Anyone can get into good shape but not all are great fighters. Major Mukund Varadarajan’s story is certain to give you tingles down your spine. His impeccable contributions towards the development of the nation have never been in doubt as he has done more than enough in his stupendous career to carve out a niche for himself as a courageous officer. He alone killed three terrorists during an anti-terrorist operation and unfortunately died due to injuries.
Major Mukund Varadarajan was a gallant officer in the Rajput Regiment of the Indian Army. He moved from strength to strength when he was an alumnus of Officers Training Academy. After graduating, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Rajput Regiment (22 Rajput) in 2006.
He worked at the Infantry School in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh and was part of a United Nations Mission in Lebanon. In December 2012, he was appointed to the 44th Battalion of the Rashtriya Rifles and was posted in the Shupiyan district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Personal Life:
Major Mukund Varadarajan AC was born on 12 April 1983 to parents R.Varadarajan and Geetha. He grew up in Chennai and was passionate about being in the Army and fighting when he was just three years old. After completing his schooling, Mukund received bachelor’s degree of Commerce From Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya at Enathur.
Then, he did a diploma in journalism from the Madras Christian College in Tambaram. Post that, he did a master’s in mass communication and journalism. Mukund then took a Short Service Commission after spending a month plying his trade in a call centre. He successfully passed out of the Officers Training Academy with high honours in 2004.
When Major Mukund Varadarajan died for the country:
During an anti-terrorist search operation in a bid to eliminate the terrorists from the Shupiyan district of Jammu and Kashmir, his team came under constant firing. The lead officer of special force operations, Major Mukund was smart enough to counter the attack as he went on to kill three terrorists of the Hizbul Mujahideen who were accountable for eliminating election officials 24 hours earlier.
Unfortunately, he was injured badly during the operation as he drew his last breath on April 25, 2014. For his courageous and uncompromising attitude against the enemies during the operation, he was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra in 2014, which is India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. Mukund Varadarajan is the fourth recipient of the Ashoka Chakra from Tamil Nadu.
