# Mukund Varadarajan

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Indian Army Ashok Chakra recipient (1983–2014)

In this [Tamil name](/source/Tamil_name), there is no [surname or family name](/source/Surname).  The name  *Varadarajan* is a [patronym](/source/Patronym), and the person should be referred to by their [given name](/source/Given_name), *Mukund*.

Major Mukund Varadarajan AC Born 12 April 1983 (1983-04-12) Kozhikode district, Kerala, India Died 25 April 2014(2014-04-25) (aged 31) Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir, India Buried Cremated in Chennai Allegiance India Branch Indian Army Service years 2006–2014 Rank Major Unit 22 Rajput Regiment 44 Rashtriya Rifles Conflicts United Nations Lebanon Mission Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir † Awards Ashoka Chakra Alma mater Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya (BCom) Madras Christian College (DJMC) Officers Training Academy Spouse Indhu Rebecca Varghese Children 1

**Mukund Varadarajan**, [AC](/source/Ashoka_Chakra_(military_decoration)) (Tamil pronunciation: [\[mukund̪ vaɾad̪aɾaːdʑan\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Tamil); 12 April 1983 – 25 April 2014) was a [commissioned officer](/source/Commissioned_officer) in the [Indian Army](/source/Indian_Army)'s [Rajput Regiment](/source/Rajput_Regiment). He was killed in action during a [counter-terrorism](/source/Insurgency_in_Jammu_and_Kashmir) operation while on deputation to the 44th [Rashtriya Rifles](/source/Rashtriya_Rifles) battalion in [Jammu and Kashmir](/source/Jammu_and_Kashmir_(state)). He was posthumously awarded the [Ashoka Chakra](/source/Ashoka_Chakra_(military_decoration)), India's highest peacetime decoration, for his actions.

Born in 1983 in a [Tamil](/source/Tamils) family in the [Kozhikode district](/source/Kozhikode_district), Mukund completed his college education in 2004 before joining the [Officers Training Academy](/source/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](/source/Mhow) and was part of a [United Nations](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Tamil_language) [biographical film](/source/Biographical_film) *[Amaran](/source/Amaran_(2024_film))*, which was based on his life, was released.

## Early and personal life

Mukund Varadarajan was born on 12 April 1983 in a [Tamil](/source/Tamils) [Iyengar](/source/Iyengar) family to R. Varadarajan and Geetha Varadarajan in [Kozhikode district](/source/Kozhikode_district), [Kerala](/source/Kerala), India.[1][2] His family hailed from Paruthipattu in [Avadi](/source/Avadi) near [Chennai](/source/Chennai).[1][3] He was the youngest of the three siblings.[4] His father worked in a public sector bank in Kerala, and the family shifted to [Tambaram](/source/Tambaram) in Chennai during Mukund's childhood.[1][2][3] Mukund received his [Bachelor of Commerce](/source/Bachelor_of_Commerce) from [Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya](/source/Sri_Chandrasekharendra_Saraswathi_Viswa_Mahavidyalaya) at [Kanchipuram](/source/Kanchipuram) and a diploma in [journalism](/source/Journalism) from the [Madras Christian College](/source/Madras_Christian_College).[1][2][3]

Mukund worked at a [Business Process Outsourcing](/source/Business_Process_Outsourcing) center for sometime before he decided to join the [Indian Armed Forces](/source/Indian_Armed_Forces).[4] His grandfather Raghavachari and two of his uncles also served in the [Indian Army](/source/Indian_Army), which motivated him to take up a career with the armed forces.[3][4] He married Indhu Rebecca Varghese in 2009, and the couple have a daughter.[1][4]

## Military career

### Early career

Mukund joined the [Officers Training Academy](/source/Officers_Training_Academy) in Chennai in 2004.[3][4] After graduating, he was commissioned as a [lieutenant](/source/Lieutenant) in the 22 [Rajput Regiment](/source/Rajput_Regiment) of the Indian army on 18 March 2006.[5][6] He served at the Infantry school in [Mhow](/source/Mhow), [Madhya Pradesh](/source/Madhya_Pradesh) and was part of a [United Nations Mission](/source/Indian_Army_United_Nations_peacekeeping_missions) in [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon).[3][4] He received permanent commission back in the Indian army effective 18 March 2011.[7] He was promoted to the rank of [captain](/source/Captain_(rank)) on 28 July 2011.[8] He was later promoted to [major](/source/Major_(rank)) on 18 October 2012,[9] and was deputed to the 44th Battalion of the [Rashtriya Rifles](/source/Rashtriya_Rifles) in [Shopian district](/source/Shopian_district) of [Jammu and Kashmir](/source/Jammu_and_Kashmir_(state)) in December 2012.[1][4]

