Mangal Pandey
“यह आज़ादी की लड़ाई है …ग़ुज़रे हुए कल से आज़ादी … आने वाले कल के लिए”
- An Indian Soldier, who plays a predominant role in the events preceding the rebellion of 1857.
- Born in 19th July 1857 to a Brahmin Family, Pandey joined in the Bengal Army in 1849. (5th Company of the 34th Native Infantry)
- The East India Company introduced reforms that were completely unfair and unjust. They made the use of bullet cartridge which were used in P-53, Enfield rifle for all soldiers.
- These cartridges were coated with a grease membrane that have to cut by teeth before loading. Since this membrane was extracted from the fat of either cow or pig, which was offensive for both Hindus and Muslims. The Indian troops in some regiments were of the opinion that this was an intentional act of the British, with the aim of defiling their religions.
- When all other attempts and uproar failed to change this phenomenon, on March 29, 1857, Mangal Pandey launched an open mutiny at Barrackpore in Kolkata. He rebelled and killed many British officers for their cruel and inhuman nature towards his countrymen.
- He along with his men attacked the sergeant Major Hudson which lead to a tough situation of battle on the army ground.
- Mangal Pandey was surrounded by the British soldiers, but he collapsed after firing a bullet on his own chest.
- It is said that even when there was a bullet in his chest, he kept quiet and have not revealed the names of his fellow co-conspirators.
- He was hanged on 29th March 1857.
- To commemorate the brave soldier, the Indian government issued a postage stamp with his image in 1984.
- A movie on the life and journey of Mangal Pandey was released in 2005, where Aamir Khan played the titular role.
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