Mangal Pandey Biography 
Mangal Pandey is an Indian soldier who served in the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in the English East India Company. He is one of the Indian freedom fighters. He was born on 19th July 1827 in Nagwa village of Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh.
He joined the army of East India Company in 1849. He is involved in attacking the officers of the regiment. This was called as the First War of Indian Independence or Sepoy Munity of 1857. He was a devout Hindu.
On 29th March 1857, an excitement was created at Barrackpore. When this was reported to Lieutenant Baugh he fired at Pandey but Pandey attacked him with sword and slashed him to ground. He was ordered to be arrested. Sergeant Major Hewson fired at him and was attacked back by other sepoys. He was brought to trial and he said that he used opium and did not know what happened. However he was ordered to be sentenced to death on 18th April 1857 and was executed ten days earlier on 8th April 1857.
The Jemadar in command Ishwari Prasad ordered his men to strike the prostrate officers. They threatened Shaikh Paltu to release Pandey. Finally they were caught and the Jemadar Ishwari Prasad was executed by hanging on 21st April 1857.
The reason for this Sepoy Mutiny was said as the usage of animal fat in the cartridges. The cows are sacred to Hindus and the pigs are forbidden to Muslims and it is suspected that the fat of these animals were used in the cartridges. Mangal Pandey is a Saryuparin Brahmin and was highly religious and so he was against this practice.
The mutiny was filmed in the name of Mangal Pandey: The Rising and his life was made into a stage play named The Roti Rebellion. The Government of India issued a postage stamp with his picture on 5th October 1984 to commemorate him. This stamp was designed by the artist C. R. Pakrashi.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 01, 2013
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