Balraj
Encyclopedia
Balasegaram Kandiah also known as Balraj. was the senior commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
.
, Sinhala and English
fluently. None of his siblings joined the tigers but some of his nephews and nieces did.
's relative making him a relative of the LTTE leader. Velupillai Prabhakaran
trusted him very much and proposed the wedding himself. Varathaa like Balraj had injured her leg in a battle. Balraj soon had problems with his wife and they soon separated. Balraj never had children. His wife was stung by a russel’s viper and died. Even though they separated Balraj was emotionally affected.
. Instead PLOTE formed sleeper cells everywhere so that they can carry out a massive onslaught. Therefore Balraj didn't fight against the army. Balraj was an impatient person, he was prepared to fight any time. When the 1983 riots began he thought of LTTE than PLOTE and opted for it. He went to a school teacher who was recruiting members for LTTE. Even though he had a PLOTE background he was accepted. In 1983 he was a part time member and became a full time member in 1984.
He was soon recognised for his talent by Mahattaya
who was killed in 1993 for leaking information to RAW, an Indian intelligence agency who planned to kill LTTE supremo. Velupillai Prabhakaran
suspected him because of his background in PLOTE and kept him as a helper than a fighter. When the fight began with the IPKF, most of the LTTE leadership went into the deep jungles. This is where Prabhakaran
found out how valuable Balraj was.
Balraj is known for his conventional warfare
and psychological warfare
. He commanded the first conventional, Charles Antony Brigade. During the Second Battle of Elephant Pass
, Balraj landed by sea
into Jaffna
peninsula rather than by land. LTTE unlike many separatist organisations were very advanced. They were similar to a real government but without recognition. Balraj would attack when the enemy least expected it. The Sri Lankan army didn't expect Balraj and his cadres would be coming by sea.
Balraj always preferred to fight on the frontline amidst heavy shelling and bombing rather than the confines of a command-centre.
Velupillai Prabhakaran
would always seek Balraj's help as he understood his plan more and could execute it successfully. During Balraj's last years he would be asked by Prabhakaran
for assistance on the battlefield. Balraj would be there for many hours. This caused his physical health to even deteriorate. Most of the times he would in hospital in Puthukkudiyirupp for treatment but would come to the battlefield to supervise. Balraj knew during 2008 that the Sri Lankan Army
were breaking through the defences and were going to capture Kilinochchi
any time soon (which they did in 2 January 2009 after he died). He even said it was the final battle for Eelam
, which was true because LTTE were defeated as a conventional army on May 19.
Theepan once recalled that in one heavy battle at Munthirikaikkulam, Balraj took part in an LTTE ambush in which fourteen SLA soldiers were killed and several weapons were seized.
. He cut off supplies going to the Sri Lankan Army and attacked from three directions. This attack was deemed impossible by an US officer who visited the site few months before, it was said that an lightly armed force cannot attack such a complex base. This attack was notable for high casualties in the SLA, no air support was used and because Balraj, instead of taking land route went by sea with the aid of Colonel Soosai
. This operation was very successful because Brigadier Theepan and Karuna Amman attacked south of elephant pass stopping reinforcements coming in.
, planning
and tactics. He also provided specialised training for the LTTE commandos and special forces.
because of his simplicity. He would often solve the problems of the people with Velupillai Prabhakaran
. This has caused him problems with other LTTE authorities as it was their responsibility of resolving the problems. Anyone could talk to Balraj as he was easily accessible. He unlike other LTTE commanders doesn't go with bodyguards in vehicles, instead he walks to places or cycles there.
waged a violent war, Balraj was one of the few commanders known for no human rights violations. He would only attack the security forces
.
as the leader of LTTE and Tamil Eelam
. Being the number 2 after Velupillai Prabhakaran
, Balraj didn't get involved like Karuna Amman who split in 2004 after a political dispute.
. He was wounded three times during direct confrontations with the Indian Army.
