Chapter:4 “AMARAN” MEANS IMMORTAL AND MEANS IT

 

               “AMARAN” MEANS IMMORTAL AND MEANS IT

            I am not someone who keeps up with cinema news, actors, or the latest trending movies. I am not obsessed with any hero or heroine, and I rarely go to theatres—maybe just two or three times in my life. Watching movies or series isn’t how I prefer to spend my free time, and I am not interested in the first day, first-show hype. I like very few movie plots and usually dislike unrealistic action scenes, exaggerated heroism, or emotions that feel far from real life.

            Now that I’ve joined Madras Christian College for my post-graduation, I came to know about the movie Amaran. A few shots were filmed on our college campus. I found out about this through our college meme page on Instagram, @mcc_politics. I was a little excited because it featured Sai Pallavi.

            I am not someone who is overly obsessed with any actor or actress, but I do admire a few based on their real-life personality. Many actors and actresses tend to behave artificially once they achieve fame, but there are a rare few who remain simple, grounded, and original, even when they reach great heights.

            Sai Pallavi akka is one such person I admire deeply. Her simplicity is her most precious ornament, and her genuine smile sets her apart—something many famous actors and actresses lack.

            Similarly, I didn’t know much about Sivakarthikeyan anna initially, but as I learned more about him, I came to admire his personality. His good heart and humble attitude are like a luxurious coat that makes him truly remarkable.

            I later found out that the movie Amaran is based on the real-life story of one of our college alumni, which made me even more interested in watching it. Initially, I thought it was just a love story, but once I learned about the plot, my curiosity grew.

            I had once dreamed of joining the Indian Military, but personal reasons stopped me from pursuing it. The themes of Amaran reminded me of the book Boys in Zinc by Svetlana Alexievich, which I had read. This book, published in 1989, documents the Soviet Afghan War and shares the stories of soldiers who died, told from their families' perspectives. These connections made me even more eager to see the movie in the theatre.

            It was my semester exam time, so I had planned to watch Amaran after my exams were over, as I had only a one-day gap between each exam, except for the Shakespeare Studies exam. However, on Sunday, November 10th evening, my uncle called me around 5:30 p.m. and told me they had an extra ticket for Amaran and were going as a family. The movie was at 6 p.m. So I got ready in just 30 minutes and reached on time without worrying about my exam.

            I was so happy to see Sai Pallavi akka’s entry because it was Selaiyur Hall stage. It was the stage of my first performance at MCC, and Macphail’s was the place where I practiced dance for the first time.

            Another thing that made the movie so interesting was the terms, theories, rules, weapon training, signals, guard-of-honor commands, parade, and awards that I learned in NCC. I was able to see practically and visually in the movie everything I had studied in NCC. I could feel the intensity of all that I had learned, especially about the gallantry awards.

            I knew the movie would make me cry. I’m really very weak when it comes to controlling my emotions, but I was in a situation where I had to control them because I was watching the movie with my relatives. I didn’t want to cry in front of them because they might make fun of me later. So, I just took on the persona of Indhu Rabeka Vargis’s character and kept telling my heart, “Be like Indhu; don’t cry in front of others.” It might seem funny, but I literally set my heart this way.

            While watching the movie, some thoughts ran through my mind. I was thinking about how rare true love, care, sacrifice, persistence, and understanding are in today’s generation. But why does God always place such people far apart and separate them too early? 

            When one of my mother’s colleague’s husbands died in an accident, I remember my mother said that God gives this type of suffering only to those who are strong enough to handle it. But still, my heart couldn’t be consoled. Why does God separate such people? This kind of true love, understanding, and persistence is rare in today’s relationships. Why does God place them at such a distance forever so quickly? These thoughts kept running through my mind continuously.

            I see Major Mukund as a representative of God, similar to how God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to Earth to save humanity, or like Moses, whom God chose to save the people of Israel. God chose Major Mukund Varadarajan to save the people of Kashmir from the Hizbul Mujahideen organization. God chose Major Mukund from his birth in 1983, even before Satan tempted Muhammad Ahsan Dar in 1989. A representative of God and a fallen angel grow stronger in parallel.

