A bust of Lt. Col. Thileepan was unveiled in Nallur, Jaffna, this evening to honour his enduring legacy as the Tamil nation marks 38 years since his fast unto death.
Thileepan, born Rasiah Partheepan, was a political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who undertook a hunger strike urging the Indian government to fulfil its pledges to the Tamil people.
He began his hunger strike on 15th September 1987 in Nallur Kandaswamy temple, surrounded by over 100,000 supporters but died 11 days later after refusing food and water.
In Tamil, Thileepan's name is preceded with the honorific thiyaga theepam - light of sacrifice.
The bust was unveiled by a former senior LTTE member Bashir Kaakka. A flame was lit and flowers were laid at the bust to remember Thileepan and his sacrifice.
Photographs and newspaper articles chronicling his hunger strike were also on display at the event. Parents of former cadres, civil society activists, politicians and local residents were present at the unveiling.
