Millitants wasnt even represented not as a equal part but not at all. LTTE and PLOTE was angred by how India as a third part can make a deal with the second part (Sri Lanka) without consulting, innforming or even with their presence. The accord said demillitarize the armed movements and LTTE was pressured to follow this. LTTE leadership later accepted.

Thileepan a famous orator and student of the Jaffna Hindu College who joined the LTTE to fight against the oppression but still belived in peace and good relations with India.

But after the Thileepan Incident and the sucide of the 13 LTTE figthers LTTE got issues with India. Accord stated that India would protect the Tamil People and the Tamil figthers if they layed up their arms which a promise IPKF couldnt hold.

Thieepan went to a fast against the arrest of the 13 cadres. This incident was the incident which madd the LTTE leadership not to belive in peaceful protest. This fast was the second peaceful protest against India. After a "martyr's funeral" in Jaffna, Thileepan's body was handed over to the University of Jaffna's medical faculty. Thileepan's death resulted in large anti-government and anti-Indian protests in northern Sri Lanka even when the LTTE gave his body and Indian Army uniform.

Prabhakaran over his dead friend after the hungerstrike. After this incident Prabahakaran went out to say that peaceful protests will get ignored or sabotaged

There were rumours of pro Indian organization disturbing the peace and hurting civillians and the massacres and massrape the Indian army did didnt make it easier.

Matters came to a head with the assassination of two prominent Tamil politicians in Jaffna, M. Alalasundaram and V. Dharmalingam, in September 1985. The TELO and the LTTE blamed each other for the killings. In February 1986, the LTTE pulled out of the ENLF. In the meantime, differences with the LTTE were also growing. The LTTE was unhappy with the pro-India stance of the TELO. They also were upset that the TELO was getting by far the largest share of contributions from Sri Lankan Tamil expatriates, even though the TELO was not as active or successful as the LTTE. Prabhakaran also feared that India would use the TELO or EPRLF to have him killed.

“TELO and EPRLF usually held the Indian view of problems and pushed for India's view during peace talks with Sri Lanka and other groups. LTTE denounced the TELO view and claimed that India was only acting on its own interest. As a result, the LTTE broke from the ENLF in 1986. Lingam a native of Velvettithurai, Jaffna joined LTTE as a part timer in 1980. He became full time member in 1981.

In early 1986 tension between LTTE and other militant groups started to grow each passing day. During such a situation TELO arrested two LTTE cadres. Known as a very calm man LTTE sent Lingam to talk with TELO.On 29th April 1986 Lingam was killed inside TELO camp. He was shot in the eyes. Other two detained LTTE cadres were also shot dead.

Lingam one of LTTE’s most coolheaded and patient men.

Lingam’s murder was the trigger point for the war between LTTE and other groups. Within one week whole TELO group was wiped out and other militant groups were neutralized militarily” - Gopal anna answer - Who were those 29 members present in LTTE before 1983 Anti-Tamil pogrom (Black July)?

Gopal R (गोपाल R)'s answer to How did the LTTE capture Jaffna in 1985 with ease?

Soon fighting broke out between the TELO and the LTTE and clashes occurred over the next few months. As a result, almost the entire TELO leadership and at least 400 TELO militants were killed by the LTTE. LTTE was forced to kill TELO cadres after the murder of Lingam and peace negotioter of LTTE in TELO camp.

The LTTE attacked training camps of the EPRLF a few months later, forcing it to withdraw from the Jaffna peninsula.Notices were issued to the effect that all remaining Tamil insurgents join the LTTE in Jaffna and in Madras, where the Tamil groups were headquartered. With the major groups including the TELO and EPRLF eliminated, the remaining 20 or so Tamil insurgent groups were then absorbed into the LTTE, making Jaffna an LTTE-dominated city.

Other reasons were also the internal issues all the Tamil Millitant Orgnazations had and werent stable enough or objevtive to go for the goal of independent Eelam.

