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Mangal Pandey is a freedom fighter who is famous in Indian history. He sacrificed his life to get the country out of the grips of the British. He is widely known as one of the first freedom fighters of India. He is known as a Sepoy mutiny of 1857 and had a huge role in the revolt of 1857. He was born in the village of upper Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh on 19th July 1827 in a Brahmin Family in Nagwa. He was known for his participation in attacks on several regiment officers. In the year 1849, he joined the East India Company.
The reason behind Mangal Pandey’s agitation in the revolt of 1857
Mangal Pandey’s mutiny intensified the feeling of frustration and anger felt by the Indian sepoys against the British. The presence of the grease made from pigs and cows caused a sense of tension in the 19th BNI. It was an offence to both Muslims and Hindus. There were suspicions among the regiment of Pandey that they were being converted to Christians. This was due to the presence of the Bible in Indian languages by the colonel’s wife that was being distributed among them. The rulers of India were being removed from their rightful thrones, which caused a sense of unrest among the sepoys and the general public. A huge discontent was created among Indians due to the Doctrine of Lapse by Governor-General Dalhousie.
Background of Mangal Pandey
In the 5th company, 29-year old Mangal Pandey worked as a soldier when he joined the Bengal Army in 1849. Pandey was walking excitedly in front of the regiment’s guard room. This was on 29th March 1857. He threatened to shoot the first European since he was armed with a loaded musket. He told the other soldiers that they should become infidels by biting the cartridges with the grease on them. He asked the other soldiers to come out since the Europeans had arrived. Sergeant-Major James Hewson arrived at the place on being informed about Mangal Pandey’s behaviour. Jemadar Ishwari Prasad was asked to arrest Pandey on the order of James Hewson. Jemadar Ishwari Prasad denied saying that it won’t be possible for him to do it independently. Pandey shot Sergeant-Major’s adjutant Lieutenant Henry Baugh who had arrived on a horse. Pandey ended up hitting the horse instead of the lieutenant, which became the first sign of gunfire on an Englishman during the revolt of 1857. Hewson confronted Pandey as he was fighting Baugh. He ended up being knocked to the ground. Only one of the soldiers named Shaikh Paltu helped the Englishmen. None of the soldiers came ahead in helping the officers during this scene. Stones and shoes hit the soldier who helped the Englishmen for helping them. Paltu had gotten Pandey in his hands, but he was threatened with being shot. The rest of the soldiers told him to let go of Pandey if he wanted to live. General Hearsey went along with the two officers to the scene. Pandey injured himself and got arrested when he tried to kill himself. He could not encourage all the soldiers into rebellion.
Trial of Mangal Pandey
Pandey was then sentenced to death when he was put on trial after a week. He informed that he was not encouraged by another soldier and mutinied of his own free will. Since Jemadar Ishwari Prasad had ordered other soldiers not to arrest Pandey, he was also sentenced to death by hanging. Mangal Pandey was executed on 21st April 1857, and Jemadar Ishwari Prasad was executed on 8th April 1857. The entire 34th Regiment of BNI was disbanded on 6th May with ‘disgrace’. According to an investigation, the soldiers have not stopped Mangal Pandey. Therefore, they were disbanded for this reason. Before the regiment was disbanded, Sepoy Paltu was murdered within the cantonment. Before his murder, he was promoted to Havildar. Mangal Pandey, the rising freedom fighter, became one of the first rebels before the beginning of the revolt of 1857. A movie named Mangal Pandey The Rising has been made on the story of this famous freedom fighter.
Conclusion:
This article sheds light on the life and rise of Mangal Pandey. The article explains in detail the background of the revolt and rebellion by Mangal Pandey. The situations and conditions that led to the mutiny by Mangal Pandey have been explained in detail, along with the entire scenario that took place. The details of what happened after the mutiny and the trial of this freedom fighter have been mentioned. Mangal Pandey was one of the first freedom fighters
