{{Short description|Indian Army Ashok Chakra recipient (1983–2014)}} {{good article}} {{Tamil name|Varadarajan|Mukund}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = [[Major (rank)|Major]] | name = Mukund Varadarajan | honorific_suffix = [[Ashoka Chakra Award|AC]] | birth_name = | image = Mukund Varadarajan.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date text|12 April 1983}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2014|04|25|1983|04|12}} | birth_place = [[Kozhikode district]], [[Kerala]], India | alma_mater = {{indented plainlist| *[[Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya]] ([[Bachelor of Commerce|BCom]]) *[[Madras Christian College]] ([[Mass communication|DJMC]]) *[[Officers Training Academy]] }} | spouse = Indhu Rebecca Varghese | children = 1 | death_place = [[Shopian district]],<br/>[[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], India | burial_place = Cremated in [[Chennai]] | allegiance = India | branch = [[Indian Army]] | service_years = 2006–2014 | rank = [[Major (rank)|Major]] | unit = 22 [[Rajput Regiment]] <br /> 44 [[Rashtriya Rifles]] | battles = {{indented plainlist| *[[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|United Nations Lebanon Mission]] *[[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir]]{{KIA}} }} | awards = [[File:Ashoka_Chakra_ribbon.svg|35px]] [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]] }} '''Mukund Varadarajan''', [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|AC]] ({{IPA|ta|mukund̪ vaɾad̪aɾaːdʑan}}; 12 April 1983 – 25 April 2014) was a [[commissioned officer]] in the [[Indian Army]]'s [[Rajput Regiment]]. He was killed in action during a [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|counter-terrorism]] operation while on deputation to the 44th [[Rashtriya Rifles]] battalion in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. He was posthumously awarded the [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]], India's highest peacetime decoration, for his actions.
Born in 1983 in a [[Tamils|Tamil]] family in the [[Kozhikode district]], Mukund completed his college education in 2004 before joining the [[Officers Training Academy]] in Chennai. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Indian army in 2006. He served at the infantry school in [[Mhow]] and was part of a [[United Nations]] mission in Lebanon. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 2011. He became a major in 2012 and was deputed to the 44th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles.
In June 2013, Mukund killed Altaf Baba, then commander of [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]] in South Kashmir, when a group of terrorists attacked Mukund's army convoy. On 25 April 2014, Mukund led his team to Qazipathri in Southern Kashmir, to engage with Altaf Wani, who had replaced Altaf Baba as the local commander of the terrorists in the region. Wani and two terrorists had killed electoral officers during the [[2014 Indian general election]]. Mukund and sepoy Vikram Singh killed all the three terrorists in the ensuing gunfight. However, both the army men were also killed in the battle.
On 1 June 2015, a statue of Mukund was unveiled at the premises of the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. In 2024, a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[biographical film]] ''[[Amaran (2024 film)|Amaran]]'', which was based on his life, was released.
== Early and personal life == Mukund Varadarajan was born on 12 April 1983 in a [[Tamils|Tamil]] [[Iyengar]] family to R. Varadarajan and Geetha Varadarajan in [[Kozhikode district]], [[Kerala]], India.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|title=Amaran: Who is Major Mukund Varadarajan?|url=https://www.bbc.com/tamil/articles/cdd092qlglpo|date=30 October 2024|access-date=3 November 2024|work=[[BBC News]]|language=ta|archive-date=12 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112223759/https://www.bbc.com/tamil/articles/cdd092qlglpo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Statesman">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/erasing-brahmin-identity-tambrams-outrage-over-major-mukund-varadarajan-biopic-1503361256.html|title=Erasing Brahmin identity: Tambrams outrage over Major Mukund Varadarajan biopic|date=5 November 2024|access-date=1 June 2025|work=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]}}</ref> His family hailed from Paruthipattu in [[Avadi]] near [[Chennai]].<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="Profile">{{cite news|title=Tambaram mourns a braveheart|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/tambaram-mourns-a-braveheart/article5951633.ece|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 April 2014|access-date=16 August 2014}}</ref> He was the youngest of the three siblings.<ref name="IE">{{cite web|title=Major Worked at BPO Before Realising Childhood Dream|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Major-Worked-at-BPO-Before-Realising-Childhood-Dream/2014/04/27/article2191625.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428215359/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Major-Worked-at-BPO-Before-Realising-Childhood-Dream/2014/04/27/article2191625.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 April 2014|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=27 April 2014|access-date=16 August 2014}}</ref> His father worked in a public sector bank in Kerala, and the family shifted to [[Tambaram]] in Chennai during Mukund's childhood.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="Statesman"/><ref name="Profile"/> Mukund received his [[Bachelor of Commerce]] from [[Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya]] at [[Kanchipuram]] and a diploma in [[journalism]] from the [[Madras Christian College]].<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="Statesman"/><ref name="Profile"/>
