War Journey: Diary of a Tamil Tiger

‘The child you threatened once the young shoot you stepped onthe Tamil you teased is standing with a gun in front of you.’This short diary was recovered from Malaravan’s kit after he was killedin action in 1992 when barely twenty. In it he recounts his unit’s journeyto Maankulam the island’s granary to fight a critical battle where theyrouted the Lankan military. The LTTE’s planning and tactics the fervourand camaraderie of the young Tigers and the actual combat are minutelychronicled. As a foil to the violence Malaravan brings out the beautyof the Tamil forest and countryside and the humanity and support of thecommon people for them despite their suffering under army rule.Bittersweet fresh and lyrical at times War Journey is a testamentto the Tamil longing for a homeland and the wider conflictthat once engulfed the island.