            Jesus never leaves the hands of those who trust Him; He’ll do anything to protect faithful people. Similarly, Major Mukund cared deeply for his team and always put their needs above his own. When one of his soldiers, Valil, was captured by terrorists, Mukund risked his life to save him. When his superior officer, Colonel Amit Singh, refused to give him permission to carry out the mission, Mukund didn’t hesitate. He decided to save Valil by risking his life. He conquered everyone with his genuine love, just as Jesus’s actions were motivated by His love for humanity, leading Him to bear the pain during the crucifixion and sacrifice everything for their salvation. Major Mukund’s love for his family, team, and country motivated him to keep going, even in the face of death. His love and passion were selfless and pure, like Jesus Christ.

            God might have chosen him for this particular mission, and this might be Major Mukund’s purpose. Thus, God gave him eternal rest immediately after his mission was completed. Yet, my heart remains unconsoled. Even though it is a peaceful rest for Major Mukund, it is a great heartbreak for his family. When I think from his wife Indhu Rabecca Varghese’s perspective, it feels as if my heart is shattered into sharp, tiny atoms of glass. As the movie continued, my heart kept fighting and arguing with God. Even though You saved Kashmir from many troubles, why did You give this sharp pain to his family, especially his wife, Indhu Rabecca Varghese? The intensity of the pain is so high; it feels like a sharp sword piercing the heart.

            Suddenly, God struck my mind with Simeon’s prophecy to Mother Mary: “A sword will pierce your own soul too.” I felt as though just as God chose Mother Mary to care for and nurture Immanuel, the savior of the world, He similarly chose Indhu Rabecca Varghese to support and shape the soldier, the “Immanuel” of Kashmir.

            Just as Mother Mary comforted the disciples of Jesus after His death, offering them strength and hope in their time of sorrow, Indhu Rabecca Varghese was chosen by God to care for Mukund’s family and to comfort and support them after his departure from this world.

            Mother Mary endured the pain of seeing her son suffer for the salvation of humanity. Similarly, Indhu experienced her own “sword” – the sharp pain like Mother Mary’s. Indhu sacrificed her personal happiness and love for a greater cause. She set aside her own dreams to love and live with her husband and to support and strengthen the soldier who fought for Kashmir’s peace. God does not give such suffering to everyone but only to those He chooses. Both Mother Mary and Indhu were chosen by God for a purpose – one that brings pain but also glory.

           One statement is common in every religion: “Love is God.” Jesus’s life and death demonstrated that love was central to His mission. Similarly, love acted as fuel in every part of Major Mukund’s life – his love for his job, his family, his team, his friends, and the people around him.

           John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” It               is evident that love ran in Mukund’s blood, in every breath, and with every heartbeat. 1 John 4:8             says, “Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love.” Major Mukund also                  believed that “love is God.” This is evident in my college (Madras Christian College) magazine,           Volume LXXXI (2014-2015). Indhu wrote about her husband Mukund in the article titled “Maj.             Mukund Varadarajan AC: The Son, The Husband, The Father, The Friend, The Officer” on           page 65. In it, she mentioned:

 “Interestingly, he lived by some of these quotes, especially those from the movie Anbe Sivam. He did believe ‘Love is God,’ and I am glad that he did because that is how and why I found him, and he found me.”

 “Int“                                                   

 In the same magazine, Major Mukund’s friend, Major Vinod Vishwanathan, wrote about Mukund in an article titled “Mukund My Friend…” on page 66. He mentioned, “He fought for what he loved.” Through this, it is evident that in living a life centered on love, which is God, he was a chosen child of God to fulfill his mission.

                                                        

 Just as Mother Mary was raised by God to the highest as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, Indhu’s sacrifice will not go unnoticed. God will raise her too because she has walked the path chosen by Him to fulfill His divine plan. Those who live the path chosen by God with faith and humility will be rewarded with eternal honor. 

I would like to mention the conclusion of Major Vinod Vishwanathan’s essay:

“The country as a whole might hail him as a warrior, patriot, and hero. But to people close to Mukund, he was just an amazing friend, brother, husband, and father. As somebody rightfully said, ‘Nobody tries to be a hero; they just end up that way.’”

My salute to my proud senior, Major Mukund Varadarajan AC.