In June 2013, Mukund's convoy was attacked by armed terrorists near an apple orchard in [Shopian district](/source/Shopian_district). The group was led by Altaf Baba, the South Kashmir commander of [Jaish-e-Mohammed](/source/Jaish-e-Mohammed), a Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist organization.[10]: 137–139[11][12] While several Indian army men were hurt in the attack, Mukund killed Baba with the help of his army colleague Sepoy Vikram Singh.[10]: 137–139 As per Mukund's commanding officer Amit Singh Dabas, Mukund worked with the electronic warfare unit at [Srinagar](/source/Srinagar) on cracking the communication codes used by the terrorists.[10]: 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.[10]: 141

### Qazipathri operation

On 25 April 2014, at around 14:30 [IST](/source/Indian_Standard_Time), Indian army intelligence reports indicated the presence of three armed men in the safe house at Qazipathri in Southern Kashmir.[10]: 142[13][14] One of them was Altaf Wani, who had replaced Altaf Baba as the local commander of the terrorists in the region.[10]: 141 The other two belonged to [Lashkar-e-Taiba](/source/Lashkar-e-Taiba), another Pakistan-based Islamic militant organization.[10]: 143[15] The terrorists had earlier attacked the electoral officers during the polling for the [2014 Indian general election](/source/2014_Indian_general_election), and killed one of the officers.[14][10]: 143 The safe house compound consisted of a two storey brick house and two outhouses, surrounded by an orchard.[10]: 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.[10]: 141–143 The army team initially evacuated the civilians from the area.[10]: 142

At about 17:00 hrs, Mukund's team came under heavy gunfire from the terrorists holed inside the house.[10]: 142[16] At 17:30 hrs, Mukund lobbed a [improvised explosive device](/source/Improvised_explosive_device) into the terrorists' hiding, and one of the terrorists was killed in the return gunfire by the armed soldiers.[10]: 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](/source/Grenade) by Mukund.[10]: 144[14] Wani hid behind a stack of wooden logs, and returned fire, which killed Vikram Singh.[10]: 145 Mukund and Wani engaged in a firefight, which resulted in both the men being shot.[10]: 145[14] Wani was killed and the bodies of the three dead men were recovered later from the site.[13][16]

### Death and aftermath

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."[10]: 145 As per Dabas' instructions, Mukund was to be moved to the government hospital in [Pulwama](/source/Pulwama) for initial treatment, and was to be moved to Srinagar later for further treatment.[10]: 145 However, Mukund succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.[1][10]: 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.[13]

### Ranks

Symbol Rank Service Rank dates Lieutenant Indian Army 18 March 2006[6] Captain 28 July 2011[8] Major 18 October 2012[9]

## Legacy

Mukund's wife receives the [Ashoka Chakra](/source/Ashoka_Chakra_(military_decoration)) from the [Indian president](/source/President_of_India) in January 2015

After Mukund's funeral, Dabas wrote a letter to Mukund's wife, in which he remarked:

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.

— Amit Singh Dabas, Commanding officer, 44 [Rashtriya Rifles](/source/Rashtriya_Rifles)[10]: 150

On 15 August 2014, Mukund was posthumously awarded the [Ashoka Chakra](/source/Ashoka_Chakra_(military_decoration)), India's highest peacetime gallantry award. It was presented to his wife Indhu by then-[Indian president](/source/President_of_India) [Pranab Mukherjee](/source/Pranab_Mukherjee) on 26 January 2015.[17] His award commendation read as "(for showing) exemplary leadership skills, raw courage and swift action."[18] It was further cited that:

[Major] Mukund Varadarajan exhibited most conspicuous bravery and exemplary leadership and made the supreme sacrifice while fighting with the terrorists

— [Ashoka Chakra](/source/Ashoka_Chakra_(military_decoration)) citation[10]: 149

On 1 June 2015, a statue of Mukund was unveiled at the premises of the Officers Training Academy in Chennai.[19] The 2015 [Malayalam](/source/Malayalam) film *[Picket 43](/source/Picket_43)* was dedicated to Mukund,[20] who had been assisting the film crew during production.[21] In 2024, a [Tamil](/source/Tamil_language) film, *[Amaran](/source/Amaran_(2024_film))*, a [biopic](/source/Biopic) based on Mukund's life, was released,[22] with [Sivakarthikeyan](/source/Sivakarthikeyan) portraying Mukund in the film.[23][24]

