Velupillai Prabhakaran - Philosophy and Ideology

Philosophy and Ideology

"Few dispute he was one of the most effective guerrilla leaders in modern warfare – displaying the tactical prowess of Afghanistan's Ahmad Shah Masoud, the ruthlessness of Osama bin Laden and the conviction of Latin American revolutionary Che Guevara." — Straits Times

Prabhakaran was fascinated by Napoleon and Alexander the Great. He was also highly influenced by Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh, the de facto national heroes of India who were involved in armed struggle against the British Empire for the liberation of India. Prabhakaran never developed a systematic philosophy, but did declare that his goal was 'Revolutionary socialism and the creation of an egalitarian society'. He joined the Tamil nationalist movement in his youth and quickly established himself as a strong-willed militant leader by founding the LTTE. His rare interviews, his annual Tamil Eelam Heroes Day speeches and the policies and actions of the LTTE can be taken as indicators of Prabhakaran’s philosophy and ideology. The following are important areas when considering the philosophy and ideology of Prabhakaran.