Balasegaram Kandiah had an heart operation in Singapore during the ceasefire period in 2003 as he was an heart patient. He has been hospitalised for two-weeks. He was injured many times in battle against the Sri Lankan Army.
Further more to Balraj's physical health, his emotional health
was affected when his wife died. Balraj had dedicated his own life for the Tamil Eelam
cause and cared about him less.
. A three day period of mourning from May 21 – 23 was declared by the LTTE.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
.
Early life
Balasegaram Kandiah was born to Kandiah and Kannagi. Balraj was the youngest of a family of four boys and one girl. Balraj had his primary education at Kokkuthoduwaai in Mullaitheevu district and secondary education at Pulmoddai in the Trincomalee district. Balraj passed his O levels and his parents were very keen to send him to university but this didn't work out as there too many riots in the country. Balraj could speak TamilTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, Sinhala and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
fluently. None of his siblings joined the tigers but some of his nephews and nieces did.
Personnel life
Balraj married a woman cadre Varathaa, one of Velupillai PrabhakaranVelupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
's relative making him a relative of the LTTE leader. Velupillai Prabhakaran
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
trusted him very much and proposed the wedding himself. Varathaa like Balraj had injured her leg in a battle. Balraj soon had problems with his wife and they soon separated. Balraj never had children. His wife was stung by a russel’s viper and died. Even though they separated Balraj was emotionally affected.
LTTE
When Balraj was a student when he was recruited by Suntharam who was one of the top leaders in PLOTE until he was shot by LTTE in a press conference. PLOTE didn't believe in hit and run tactics which was one LTTE's main tactics against the Sri Lankan ArmySri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
. Instead PLOTE formed sleeper cells everywhere so that they can carry out a massive onslaught. Therefore Balraj didn't fight against the army. Balraj was an impatient person, he was prepared to fight any time. When the 1983 riots began he thought of LTTE than PLOTE and opted for it. He went to a school teacher who was recruiting members for LTTE. Even though he had a PLOTE background he was accepted. In 1983 he was a part time member and became a full time member in 1984.
He was soon recognised for his talent by Mahattaya
Gopalaswamy Mahendraraja
Gopalaswamy Mahendraraja , also known as Mahattaya was a member of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who was killed for leaking secrets to India's RAW- Personnel life :...
who was killed in 1993 for leaking information to RAW, an Indian intelligence agency who planned to kill LTTE supremo. Velupillai Prabhakaran
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
suspected him because of his background in PLOTE and kept him as a helper than a fighter. When the fight began with the IPKF, most of the LTTE leadership went into the deep jungles. This is where Prabhakaran
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
found out how valuable Balraj was.
Balraj is known for his conventional warfare
Conventional warfare
Conventional warfare is a form of warfare conducted byusing conventional military weapons and battlefield tactics between two or more states in open confrontation. The forces on each side are well-defined, and fight using weapons that primarily target the opposing army...
and psychological warfare
Psychological warfare
Psychological warfare , or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations , have been known by many other names or terms, including Psy Ops, Political Warfare, “Hearts and Minds,” and Propaganda...
. He commanded the first conventional, Charles Antony Brigade. During the Second Battle of Elephant Pass
Second Battle of Elephant Pass
The Second Battle of Elephant Pass , was a battle fought in April 2000 for the control of the Sri Lankan military base in Elephant Pass, Jaffna....
, Balraj landed by sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
into Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
peninsula rather than by land. LTTE unlike many separatist organisations were very advanced. They were similar to a real government but without recognition. Balraj would attack when the enemy least expected it. The Sri Lankan army didn't expect Balraj and his cadres would be coming by sea.
Balraj always preferred to fight on the frontline amidst heavy shelling and bombing rather than the confines of a command-centre.
