Vallipuram Vasanthan (1966–1987) was a Sri Lankan militant. He is known for being a member of the group called Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which was a militant organization in Sri Lanka. He was the first person to become a suicide bomber in the LTTE, known as the ‘Black Tiger’.
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Wiki/Biography
Captain Miller was born as Vallipuram Vasanth Christopher on Saturday, 1 January 1966 (age 21 at the time of death) in Thunalai, Sri Lanka. Their zodiac sign is Capricorn. After completing his school education, he went to Hartley College in Point Pedro, Sri Lanka for his higher education.
Physical Appearance
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family
parents and siblings
His father was a bank manager and his mother’s name is Kamalathevi Vallipuram. He has two brothers and sisters.
A photograph of Captain Miller’s mother
Wife
Captain Miller was unmarried.
‘Tension in Sri Lanka’
Miller grew up at a time when there was great tension between the two groups in Sri Lanka – the Tamils and the Sinhalese. This tension increased after Sri Lanka gained independence from Britain in 1948. The government’s decision to make Sinhala an official language was seen as a challenge to Tamil speakers. In 1977, clashes broke out near Miller’s home because the slogan “Kill the Tamils and save the motherland” was written on some vehicles in Sinhalese-majority areas. This increased tension between Tamils and Sinhalese. Things took a tragic turn on 23 July 1983, when Tamil rebels attacked an army team, killing 13 soldiers. The incident sparked violent reprisals, resulting in hundreds of deaths, especially in the capital city Colombo. Many Tamils had to flee and the widespread fire left more than ten thousand people homeless.
A photo of the July 1983 attacks in Sri Lanka
Another photo of the July 1983 attacks in Sri Lanka
‘The heroic sacrifice of LTTE and Miller’
After the riots, Miller became disaffected and joined the Tamil Tigers in 1984. In Jaffna, he saw the terrible effects of violence, and it made him even more determined. The Tigers decided to use guerrilla style attacks to deal with the stronger Sri Lankan army. Miller and others volunteered to lead these attacks and the Tigers selected them for missions. Some media reports suggested that the attack was similar to attacks in Lebanon, but Tiger officer Tamilselvan said this was not true. On the night of 5 July 1987, the Sri Lankan armed forces involved in “Operation Liberation” were staying in a temporary camp at Nelliady Central College, as they aimed to recapture the Vadamarachchi sector of Jaffna from the LTTE. The Tiger guerrillas were attacked by Sri Lankan armed forces using mortars, rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire. Meanwhile, Black Tiger “Captain Miller” drives a truck full of explosives into the building, causing a massive explosion. He died and 18 soldiers were killed and 22 were injured.
A rare photo of Captain Miller
‘Miller’s Legacy Story’
After his demise, Miller was given the high rank of captain. He became a respected figure in the LTTE and his face was emblazoned with the insignia of the Black Tigers, the LTTE’s suicide squad. 5 July became “Black Tigers Day”, a day to remember all Black Tiger martyrs for Tamils around the world. A temple containing the golden statue of the miller was built in Nelliady Madhya Maha Vidyalaya.
Statue of Captain Miller at Nelliady, Jaffna
Captain Miller died in a fire explosion in Nelliady, Sri Lanka on 5 July 1987.
Facts/General Knowledge
- According to his mother, when Miller visited her in 1984 a week before the attack, he did not tell her his plans and she thought he was probably saying goodbye.
- Miller’s thoughts on the night of the attack were unknown, but the impact of the attack on the military base at Nelliady remained in the public mind for nearly two decades. The incident was captured on video, even though Miller had already passed away.
A rare photo of Captain Miller
- Captain Miller’s mother once shared in a media interview that wherever she went, she received great respect as Miller’s mother. He said,
Whenever I go anywhere, in any country, people will say that Miller’s mother is coming. And I feel proud. “As Miller’s mother, I feel appropriately honored.”
Captain Miller’s mother unveiling his portrait at a ceremony
- In January 2024, a film titled “Captain Miller” was released. The film was based on the life of Captain Miller and starred Dhanush, Sandeep Kishan, Kaali Venkat and Priyanka Mohan in the lead roles.
Poster of the movie Captain Miller (2024)
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn