Kalaivani Rajaratnam (26 July 1968 – 21 May 1991) was a prominent Sri Lankan Tamil militant associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Born in Kaithady Nunavil in the Jaffna Peninsula, she is notably recognized for her role as a suicide bomber in the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. Known also by her aliases Dhanu, Thenmozhi, Gayatri and Anbu. Rajaratnam's involvement in this high-profile act of violence marked her as a significant and controversial figure in the Tamil separatist movement and South Asian political history.
Kalaivani Rajaratnam | |
|---|---|
| கலைவாணி ராஜரத்தினம் | |
| Born | 26 July 1968 Kaithady Nunavil |
| Died | 21 May 1991 Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu |
| Cause of death | Suicide |
| Other names | Thenmozhi, Dhanu, Anbu, Gayatri |
| Organization | LTTE |
| Father | A. Rajaratnam |
| Relatives | Anuja Rajaratnam (sister), Vasugi Rajaratnam (sister), Sivavarman Rajaratnam (stepbrother), Sivapackiyam (aunty), Chandrasekharam (uncle), Chandrasekharampillai Packiachandran (cousin), Subha (cousin) |
Early Life
editKalaivani Rajaratnam, also known by her aliases Dhanu, Thenmozhi, Gayatri and Anbu, was born into a Hindu Sri Lankan Tamil family on 26 July 1968 in Kaithady Nunavil, Chavakachcheri, a town in the Jaffna Peninsula of Sri Lanka.[1] Her family originated from Kupukullai, a small village in Jaffna. She spent her early education years in Vavuniya and Batticaloa and temporarily resided in Urumpirai.[2][3]
Kalaivani was the daughter of a Tamil man named A. Rajaratnam and his second wife.[2] Her father's first wife died in childbirth in 1962, when he was visiting tea estates with S. J. V. Chelvanayakam. A. Rajaratnam passed away in 1975 while in Chennai due to asthma. A. Rajaratnam had one son during his first marriage.[4] He was a significant influence on the Tamil militant movement and was considered a mentor to Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Rajaratnam died in 1975, when Kalaivani was only seven years old. His role in shaping Prabhakaran's thinking was crucial during the early stages of the Tamil separatist movement.[2] Kalaivani's mother and siblings, including her step brother Sivavarman and her sisters Anuja and Vasugi, survived her. However, Anuja later died in a clash with the Sri Lankan Army , while Vasugi relocated to France.[1]
Involvement with the LTTE
editRajaratnam's involvement in militant activities can be traced back to her father's influence and his participation in Puli Padai (Tiger Force), a secretive Tamil group. On 12 August 1960, her father and around 40 others, mostly Tamil government employees, took an oath at the ancient Koneswaram temple in Trincomalee, forming the group. The members of Puli Padai, who believed in the necessity of Tamil self-determination, are largely unknown today, as most have since died.[4] A. Rajaratnam was also one of the first members of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi.[1]
Kalaivani was inspired by the LTTE from a young age and eventually joined their elite Black Tigers unit, a group of suicide bombers. She took on the alias "Thenmozhi" after joining the LTTE. Her decision to become involved in the militant struggle was partly motivated by the death of her brother, a well-known LTTE member. This loss spurred her to continue the family's involvement in the Tamil separatist cause.
Following an ankle injury, Kalaivani became a member of the Black Tigers (suicide bombers). Her nomme de guerre was “Captain Akino,” and she often served as a flag bearer during LTTE marches.[5] Kalaivani's involvement with the LTTE would later culminate in her role in the assassination of Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
During her teenage years, she was trained by RAW in Nainital and Dindigul.
Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi
editOn 21 May 1991, Kalaivani Rajaratnam, operating under the alias Dhanu, carried out the assassination of Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. She was one of the key operatives in a carefully planned suicide bombing executed by the LTTE. The assassination was part of the LTTE's campaign against Indian involvement in Sri Lanka's civil conflict.[2]
She was chosen as a suicide bomber to kill Rajiv Gandhi, and arrived on the coast of Kodiakarai with several other tigers, including her cousins Sivarasan and Subha, in early May 1991. Until the rally, they stayed in several safe houses, and even sent backup tigers to Delhi if they were unable to kill Gandhi in Tamil Nadu. During the time until the Rajiv Gandhi rally, they also performed dry runs at the rallies of other policitians, notably one of V.P Singh on 7 May 1991 in Chennai. She was instructed to garland Gandhi, and then bend over to touch his feet, a symbol of respect in South Asian culture.[6]
Kalaivani, disguised as a civilian, approached Gandhi during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. She carried an explosive device hidden under her clothing. After placing the garland and bending over to touch his feet, she detonated the bomb, killing herself and Gandhi, along with several others present at the rally. The assassination was a pivotal event in the Sri Lankan Civil War and significantly impacted Indian-Sri Lankan relations.[5]
In the aftermath of the attack, the LTTE denied any involvement in the attack despite all evidence suggesting so. Kalaivani's death certificate was changed to state that she allegedly died in a battle with the Indian army in Weli Oya on September 8, 1991. The LTTE also took many measures to conceal the assassin's identity.[7] After the assassination, Prabhakaran awarded her father with a gold medal during a public celebration for Kalaivani's achievement.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c Gopal, Neena (2016-08-16). The Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-86057-68-6.
- ^ a b c d "Rajiv Gandhi assassination: Dhanu, the first-ever human bomb in Sri Lanka's history". India Today. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
- ^ "Mastermind of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, Sivarasan, is a man with many names". India Today. 1991-08-31. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
- ^ a b Swamy, MR Narayan (2022-11-28). "Father of Rajiv Gandhi's assassin Dhanu was a fan of Nehru". The South First. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
- ^ a b Heynes, Stephen (2016-05-24). The Bleeding Island: Scars and Wounds. Partridge Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4828-7478-5.
- ^ kaarthikeyan, D. R. (2015-06-23). The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination: The Investigation. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-207-9308-8.
- ^ kaarthikeyan, D. R. (2015-06-23). The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination: The Investigation. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-207-9308-8.
- ^ Chockalingam, V. (2024-02-28). Sri Lankan History. Pustaka Digital Media.