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
would always seek Balraj's help as he understood his plan more and could execute it successfully. During Balraj's last years he would be asked by Prabhakaran
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
for assistance on the battlefield. Balraj would be there for many hours. This caused his physical health to even deteriorate. Most of the times he would in hospital in Puthukkudiyirupp for treatment but would come to the battlefield to supervise. Balraj knew during 2008 that the Sri Lankan Army
Sri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
were breaking through the defences and were going to capture Kilinochchi
Kilinochchi
Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna...
any time soon (which they did in 2 January 2009 after he died). He even said it was the final battle for Eelam
Eelam
Eelam also spelled Eezham, Ilam or Izham in English is the native Tamil name for the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka. Eelam is also a name for the spurge , toddy and gold. The exact etymology and the original meaning of the word are not clearly known, although there are number of...
, which was true because LTTE were defeated as a conventional army on May 19.
Theepan once recalled that in one heavy battle at Munthirikaikkulam, Balraj took part in an LTTE ambush in which fourteen SLA soldiers were killed and several weapons were seized.
Second Battle of Elephant Pass
Balraj was known for his attack on Elephant pass during Operation Unceasing Waves III. He led 1,200 cadres behind enemy lines and captured the V box. Sri Lankan Army kept assaulting the area to save the Elephant PassElephant Pass
Elephant Pass, Northern Province, Sri Lanka is an important military base and formerly the island's largest salt field, located in the gateway of Jaffna Peninsula. It has thus regularly been the site of battles during the civil war....
. He cut off supplies going to the Sri Lankan Army and attacked from three directions. This attack was deemed impossible by an US officer who visited the site few months before, it was said that an lightly armed force cannot attack such a complex base. This attack was notable for high casualties in the SLA, no air support was used and because Balraj, instead of taking land route went by sea with the aid of Colonel Soosai
Colonel Soosai
Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan , also known by his nom de guerre, Colonel Soosai, was the head of the Sea Tigers, the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.- Personal life :...
. This operation was very successful because Brigadier Theepan and Karuna Amman attacked south of elephant pass stopping reinforcements coming in.
LTTE military academy
After Balraj's health started to deteriorate, he started to give lectures and instructions to LTTE cadres and officers. Balraj taught military strategyStrategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
, planning
Planning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
and tactics. He also provided specialised training for the LTTE commandos and special forces.
Tamils in Sri Lanka
Balraj would often talk to the Tamil people in Sri Lanka wherever he is. He is one of the most liked people in Liberation Tigers of Tamil EelamLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
because of his simplicity. He would often solve the problems of the people with Velupillai Prabhakaran
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
. This has caused him problems with other LTTE authorities as it was their responsibility of resolving the problems. Anyone could talk to Balraj as he was easily accessible. He unlike other LTTE commanders doesn't go with bodyguards in vehicles, instead he walks to places or cycles there.
Human rights
Even though the Liberation Tigers of Tamil EelamLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
waged a violent war, Balraj was one of the few commanders known for no human rights violations. He would only attack the security forces
Sri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
.
Politics
Balraj would never interfere in politics and accepted Velupillai PrabhakaranVelupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
as the leader of LTTE and Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam , is the name given by certain Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora to the independent state which they aspire to create in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Tamil Eelam has no official status or recognition by any other state or authority...
. Being the number 2 after Velupillai Prabhakaran
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
, Balraj didn't get involved like Karuna Amman who split in 2004 after a political dispute.
Health
Balraj was injured even before he received military training in Tamil naduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. He was wounded three times during direct confrontations with the Indian Army.
Balasegaram Kandiah had an heart operation in Singapore during the ceasefire period in 2003 as he was an heart patient. He has been hospitalised for two-weeks. He was injured many times in battle against the Sri Lankan Army.
Further more to Balraj's physical health, his emotional health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
was affected when his wife died. Balraj had dedicated his own life for the Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam , is the name given by certain Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora to the independent state which they aspire to create in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Tamil Eelam has no official status or recognition by any other state or authority...
cause and cared about him less.
Death
Balraj died on May 20, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. due to a sudden heart attack. He was promoted posthumously as Brigadier because he was responsible for many LTTE victories on the battlefront against the Sri Lankan ArmySri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
. A three day period of mourning from May 21 – 23 was declared by the LTTE.