It should be pointed out that suicide attacks by terrorists are nothing new the phenomenon appeared among the Jewish Sicaris in the 1st century, among the Moslem Hashishiyun in the 11th century, and among the Asians in the 18th century , citing a source identified as Stephen Fredric Dale, Department of History, Ohio State University.
For these quasi-scholars on suicide warfare, history does not exist before the birth of Christ, circa 2000 years ago. In my research I found out that the real `inventor of suicide warfare` should have lived nearly 5,000 years ago. He is a venerated name in ancient Hindu codes of warfare, and I believe Pirabhakaran wouldn`t mind dipping his head to that great teacher Guru Dronacharya, who trained both the Pandavas and Gauravas in archery.
For reasons such as gratitude, he fought on the losing side of Gauravas in that great Mahabharata war, which according to current scholarship should have taken place in Kurushetra, India, around 3,000 BC [+/- 250 years]. An international colloquium on the date of Kurushetra War, based on astronomical data was held in Bangalore on Jan.5-6, 2003 [For details, one can check the scholarly research study by physics Professor B.N.Narahari Achar]
Thus, my source for the progenitor of suicide warfare is Mahabharatha epic. The authority is none other than R.K.Narayan the master story teller and contemporary interpreter of Hindu epics. Following Bhishma`s death, Guru Drona was installed as the Commander in Chief for the Kaurava side in the Kurushetra War between Pandavas and Kauravas. Yudhistira [also known by the name Dharma] was the eldest of the five Pandava brothers, whose virtue was never succumbing to utter a lie. Duryodhana, the leader of the Kaurava side, was his prime adversary. Here are the condensed passages describing the suicide warriors, in chapter 15 entitled, `Delirium of Destruction` from Narayan`s commentary of Mahabharatha.
Duryodhana suddenly developed the notion that if Yudhistira could be captured alive, victory would be his. `Yudhistira`s capture should have priority`, he ordered Drona. `I do not even want a total victory in this war if I could have Yudhistra in my hold, it would be enough.`
He entertained a hope that he could involve Yudhistira in another gambling bout, exile him again for twelve years, and thus end the war. Next day, all the Kauravas joined in the attempt to get at Yudhistira. Drona led the sortie personally. As the Pandavas knew of his plan, Yudhistira was strongly guarded at all hours of the day and night. Yudhistira repulsed a well-mounted attack by Drona with some special astras, and then Arjuna appeared and dispersed the attacking body. Drona confessed, `As long as Arjuna is there we can never take Yudhistira. Something must be done to divert him and draw him away.`
In order to attract Arjuna`s attention, the Chief of Trigarta formed a suicide squad. A body of men, clad in a fabric woven of dharba grass, performed funeral obsequies for themselves and took a deadly oath before a roaring scared fire `We will either kill Arjuna or be killed.` Marching southward, which was the direction of the world of Yama, they uttered loud challenges to their foe. Arjuna heard them and announced, `I must go now. It is my duty to accept the challenge.`
Yudhistira cautioned him, `You are aware of Drona`s plans to capture me. Remember this.` Arjuna left a strong guard for Yudhistira and hurried away. Krishna drove Arjuna`s chariot into the midst of the Trigarta force. At first they were hemmed in by the suicide squad, but soon it scattered away before Arjuna`s hail of arrows [*R.K.Narayan: The Mahabharata A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic, Penguin Books, London, 1978, pp.151-166]
There you have it, from an impeccable source and from an Indian scholar. Suicide warfare is as old as the Mahabharata war. Narayan`s version, as the title of the book states is `a shortened modern prose version`, though he specifically had mentioned in his Introduction, I have omitted none of the episodes relevant to the destinies of the chief characters. I have kept myself to the mainstream and held my version within readable limits. Thus, it can be inferred that in the Sanskrit original of the Mahabharata epic, there April be more details on the suicide squad of the Kaurava side.
Late last year, I received a copy of Sooriya Puthalvargal, Memorial Souvenir 2003, a 96 page book, published by the LTTE`s International Secretariat. It was a much and long awaited book for me. It contained the basic details [in Tamil language] of 240 Black Tigers of LTTE, who became benefactors of Eelam Tamils by performing [or on the verge of attempting] the most daring military manueuvers in contemporary warfare. These were the contemporary practitioners of altruistic suicidal act in the battle grounds of Ceylon, perfected by Guru Drona in the Battle of Kurushetra nearly 5,000 years ago.
In 30 glossy pages, 239 young faces of men and women greeted me. Some were smiling, some were stern-looking, and some even appeared aloof [a camouflage of course!] to the camera. Their blood and flesh had been spilled in land, sea, trenches and pits. But they were not brainless, as some academic turkeys and spineless hacks had painted them to be. All were superheroes of a higher order for Tamils like me. They belong to my extended family, and they are the real things, unlike the glib Holywood generated entertainment icons like Rambo and Terminator.
Their nom de guerres were arresting and captivating. Some carried two nom de guerres. They had their origins in four corners of the North Eelam [Kankesanthurai, Valvettithurai and Paruthithurai], South Eelam [Amparai], East Eelam [Mutur] and West Eelam [Vankalai] and also in the central Eelam [Kilinochchi-Vavuniya]. One even had an origin in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu.
Many Tamils April be familiar with the name of the first Black Tiger Captain Miller, whose birth name was Vallipuram Vasanthan, from Thunnalai, Karaveddi [achieved martyrdom on July 5, 1987]. Few April know the name of first woman Black Tiger Captain Angayarkanni, whose birth name was Pushpakala Thuraisingam from Velanai [achieved martyrdom on August 10, 1994]. But each of the remaining 238 Black Tigers presented in the Sooriya Puthalvargal 2003 memorial souvenir remain as heroes of the Eelam struggle.

Source/ Sachi Sri Kantha (tamilnation)