Mukund worked at a [[Business Process Outsourcing]] center for sometime before he decided to join the [[Indian Armed Forces]].<ref name="IE"/> His grandfather Raghavachari and two of his uncles also served in the [[Indian Army]], which motivated him to take up a career with the armed forces.<ref name="Profile"/><ref name="IE"/> He married Indhu Rebecca Varghese in 2009, and the couple have a daughter.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="IE"/>
== Military career == === Early career === Mukund joined the [[Officers Training Academy]] in Chennai in 2004.<ref name="Profile"/><ref name="IE"/> After graduating, he was commissioned as a [[lieutenant]] in the 22 [[Rajput Regiment]] of the Indian army on 18 March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/who-is-major-mukund-varadarajan-the-real-life-hero-behind-sivakarthikeyans-amaran/article68819015.ece|title=Who is Major Mukund Varadarajan?|date=1 November 2024|access-date=1 June 2025|work=[[The Hindu]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211195829/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/who-is-major-mukund-varadarajan-the-real-life-hero-behind-sivakarthikeyans-amaran/article68819015.ece|archive-date=11 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="Lt">{{cite web|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)|page=625|date=21 April 2007|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2007/W_16_2011_060.pdf|publisher=[[The Gazette of India]]|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418173629/http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2007/W_16_2011_060.pdf|archive-date=18 April 2022}}</ref> He served at the Infantry school in [[Mhow]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and was part of a [[Indian Army United Nations peacekeeping missions|United Nations Mission]] in [[Lebanon]].<ref name="Profile"/><ref name="IE"/> He received permanent commission back in the Indian army effective 18 March 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)|page=1101|date=11 June 2011|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2011/W_24_2011_088.pdf|publisher=[[The Gazette of India]]|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=21 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621090856/http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2011/W_24_2011_088.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> He was promoted to the rank of [[Captain (rank)|captain]] on 28 July 2011.<ref name="Cpt">{{cite web|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)|page=1622|date=3 September 2011|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2011/W_36_2011_098.pdf|publisher=[[The Gazette of India]]|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=29 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129043835/https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2011/W_36_2011_098.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> He was later promoted to [[Major (rank)|major]] on 18 October 2012,<ref name="Maj">{{cite web|title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch)|page=1058|date=13 July 2013|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2013/W_28_2013_322.pdf|publisher=[[The Gazette of India]]|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129043843/https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2013/W_28_2013_322.pdf|archive-date=29 November 2021}}</ref> and was deputed to the 44th Battalion of the [[Rashtriya Rifles]] in [[Shopian district]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] in December 2012.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="IE"/>
In June 2013, Mukund's convoy was attacked by armed terrorists near an apple orchard in [[Shopian district]]. The group was led by Altaf Baba, the South Kashmir commander of [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]], a Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist organization.<ref name="Hero">{{cite book|title=India's most fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes|author1=Shiv Aroor|author2=Rahul Singh|publisher=[[Penguin Random House]]|year=2017|isbn=978-9-38681-542-2}}</ref>{{rp|pages=137-139}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dni.gov/nctc/groups/jem.html|title=Jaish-e-Mohammed|work=[[National Counterterrorism Center]], [[Government of United States]]|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations|title=Foreign Terrorist Organizations|work=[[Government of United States]]|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> While several Indian army men were hurt in the attack, Mukund killed Baba with the help of his army colleague Sepoy Vikram Singh.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|pages=137-139}} As per Mukund's commanding officer Amit Singh Dabas, Mukund worked with the electronic warfare unit at [[Srinagar]] on cracking the communication codes used by the terrorists.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=140}} Based on the cracked codes, the Indian army found a safe house in Qazipathri village, which was used by the terrorists while transiting between Shopian and Yarwan forests.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=141}}
