The Man behind the Revolution

Mangal Pandey

(1827 – 1857)

The name, ‘Mangal Pandey’ is engraved into the pages of the Indian history as an incisive revolutionary during the pre-independence era and one of the most popular characters in the country’s freedom struggle. He was a soldier of the sepoy force of the 34^th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) of the East India Company. He used to be an enthusiastic careerist and a loyal hand until he lost respect for his English masters following a number of events in the country which led him to revolt against them till his death. The events that steered to the revolt stemmed from decades of unrest but the spark of the rebellion was instigated by Mangal Pandey firing the first shots. He was the first sepoy (soldier) to rise up against the British and played a key role in escalating the Sepoy Mutiny by his fearless actions.

Mangal Pandey was born in Nagwa, Uttar Pradesh on 19 July 1827 to a Bhumihar Brahmin family. He was a devout Hindu, followed its beliefs and practiced the religion firmly. He joined the East India Company as a sepoy at the age of 22 in 1849. The sepoys had been issued with a new rifle, the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifled musket, where the soldier had to bite off its end of a greased cartridge before loading the powder into its muzzle. The Indian sepoys were disturbed as the grease which was used to seal the cartridge was made from animal fat – cow which was sacred for Hindus and pork which was sacred for Muslims. The sepoys saw it as an intentional strategy by the British to demoralise their religious beliefs and hurt their sacred sentiments. The first protest took place at Barrackpore, Calcutta in January 1857 by burning down a new telegraph office. Later, Mangal Pandey staged a one-man rebellion in Barrackpore on 29 March 1857 insisting his fellow sepoys to kill the first Britisher they saw. He shot a mounted British officer but only managed to fell the horse in the attempt. He slashed the officer and his adjutant with his sword and injured them. General Hearsay, an officer in charge, along with other junior officers appeared on the scene to restore order and arrest Mangal Pandey. Mangal Pandey pressed his musket against his chest and pulled the trigger using his toe wounding himself and setting his tunic afire. He failed to kill himself and was arrested. The British called the uprising The Sepoy Mutiny; however, for Indians it was the First War of Indian Independence or The Revolt of 1857.

He later involved in the Calcutta–Patna Conspiracy which spanned from Bengal to Northern India teaming up with men from Bihar and Patna together with exiled Maharajas of the princely states. Pandey’s rebelliousness was condemned by the British and put him on trial. The 34^th BNI regiment was dispersed by the British Government on 6 May 1857 as a punishment for failing to hold up a defiant soldier and protect their officer.   Mangal Pandey was court martialled on 6 April 1857 where he vowed that he rebelled alone for the sake of his homeland. The court ordered to hang him on 18 April 1857 but fearful of further unrest, the British rescheduled the date of execution and Pandey was hanged on 8 April 1857.

 A photograph where two Sepoys of the 31^st Native Infantry who participated

in The Revolt of 1857 were hanged. Albumen silver print by Felice Beato, 1857.

Shaheed Mangal Pandey was a brave son of Mother India and a torch bearer who woke up multitudes to fight for the nation. He was the first nationalist martyr who sow the seeds of freedom struggle in the minds of people and became an icon who denoted the beginning of the Indian War of Independence.

Jai Hind.