26/05/2026
**Lt. Col. Thileepan** (born Rasaiah Parthipan on 29 November 1963) is an immortal icon of sacrifice for Tamil youth. Growing up in **Urelu, Jaffna**, he was a brilliant student at **Jaffna Hindu College** and earned admission to the **University of Jaffna's medical faculty**. However, moved by systematic injustice, he abandoned his medical aspirations to join the LTTE in 1983.
His legacy peaked on September 15, 1987, when he began a historic **12-day fast-unto-death** at **Nallur Kandaswamy Temple**. Refusing even a drop of water to demand Tamil rights, he passed away on September 26, 1987, forever revered as **"Thiyaaga Theepam"** (Light of Sacrifice).