## References

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Kamal Haasan unveils Sivakarthikeyan's 'Amaran' teaser ahead of his birthday"](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kamal-haasan-sivakarthikeyan-sai-pallavi-amaran-teaser-out-2503204-2024-02-16). *[India Today](/source/India_Today)*. 16 February 2024. [Archived](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) from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Sivakarthikeyan Plays Real Life Hero Major Mukund Varadarajan In His Next Film Amaran"](https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/tamil/sivakarthikeyan-plays-real-life-hero-major-mukund-varadarajan-in-his-next-film-amaran-article-107757465). *[Times Now](/source/Times_Now)*. 16 February 2024. [Archived](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) from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.

v t e Ashoka Chakra award recipients 1951 to 1970 Bachittar Singh† (1952) Narbahadur Thapa (1952) Suhas Biswas (1953) D. K. Jatar†^ (1955) Sundar Singh (1956) Jagannath Raoji Chitnis† (1957) Joginder Singh† (1957) Pollur Mutthuswamy Raman† (1957) Eric James Tucker† (1958) Khadka Bahadur Limbu† (1962) Man Bahadur Rai (1962) Chaman Lal†^ (1965) Lajjaram†^ (1965) Purshottam†^ (1965) Tej Singh†^ (1965) Shankar Lal Shrivastava† (1967) Dhanpat Singh^ (1968) Govind Singh^ (1968) Hukum Singh^ (1968) Lakhan Singh^ (1968) Takhat Singh†^ (1968) Jas Ram Singh (1969) 1971 to 1990 Baij Nath Singh†^ (1971) Bhure Lal^ (1972) Ummed Singh Mahra† (1972) Gurnam Singh (1974) Munnie Lal†^ (1974) Cyrus Addie Pithawalla (1981) Gennadi Strekalov* (1984) Yuri Malyshev* (1984) Bhawani Datt Joshi† (1985) Bhukant Misra† (1985) Chhering Mutup (1985) Jasbir Singh Raina (1985) Nirbhay Singh Sisodiya† (1985) Rakesh Sharma (1985) Ram Prakash Roperia† (1985) Vijay Jagirdar†^ (1986) Neerja Bhanot†^ (1987) 1991 to 2010 Randhir Prasad Verma† (1991) Sandeep Sankhla† (1992) Rakesh Singh Malhan† (1993) Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair† (1994) Harsh Uday Singh Gaur† (1995) Rajiv Kumar Joon† (1995) Sujjan Singh Yadav† (1995) Arun Singh Jasrotia† (1996) Puneet Nath Datt† (1997) Shanti Swaroop Rana† (1997) Sudhir Kumar Walia† (2000) Jagdish Prasad Yadav†^ (2001) Matbar Singh Negi†^ (2001) Kamlesh Kumari† (2001) Rambeer Singh Tomar† (2002) Surinder Singh† (2002) Suresh Chand Yadav† (2002) Sanjog Chhetri† (2004) Triveni Singh† (2004) Chuni Lal† (2007) Radhakrishnan Nair Harshan† (2007) Vasanth Venugopal† (2007) Dinesh Raghu Raman† (2008) Ashok Kamte† (2009) Bahadur Singh Bohra† (2009) Gajender Singh Bisht† (2009) Hemant Karkare† (2009) Jojan Thomas† (2009) Mohan Chand Sharma† (2009) Pramod Kumar Satapathy† (2009) R. P. Diengdoh† (2009) Sandeep Unnikrishnan† (2009) Tukaram Omble† (2009) Vijay Salaskar† (2009) D. Sreeram Kumar (2010) Mohit Sharma† (2010) Rajesh Kumar† (2010) 2011 to present Laishram Jyotin Singh† (2011) Navdeep Singh† (2012) K. Prasad Babu† (2014) Mukund Varadarajan† (2014) Neeraj Kumar Singh† (2014) Mohan Nath Goswami† (2016) Hangpan Dada† (2017) Jyoti Prakash Nirala† (2018) Nazir Ahmad Wani† (2019) Babu Ram† (2021) Shubhanshu Shukla (2026) † Posthumous; ^ Civilian; * Non-Indian

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mukund Varadarajan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukund_Varadarajan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukund_Varadarajan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.