=== Qazipathri operation === On 25 April 2014, at around 14:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]], Indian army intelligence reports indicated the presence of three armed men in the safe house at Qazipathri in Southern Kashmir.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=142}}<ref name="Martyr">{{cite news|title=Major Mukund Varadarajan cremated with full state honours|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/major-mukund-varadarajan-cremated-with-full-state-honours/article5956254.ece|access-date=21 May 2016|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 May 2016|archive-date=14 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614081009/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/major-mukund-varadarajan-cremated-with-full-state-honours/article5956254.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gallant">{{cite web|url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/1113|title=Gallantry awards|work=[[Government of India]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=25 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425220347/https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/1113|url-status=live}}</ref> One of them was Altaf Wani, who had replaced Altaf Baba as the local commander of the terrorists in the region.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=141}} The other two belonged to [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]], another Pakistan-based Islamic militant organization.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=143}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dni.gov/nctc/groups/lt.html|title=Lashkar-e-Taiba|work=[[National Counterterrorism Center]], [[Government of United States]]|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> The terrorists had earlier attacked the electoral officers during the polling for the [[2014 Indian general election]], and killed one of the officers.<ref name="Gallant"/><ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=143}} The safe house compound consisted of a two storey brick house and two outhouses, surrounded by an orchard.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|pages=141-142}} Mukund led his team for a cordon and search operation, and reached the location at 15:00 hrs. The twelve member team was split into six pairs of two men each and were assigned specific roles. Mukund was paired with sepoy Vikram Singh.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|pages=141-143}} The army team initially evacuated the civilians from the area.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=142}}
At about 17:00 hrs, Mukund's team came under heavy gunfire from the terrorists holed inside the house.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=142}}<ref name="PIB">{{cite news|title=Independence Day Gallantry Awards and Other Decorations|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=108722|work=[[Press Information Bureau]]|date=14 August 2014|access-date=16 August 2014}}</ref> At 17:30 hrs, Mukund lobbed a [[improvised explosive device]] into the terrorists' hiding, and one of the terrorists was killed in the return gunfire by the armed soldiers.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=143}} The other two terrorists which included Wani, returned fire, which injured Mukund in his forearm. They moved to one of the outhouses in the compound, before one of them was killed using a [[grenade]] by Mukund.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=144}}<ref name="Gallant"/> Wani hid behind a stack of wooden logs, and returned fire, which killed Vikram Singh.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=145}} Mukund and Wani engaged in a firefight, which resulted in both the men being shot.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=145}}<ref name="Gallant"/> Wani was killed and the bodies of the three dead men were recovered later from the site.<ref name="Martyr"/><ref name="PIB"/>
=== Death and aftermath === [[File:Major_mukund_ceremony.JPG|thumb|Mukund's body carried in a casket]]
Mukund had sustained three bullet injuries during the Qazipatri operation, and was bleeding profusely. He told one of his team members that he and Vikram managed to kill Wani, but Vikram was killed in the process. He also remarked that, "And I got hit too. I can’t believe it."<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=145}} As per Dabas' instructions, Mukund was to be moved to the government hospital in [[Pulwama]] for initial treatment, and was to be moved to Srinagar later for further treatment.<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=145}} However, Mukund succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=146}} His body was moved to Chennai on 27 April, and was kept at the Officers Training Academy for public viewing. His body was cremated with full state honours on 28 April.<ref name="Martyr"/>
=== Ranks === {| class="wikitable" style="background:white" ! Symbol !! Rank !! Service !! Rank dates |- | align="center" |[[File:Lieutenant_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|40px]] || [[Lieutenant]] || rowspan="3"|[[Indian Army]] || 18 March 2006<ref name="Lt"/> |- | align="center" |[[File:Captain_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Captain]] || 28 July 2011<ref name="Cpt"/> |- | align="center" |[[File:Major_of_the_Indian_Army.svg|35px]] || [[Major (rank)|Major]] || 18 October 2012<ref name="Maj"/> |}
== Legacy == [[File:Pranab Mukherjee giving away the highest gallantry award Ashok Chakra to Major Mukund Varadarajan 44th Battalion Rashtriya RiflesThe Rajput Regiment (Posthumous), the award received by his wife.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Mukund's wife receives the [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]] from the [[President of India|Indian president]] in January 2015]]
After Mukund's funeral, Dabas wrote a letter to Mukund's wife, in which he remarked: {{block quote|text=Each one of us who knew him will find our own way to overcome the loss. Grief will fade away and when it’s gone, only one thing will remain—pride.|author=Amit Singh Dabas, Commanding officer, 44 [[Rashtriya Rifles]]<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=150}}}}