Amirthalingam first Tamil to be the leader of the opposition and his sons took up arms for the LTTE.

Amirthalingam was killed beacuse of his close links to Iinks to India and supported Indo-Lankan which went against the promises he did. “Long before the Tigers began their armed struggle, TULF leaders including Mr Amirthalingam were calling for an independent state for Tamils in the north and east called Tamil Eelam.” -BBC

Amirthalingam with his wife

Amirthalingam won the Tamil votes by promising a seperate country for Tamils and Self Determination but by agreeing to Indo-Lankan accord he was seen as traitor in the eyes of the Tamil Tigers.

MILITARISM WAS IN THE BLOOD AND DNA OF THE SRI LANKAN TAMILS

Militarism is the belief or the desire of a government or a people that a state should maintain a strong millitary capability and to use it aggressively to expand or protect national interests and/or values (culture, heritage, territory, race, language). It may also imply the glorification of the military and of the ideals of a professional military class and the "predominance of the armed forces in the administration or policy of the state"

Tamil Tiger poster during the Tamil insurgency era (1970s to 1983)

The connection between Nationalism and Millitarism dates back to the early 18th century during the “Nation Buliding” era. For the Tamils it came to prominence after continuous State violence and the failure of the Tamil “democratic” spectrum. The 1977 Anti-Tamil pogrom by the Sri Lankan Regime and Sinhalese mobs due to the victory the Tamil Nationalist Party (TULF) which stood for Independence sent many youths to take up arms as a self defence mechanism. TULF won in North East (Tamil Eelam). After the forced expulsion of TULF from Sri Lankan Parliament, militants ruled the Tamil political movement. As a result, the 1970s saw the emergence of more than 30 Tamil militant groups.

Colonel Theepan (left)

Tamils's military strength key to Tamils' future- Colonel Theepan

“Speaking at a sports event commemorating the martyrs of the Special Reconnaissance Wing of the Liberation Tigers Wednesday, in an undisclosed location in Vanni, Northern Region Military Commander, Col.Theepan said, "Tamil peoples' future and victory in the struggle for self-determination are critically dependent on our military strength. Our continued transformation to engage and beat the enemy in all types of warfare is fundamental to our security and to live as a free nation," sources in Vanni said. - TamilNet

Maaveerarkal (Great Hero’s/Great Warrior’s) and Maaveerar Naal (Great Hero’s Day/ Great Warriors Day) was a important part and still is of the Warrior Society the Tamil Tigers tried to bulid. Both the Maaveerar Naal (27th November) and Black Tigers Day (5th July) is remembered every year. Many monuments, parks (Kittu Poonga), gardens, memorials were bulit for them all over Tamil Eelam and even some in Tamil Nadu (India).

Military strength, vigilance key to our freedom - Pottu Amman

Intelligence Chief (TOSIS) and Commander Pottu Amman (Shanmugalingam Sivashankar, second from left

“The Tamil nation gained unprecedented strength through our military feats in the series of battles in Vanni against Sri Lankan armed forces who were intent on annihilating us. This success was made possible because our leaders never lost confidence and cadres believed in our ability to confront the enemy even after the occupation of Jaffna by the Sri Lankan Forces and the attempted rout by the Indian army. The battle of Elephant Pass was a pointer to the military might of the Tamils,” observed Pottu Amman.

Brigadier Balraj’s Millitary Honours, he was a important factor in the Operation Unceasing Waves III which captured the Elephant Pass

“Let us remember that we are a nation forsaken by the international community in our struggle for freedom. It is in such situation that the fortitude of our fighters and their sacrifice gather momentous magnitude. When Tamils mature into a formidable military, political and economic force, the value of the lives sacrificed by our martyrs will attain fruition,” Pottu Amman told thousands of people gathered at the ceremony.

“The historical burden of responsibility placed on us dictates that we become powerful. We need to be vigilant not to fall victim to the snares set by either the Sri Lankan government or its surrogates. It is in our vigilance that our freedom survives. And it is from the might of our strength that our heroic history should be chiselled,” he said.

