Remembering 2nd LT. Maalathy

October 10th marks the memorial day of 2nd Lt. Maalathy (Sahayaseeli), the first woman to sacrifice her life in the struggle for Tamil Eelam's liberation. During an operation, after being shot and seriously injured, she ingested cyanide to avoid capture and torture by the Sri Lankan army. Her death on October 10, 1987, in a battle with the Indian army in Jaffna, at the young age of 20, has since been commemorated annually as Tamil Eelam's Women's Awakening Day.

This day honors the contributions of women to the Tamil people's fight for freedom and highlights their role in the broader struggle for women's emancipation. The LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) challenged patriarchal norms in Tamil society, emphasizing women's liberation as a crucial element in achieving overall freedom. Maalathy's legacy is remembered as a symbol of women's strength and resilience.

In 2004, a statue was erected in her honor in Killinochchi but was later destroyed when the Sri Lankan army took control of the area. Maalathy’s courage and sacrifice remain a powerful inspiration, echoing the words of LTTE leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran: "Only women who awaken and elevate themselves can develop as a force."