Major Mukund Varadarajan Biography: Age, History, Religion, Wife, Daughter, Mother Tongue, Amaran Movie, Militry Career

Major Mukund Varadarajan Biography:

Major Mukund Varadarajan AC (12 April 1983 – 25 April 2014) was a distinguished officer of the Indian Army and a recipient of the prestigious Ashoka Chakra. Serving in the Rajput Regiment, Major Mukund was posthumously honored with the Ashoka Chakra for his exceptional bravery in a counterterrorism operation while attached to the 44th Rashtriya Rifles battalion in Jammu and Kashmir. His inspiring life story has been adapted into a Tamil biopic titled Amaran, set for release on October 31, 2024, coinciding with Diwali.

Major Mukund Varadarajan Family:

Major Mukund Varadarajan was born on 12 April 1983 to R. Varadarajan and Geetha in Tambaram, Tamil Nadu, in a Tamil-speaking Hindu Brahmin family. He grew up with two sisters, Swetha and Nithya. On 28 August 2009, Mukund married his longtime girlfriend, Indhu Rebecca Varghese, a Malayali. The couple welcomed their daughter, Arshea Varadarajan, on 17 March 2011.

Major Mukund Varadarajan Education:

Mukund earned a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya in Enathur and completed a diploma in journalism from Madras Christian College in Tambaram. Inspired by his grandfather and two uncles who served in the army, he was deeply motivated to join the Armed Forces.

Major Mukund Varadarajan Militry Career:

Mukund graduated from the Officers Training Academy and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Rajput Regiment (22 Rajput) on 18 March 2006. Later, on 18 March 2011, he received a regular commission as a lieutenant, along with an ante-dated promotion to Captain from 18 October 2008. During his career, Mukund served at the Infantry School in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, and also participated in a United Nations Mission in Lebanon. He was promoted to Major on 18 October 2012, and in December of the same year, he was deputed to the 44th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles, where he was posted in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir.

On 25 April 2014, Major Mukund Varadarajan led a cordon-and-search operation in a South Kashmir village based on intelligence about militant activity. When his team came under heavy fire, Mukund acted swiftly, knowing the cover of darkness could allow the militants to escape. To avoid civilian casualties, he refrained from using heavy weaponry. Along with Sepoy Vikram Singh, Mukund advanced through an orchard under intense gunfire. Once they reached the house, they encountered heavy resistance, and Mukund sustained a minor wound to his forearm. The soldiers fought back, eliminating one militant, but soon realized the militant commander they sought was still at large.

Amid the chaos, two remaining militants, including a senior Hizbul Mujahideen commander, attempted to escape by detonating grenades. Mukund recognized the commander among the fleeing assailants. He and Vikram Singh approached a cement outhouse, assuming a grenade had neutralized the threat. However, as they entered, a militant opened fire, severely wounding Vikram. Mukund quickly retaliated, advancing on the commander, Altaf Wani, and fatally injuring him despite sustaining gunshot wounds himself. Though he initially appeared unharmed, Mukund soon collapsed and, despite rescue efforts, succumbed to his injuries.

In recognition of his extraordinary bravery and leadership, Major Mukund Varadarajan was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry honor, in 2014. The Government of India’s citation commended his courage, decisive action, and leadership, which led to the elimination of three top-ranked Hizbul Mujahideen militants. Mukund became the fourth Ashok Chakra recipient from Tamil Nadu. On June 1, 2015, a bust of Major Mukund Varadarajan was unveiled at the Officers Training Academy to honor his sacrifice.

Major Mukund Varadarajan Movie:

A bust of Major Mukund Varadarajan was unveiled by his wife, Indhu Varghese, at the Rajput Regiment headquarters. His family also honored his memory by unveiling a statue of him at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.

In 2024, a Tamil biopic titled Amaran was announced, celebrating Major Mukund’s heroic sacrifice and the 44th Rashtriya Rifles’ fight against terrorism. Sivakarthikeyan stars as Major Mukund Varadarajan, with Sai Pallavi portraying his wife, Indhu Rebecca Varghese.