“If we fail, our enemies will be the scribes of our history in which the lives of our martyrs will be tarnished and ridiculed. It becomes incumbent on us to give our martyrs, the glory they deserve,” added Pottu amman.

“On April 22nd, the Liberation Tigers hoisted their flag (Flag of Tamil Eelam) in the heart of what was once one of the most fortified military garrisons in South Asia. The fall of Elephant Pass, described as "impregnable" by a US army officer who visited the garrison months earlier, established the Tigers as the only non-state military force in the world today capable of complex manoeuvre war fighting.” - TamilNet (25.11.05)

Flag of Tamil Eelam

The jumping tiger was adopted from the emblem of the Chola Empire

, it should reflect the martial history (Veera varalaru) and the national upheaval of the Tamils. The national flag is the symbol of the independent state of Tamil Eelam

to be created, rooted in the martial traditions (Veera marapuhal) of the Tamils," LTTE organ Viduthalai Puligal said in its February 1991 issue.

Vellupillai Prabhakaran

himself mentioned in a Tamil interview the circle and crossed bayonets represent the armed resistance and were based on the historical shield with crossed swords flag of Pandara Vanniyan. The circle sometimes considered to be a "Uthaya Suriyan" (rising sun) which is a symbol of Sri Lankan Tamils and earlier political movements. The LTTE leader was often compared to Pandara Vanniyan of Vannimai, because both had a similar fate and their association to the Vanni Forest and Tamilakam. Pandara Vanniyan

was a freedom fighter during the British colonial era in Sri Lanka.

33 bullets

The bullets symbolise the historical 33 years between 1948

- 1981 (oppression the Tamil population by the Sri Lankan government before the outbreak of Sri Lankan Civil War

). Sri Lanka got independece from the British in 1948 and the Jaffna Library got burned down in 1981. Both are seen as black days by Tamils. Over 90 000 were burnt including manuscripts from the Tamil Sangam period.

• 11 bullets on the left
• 11 bullets on the right
• 11 bullets at the top
• total: 33 bullets

Colours

Flag of the Tamil Democrats with the traditional colors of Tamil Eelam

Four aspects of ideals and mission of Tamil Eelam represented by the four colours are detailed in the published guide book.

The yellow signifies that Tamils' aspiration to freely govern themselves in their own homeland is a fundamental political and human right. The colour expresses the righteousness of Tamil struggle and reinforces Tamil Nation's will to uphold moral highground during its path towards freedom.

The red represents the realisation that freedom is not complete by establishment of a separate state of Tamil Eelam. Distinctions of caste and class should be abolished. Egalitarianism should become their spiritual principle. Gender equality should permeate Tamil society. The revolutionary changes necessary to spread social justice represented by these principles are reflected by this colour.

The black reminds that march towards freedom is wrought with dangers, death and destruction, that is filled with pain and misery. It signifies determination and resoluteness vital to withstand the adversities and build the new nation of Tamil Eelam, to provide security and to defend the borders.

The white demands purity, honesty and selflessness from the leaders and citizens of Tamil Eelam.

The Tamil Tigers bulit a disciplined millitary culture and even brought back the warrior ancestor worship rituals which we only see in some villages. They meant the decades of British rule had weakned the Tamil spirit, who were previously seen as warriors who bulit the greatest Empires (Chola, Pandiyan, Chera).

LTTE - Tamil Tigress in combat training

The Tamil Tigers were the only Non-State organization to have own AirForce, Navy (including submarine Division), Ground Troops (Conventional Warfare). LTTE successfully assasinated two World Leaders, dozens of High Ranking Sri Lankan Millitary Officers and other Rebel Leaders. They later created a seperate self sacrifice unit called the Black Tigers and this unit had own Tri-Forces (Ground, Air, Sea) and was seperate from the regular forces.

