The cadres got a feeling of reassuring comfort that he or she too would be honoured in similar fashion when dead. It provided those cadres among the living a bond of affiliation with their departed comrades. The LTTE by nurturing this cult of martyrdom achieved many things. While these tombstones were laid out in neat rows, a pavilion commemorating them collectively with names and relevant dates was also constructed. Most bodies of dead cadres – if and when recovered – were disposed of with honours at the area of combat itself. In most cases the actual body of the dead cadre was not buried at the spot. In a modern replay of the ancient planted stone/hero stone worship practice, each of the departed cadres was marked by a single tombstone. Tribute was paid by ritualised observances.Īn important feature of the homage paid by the LTTE to members slain in battle was the construction of several cemeteries called ‘Maaveerar Thuyilum Illangal’ (abodes where the great heroes slumber). A special day to pay homage to Tigers killed in battle was proclaimed as ‘Maaveerar Naal’. Now the LTTE went back to the roots of the Tamil martial culture and revived its most potent symbolic and ritual form.
The advent of the Tamil militant groups in Sri Lanka and the commencement of an armed struggle brought about a change. The custom of paying homage to heroes fallen in battle became non-existent in an environment where war was virtually unknown for generations.
The decline of the Tamil monarchic dynasties along with the advent of Moghul and Nayakkar rule followed by European colonialism saw the martial tradition among Tamils declining and becoming debilitated. The third Sangham period was from the 6th century BCE to the 3rd Century CE. The classical Tamil literary works of the Third ‘Sangham’ (Academy of Poets and Scholars) period are replete with references to this ‘Nadugal/Veerakkal Vazhiipaadu’ practice. These were honoured regularly through special Panegyrical rituals. Tombstones were erected at the graves of great heroes fallen in battle or armed combat. There existed in the martial tradition of the Tamils a practice known as ‘Nadugal Vazhipaadu’ and/or ‘Veerakkal Vazhipaadu,’ which literally meant worshipping the planted stone and worshipping the hero stone, respectively. The ‘Maaveerar Naal’ or Great Heroes Day concept has its roots in the somewhat antiquated customs and cultural practices of the Tamil people. ‘Nadugal Vazhipaadu’/‘Veerakkal Vazhipaadu’. Every man or woman who died is the child, grandchild, sibling, spouse, cousin, niece or nephew of real flesh and blood human beings. What is lost in the politicising of memorialization is the human factor. The Sri Lankan state is very w rong in suppressing the right of people to memorialise the loss of their loved ones.īesides blatant discriminatory double standards are visible in the sense that the JVP is allowed to commemorate their fallen members whereas Tamils sympathetic to the LTTE are not allowed to do so. To family members, relatives and friends the loss is very personal and the yearning to pay homage is very genuine. The Govt adds fuel to the fire by unleashing epression to stifle simple things like lighting a lamp or candle. In fact many of the GHD observances by political elements are done in a spirit of defiance against the Government rather than from a desire to mourn the departed militants. In Sri Lanka many of these observances are done despite strenuous efforts by the Government to prevent them. These endeavours are for the most part undertaken by political elements who were/are not of the LTTE. However there ae attempts to commemorate them collectively on Nov 27. Most of the families who lost a loved one in combat conduct poojas or memorial prayers for them on an individual basis on the days they died or the appropriate “Thithi”dates. Nevertheless the GHD continues to be observed on a minor scale in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and in Western countries where there are substantial numbers of Tamils. However after the military defeat of the LTTE and the demise of its leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran in May 2009, it has lost much of its lustre and prestige.
It was at one time a very important event in Sri Lankan politics. It is the day on which fallen members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are commemorated. ‘Maaveerar Naal’ or Great Heroes Day (GHD) is observed on 27 November by sections of Sri Lankan Tamils regarded as being generally supportive of the Tigers.