PERSONAL INFORMATION
Names earned: • Thamizh Thesiya Thalaivar (Tamil National Leader) • Sooriyathevan (Sun God) [1] DBS Jeyaraj • Karikalan (named after the famous Chola king known for his administration and courage)
Other name: Pirapaharan
Nickname(s): • Thambi [2] Daily FT • Anna • Thambiyanna
Profession: Rebel leader
Infamous for: • Being the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) • Being the mastermind of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991
Date of Birth: 26 November 1954 (Friday)
Birthplace: Valvettithurai, Dominion of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
Age (at the time of death): 54 Years
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Nationality: • Ceylonese (1954-1972) • Sri Lankan (1972-2009)
Hometown: Valvettithurai, Jaffna district, Sri Lanka
Religion: Atheist
Caste: Karaiyar Note: The Karaiyars are a coastal community that originated from the southern parts of India. They began migrating to Sri Lanka in the second century BCE.
Food Habit: Non-vegetarian
Marriage Date: 1 October 1984
Age: 54 Years
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EDUCATION
School: • Government College, Batticaloa • Chidampara College, Valvettithurai
Educational Qualification: He dropped out of school to partake in underground activities. [6] The Times of India
PHYSICAL STATISTICS
Height (approx.): in centimeters – 170 cm in meters – 1.70 m in feet & inches – 5’ 7”
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
Marital Status (at the time of death): Married
Wife/Spouse: Mathivathani Erambu (deceased; May 2009) Note: The Sri Lankan authorities found the dead bodies of Prabhakaran’s wife and daughter on 20 May 2009.
Children: Son(s) – 2 • Charles Anthony (elder, head of the Information and Technology department of the LTTE, died on 18 May 2009) • Balachandran Prabhakaran (younger, reportedly shot dead by the Sri Lankan Army in May 2009) Daughter – 1 • Duvaraga (deceased; May 2009)
Parents: Father – Veerasamy Thiruvengdam Velupillai (district lands officer, died on 10 January 2010) Mother – Vallipuram Parvathy (deceased)
Siblings: Brother – 1 • Manoharan Velupillai Sister(s) – 2 • Jagdeswari Mathiyaparanam • Vinodini Rajendran (moved to Toronto, Canada in 1997) Note: Prabhakaran was the youngest child of his family.
Wife: Mathivathani Erambu
OTHER INFORMATION
Date of Death: • Source 1: 18 May 2009 [3] The Quint • Source 2: 19 May 2009 [4] LankaWeb
Place of Death: Nandikadal, Mullaitivu District, Sri Lanka
Death Cause: Killed in a firefight with the Sri Lankan Army [5] LankaWeb
Hobbies: Reading and Cooking
Food: Pittu, Coconut Sambol, Fried Shrimp
Cuisine: Chinese
Book: Ponniyin Selvan
INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Velupillai Prabhakaran, a prominent figure in Sri Lankan history, emerged from a traditional Hindu Tamil family, known as the Thirumeni Kudumbam, in Valvettithurai, Sri Lanka. His family’s heritage includes the construction of the Sivan Hindu temple, a site of cultural significance. Prabhakaran’s early years were marked by political activism; as a student, he engaged in various anti-government demonstrations, igniting his passion for Tamil nationalism. In 1969, he joined the Thangathurai-Kuttimani militant group, where his leadership skills quickly earned him key positions. This involvement deepened in 1970 when he became a member of the Tamil Manavar Peravai, a student union advocating for Tamil rights. His commitment to the cause intensified, leading to his participation in a black flag protest in 1971 against government actions, culminating in his decision to leave his family home in 1972 to evade arrest, a turning point in his life that solidified his dedication to the Tamil cause.
On May 22, 1972, Prabhakaran co-founded the Tamil New Tigers (TNT), marking the beginning of a significant chapter in the Tamil militancy movement. The TNT’s initial militant activities included bombings and targeted assassinations, with the assassination of Alfred Duraiappah, the mayor of Jaffna, in 1975 serving as a pivotal moment that amplified the group’s notoriety. By 1976, Prabhakaran had restructured the organization, rebranding it as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which aimed to wage guerrilla warfare against the Sri Lankan government. Under his leadership, the LTTE expanded its operations and solidified its position in the ongoing conflict, undertaking high-profile attacks, including the assassination of political figures and bank heists that showcased their escalating boldness. Prabhakaran’s strategic insights were evident as he sought to enhance the LTTE’s military capabilities, leading to the establishment of the Sea Tigers in 1984, which ensured crucial supply routes for arms and ammunition.
As the 1980s progressed, the LTTE’s prominence grew, particularly after a notable ambush in July 1983 that ignited widespread riots across Sri Lanka, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Tamils. The ensuing civil war saw Prabhakaran increasingly recruit women and children into the ranks of the LTTE, while reports suggested that he received military training from foreign armies. His tactical innovations played a crucial role in the conflicts against the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), where he orchestrated ambushes that significantly impacted troop morale. Despite international condemnation following attacks on civilians, including the assassination of Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in 2005, Prabhakaran continued to assert his vision for an independent Tamil Eelam, showcasing a resolve that resonated with many within the Tamil diaspora.
The tide of the civil war began to shift against the LTTE by 2008, marked by significant losses in territory and personnel. Prabhakaran was last seen addressing his followers in 2009, proclaiming the government’s impending downfall. However, by mid-May of that year, the Sri Lankan Army had effectively encircled the remaining LTTE rebels, leading to intense clashes that resulted in Prabhakaran’s death during a confrontation on May 18, 2009. His demise was followed by a series of claims and controversies regarding his fate, including speculative assertions of his survival from various figures. Despite these claims, the Sri Lankan government declared victory over the LTTE, emphasizing a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s history marked by the cessation of hostilities and the need for reconciliation. Prabhakaran’s legacy remains contentious, encapsulated in films and ongoing discussions about the complexities of Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict and the drive for Tamil self-determination.
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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.