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Tamil Tigress

My story as a child soldier in Sri Lanka's bloody civil war
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( 544 ratings, 46 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Tamil Tigress by Niromi de Soyza offers a gripping personal account of a young girl drawn into the tumultuous world of the Sri Lankan civil war. The memoir chronicles her journey from an ordinary schoolgirl to a rebel fighter, providing an intimate glimpse into the emotional and moral complexities of conflict. This inspiring narrative explores themes of identity, resilience, and the search for peace amidst chaos.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by personal stories of courage and resilience, as it offers a gripping firsthand account of a young woman's journey through the complexities of civil conflict. The memoir provides a unique perspective on the Sri Lankan civil war, blending personal experiences with historical insights, which can appeal to those interested in human rights and global history.

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In 1987, 17-year old Niromi de Soyza shocked her middle-class Sri Lankan family by joining the Tamil Tigers. Equipped with a rifle and cyanide capsule she was one of the rebels' first female soldiers. Now married and living in suburban Sydney, this is her story of her time as a guerrilla.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Two days before Christmas in 1987, at the age of 17, Niromi de Soyza found herself in an ambush as part of a small platoon of militant Tamil Tigers fighting government forces in the bloody civil war that was to engulf Sri Lanka for decades. With her was her lifelong friend, Ajanthi, also aged 17. Leaving behind them their shocked middle-class families, the teenagers had become part of the Tamil Tigers' first female contingent.

Equipped with little more than a rifle and a cyanide capsule, Niromi's group managed to survive on their wits in the jungle, facing not only the perils of war but starvation, illness and growing internal tensions among the militant Tigers. And then events erupted in ways that she could no longer bear.

How was it that this well-educated, mixed-race, middle-class girl from a respectable family came to be fighting with the Tamil Tigers? Today she lives in Sydney with her husband and children; but Niromi de Soyza is not your ordinary woman and this is her compelling story.

Tamil Tigress is a remarkable memoir of courage and survival, chronicling her personal journey through a conflict that reshaped her life.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Tamil Tigress is a raw and personal memoir that invites readers to understand the complex realities of war. It presents a candid portrayal of the author's experiences within the Tamil struggle, highlighting the challenging moral ambiguities she faced and the difficult path that led her away from the Tigers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781743310700

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 July 2012

Country: Australia

Imprint: Allen & Unwin

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 290g

Pages: 316

About the Author

Niromi de Soyza speaks fluent Tamil and Sinhalese and writes vivid beautiful English. For many years she worked for the Red Cross in Sydney, where she still lives with her husband and two young children.

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