On 15 August 2014, Mukund was posthumously awarded the [[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]], India's highest peacetime gallantry award. It was presented to his wife Indhu by then-[[President of India|Indian president]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]] on 26 January 2015.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114939|title=Gallantry Awards to Army on 26 January 2015|date=25 January 2015|work=[[Press Information Bureau]]|access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref> His award commendation read as "(for showing) exemplary leadership skills, raw courage and swift action."<ref>{{cite news|title=Ashok Chakra for Mukund Varadarajan, Neeraj Kumar Who Died Fighting Terrorists|date=26 January 2015|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ashok-chakra-for-mukund-varadarajan-neeraj-kumar-who-died-fighting-terrorists-733797|work=[[NDTV]]|access-date=16 August 2014|archive-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130072955/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ashok-chakra-for-mukund-varadarajan-neeraj-kumar-who-died-fighting-terrorists-733797|url-status=live}}</ref> It was further cited that:
{{block quote|text=[Major] Mukund Varadarajan exhibited most conspicuous bravery and exemplary leadership and made the supreme sacrifice while fighting with the terrorists|author=[[Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)|Ashoka Chakra]] citation<ref name="Hero"/>{{rp|page=149}}}}
On 1 June 2015, a statue of Mukund was unveiled at the premises of the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oneindia.com/india/daredevil-late-major-mukund-varadarajan-s-bust-unveiled-at-ota-1764270.html|title=Bust in memory of Major Mukund; Capt Kalia a forgotten hero|date=1 June 2015|work=[[Oneindia]]|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=17 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217054232/https://www.oneindia.com/india/daredevil-late-major-mukund-varadarajan-s-bust-unveiled-at-ota-1764270.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2015 [[Malayalam]] film ''[[Picket 43]]'' was dedicated to Mukund,<ref>{{cite web|last=Ramachandran|first=Mythily|title='Picket 43,' a tale of friendship beyond borders|url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/picket-43-a-tale-of-friendship-beyond-borders-1.1454497|access-date=12 November 2024|work=[[Gulf News]]|date=11 February 2015|archive-date=12 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112132900/https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/south-indian/picket-43-a-tale-of-friendship-beyond-borders-1.1454497|url-status=live}}</ref> who had been assisting the film crew during production.<ref>{{cite web|last=Karthikeyan|first=Shruti|title=I have fought and killed people, but fighting is not a solution: Major Ravi|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/i-have-fought-and-killed-people-but-fighting-is-not-a-solution-major-ravi/articleshow/37526599.cms|access-date=12 November 2024|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=1 July 2014}}</ref> In 2024, a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] film, ''[[Amaran (2024 film)|Amaran]]'', a [[biopic]] based on Mukund's life, was released,<ref>{{cite news|date=16 February 2024|title='Amaran' teaser: Sivakarthikeyan as Major Mukund Varadarajan prepares his men for battle|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/amaran-teaser-sivakarthikeyan-as-major-mukund-varadarajan-prepares-his-men-for-battle/article67853675.ece|access-date=1 June 2024|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=17 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217083137/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/amaran-teaser-sivakarthikeyan-as-major-mukund-varadarajan-prepares-his-men-for-battle/article67853675.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Sivakarthikeyan]] portraying Mukund in the film.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamal Haasan unveils Sivakarthikeyan's 'Amaran' teaser ahead of his birthday|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kamal-haasan-sivakarthikeyan-sai-pallavi-amaran-teaser-out-2503204-2024-02-16|access-date=17 February 2024|work=[[India Today]]|date=16 February 2024|archive-date=17 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217152324/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kamal-haasan-sivakarthikeyan-sai-pallavi-amaran-teaser-out-2503204-2024-02-16|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=16 February 2024|title=Sivakarthikeyan Plays Real Life Hero Major Mukund Varadarajan In His Next Film Amaran|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/tamil/sivakarthikeyan-plays-real-life-hero-major-mukund-varadarajan-in-his-next-film-amaran-article-107757465|access-date=1 June 2024|work=[[Times Now]]|archive-date=17 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217083042/https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/tamil/sivakarthikeyan-plays-real-life-hero-major-mukund-varadarajan-in-his-next-film-amaran-article-107757465|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Ashoka Chakra award recipients}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varadarajan, Mukund}} [[Category:1983 births]] [[Category:2014 deaths]] [[Category:Recipients of the Ashoka Chakra (military decoration)]] [[Category:Indian Army personnel]] [[Category:Military personnel from Tamil Nadu]] [[Category:Madras Christian College alumni]] [[Category:Ashoka Chakra]] [[Category:Indian military personnel killed in action]]