Mangal Pandey - The hero of India’s first war of Independence
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Today is the 192 th birth aniversary of Mangal Pandey, the hero of revolt of 1857. Read to know more about Mangla Pandey and to know how he initiated the flame of Indian freedom struggle.
- Mangal Pandey was born in the year 1827.
- Mangal Pandey was born in a Brahmin family in Nagwa, a village of upper Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh.
- When he was 18, he witnessed a column of sepoy infantry on march, which propelled him to join the company.
- He joined the East India Company army in 1849.
- In 1856, greased cartridge production was initiated in Calcutta (Kolkata)
- Rumours had been taking rounds that the English cartridges were greased with cow fat.
- This further sparked during a fight, when a low-caste sepoy taunted a high-caste sepoy for 'losing his caste' after biting the cartridge as they were greased with the fat of pigs and cows
- Mangal Pandey led a group of Indian soldiers to refuse the use of this cartridge.
- On March 29, 1857, 29-year-old Mangal Pandey declared that he would rebel against his commanders at Calcutta's Barrackpore parade ground.
- Pandey attacked his British sergeant, Lieutenant Baugh
- Surrounded by guards and European Officers, he tried to commit suicide by shooting himself and was seriously wounded.
- He was court-martialled on April 6, and hanged at Barrackpore on April 8, 1857.
- After this revolt, the East India Company was brought under the direct rule of the British Crown.