Tamil National Leader and the Tamil Tiger Supremo explicitly stated that an armed struggle is the only way to resist asymmetric warfare

, in which one side, that of the Sri Lankan government (Sinhalese), is armed and the other (Tamils) comparatively unarmed. He argued that he chose military means only after observing that non–violent means have been ineffectual and obsolete, especially after the Thileepan incident. Thileepan, a Lt. Colonel rank officer (LTTE) adopted Gandhian

means (hunger strike) to protest against the IPKF killings by staging a fast unto death from 15 September 1987, and by abstaining from food or water until 26 September, when he died in front of thousands of Tamils who had come there to fast along with him. Annai Poopathy (Mother Poopathy ) did a simillar hunger strike against the Indian Goverment in 1988. It was completely ignored which only fuelled the armed resistance movement.

V.Prabhakaran created one of the histories most powerful Resistance Movements

Tactically, Hon V.Prabhakaran perfected the recruitment and use of self sacrificing units (Black Tigers). His fighters usually took no prisoners and were notorious for assaults that often left every single enemy soldier dead. Interpol

described him as someone who was "very alert, known to use disguise and capable of handling sophisticated weaponry and explosives."

Hon. Balasingham (left) with Political Head Tamilchelvan

Chief Political Strategist, Chief Negotiator and journalist Balasingham, the theoretician of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

(LTTE), states that the causes of the militarization of the Tamil youth were unemployment, lack of opportunities for higher education, and the imposition of an alien language. He further alleges that the majority Sinhalese government was responsible for these problems, adding that the only alternative left for Tamil youths was a "revolutionary armed struggle for the independence of their nation". Acts like the Sinhala Only Acts of 1956, Standardisation Act of 1971, Citizenships Acts of 1948 and continued atrocities (State Terrorism, massacres, genocide etc) against Tamils and the foreign backup the Sri Lankan Goverment received made the Tamils furious. In 1944 J.R. Jayawardene moved in the State Council that only Sinhala

and not Tamils should replace English as the official language and went against 1936 Motion to declare both Sinhalese and Tamils as Offical languages.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Head - Swedish Senior Major General Ulf Henricsson with Colonel Soosai (Tamil Eelam Navy/Sea Tigers)

The Tamil Tigers were also firm that reason why the World and their “enemy” came to the negotionan table was only because of their millitary strength. The Tamil issues were ignored by Sri Lanka and the International community until the Tamils were armed to the teeth and will be ignored if they in the future get disarmed.

Sadly it became a reality today. Even by winning elections Tamil Parties tend get ignored both by Sri Lanka and in the International Arena. The LTTE have argued that minority parties will always get ignored or outvoted in a Majoritian state like Sri Lanka. During 2019 Presidental Election the memorandum (13 Demands) signed by the Oppostion Party (Tamil National Alliance) were ignored by the major Sinhalese parties.

"I am not worried about the opinion of the Jaffna people... now we cannot think of them, not about their lives or their opinion... the more you put pressure in the north, the happier the Sinhala people will be here... Really if I starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be happy."
- President J.R.Jayawardene, Daily Telegraph, July 1983

If there is discrimination in this land which is not their (Tamil) homeland, then why try to stay here. Why not go back home (India) where there would be no discrimination. There are your kovils

and Gods

. There you have your culture, education, universities, etc. There you are masters of your own fate

- Mr. W.J.M. Lokubandara, M.P

 in Sri Lanka's Parliament, July 1981, aftermath of the Burning of the Jaffna Library

The LTTE was the most solidly nationalistic Tamil resistance organization. Furthermore, because of its policies, constructive Tamil Nationalist platform, and desire for national self-determination, the LTTE was supported by major sections of the Tamil community. It even established a de facto state in the areas under its control, called Tamil Eelam

, and had managed a government in these areas, providing state functions

such as courts, a police force, a human rights organization, and a humanitarian assistance board. a health board, and an education board. In addition, it ran a bank (Bank of Tamil Eelam), a radio station (Voice of Tigers) and a television station (National Television of Tamil Eelam).

Tamil Eelam Police Force