The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the “Sepoy Mutiny” and the “First War of Indian Independence”, was preceded by events in which Mangal Pandey, an Indian soldier, played a prominent role. His name was associated with the rebellion of 1857. Mangal Pandey, a devout Brahmin, served as a Sepoy (soldier) in the 34th Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) of the British East India Company.
After hearing rumors that the greased cartridges in the recently launched Enfield gun were greased with cow and pig fat, he refused to bite off the ends. After being stopped from shooting himself, the enraged man incited his fellow soldiers to mutiny against British officers and assaulted them before being overpowered, taken into custody and court-martialed. He is revered as a hero in India. In 1984, the Government of India issued a postage stamp in his honour. His life has been featured in a number of films and television shows.
Mangal Pandey: The Beginning and His Attacks
•Mangal Pandey joined the Bengal Army in 1849. He enlisted as a private (sepoy) in March 1857 in the 5th Company of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry.
• On the afternoon of 29 March 1857, the Adjutant of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, Lieutenant Baugh, who was then stationed at Barrackpore, was informed that many soldiers in his regiment were distraught.
•He also learned that one of them, Mangal Pandey, was inciting the soldiers to mutiny and threatening to shoot the first European he saw as he passed in front of the regimental guardhouse near the parade ground, carrying a loaded rifle.
• According to testimony given during a later investigation, when Pandey saw a detachment of British soldiers disembarking from a ship near the camp, he took his firearms and rushed to the guard house. Discontent among the Sepoys and bhang intoxication upset Mangala Pandey.
Role of Mangal Pandey in the Rebellion of 1857
In the 1850s, the British introduced the Enfield rifle to India, and its dirty cartridges could only be loaded into the weapon after the ends had been bitten off. There were rumors that the cartridge lubricant was either pork or cow lard. Cows are highly valued by Hindus, but Muslims are not allowed to eat pork, which enraged the Indian sepoys. At that time, Mangal Pandey was assigned to the Barrackpore garrison. Mangal Pandey, a devout Hindu Brahmin, became enraged after learning of the situation and decided to express his displeasure to the British.
It is widely accepted that Pandey tried to inspire other soldiers in his regiment to rebel against the British officers and plan a rebellion against British rule. On 29 March 1857, Lieutenant Baugh, adjutant of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry stationed at Barrackpore, learned that some sepoys of his regiment were agitated and that Mangal Pandey, a man with a loaded musket, was inciting his comrades to mutiny. The first European Pandey saw, he threatened to shoot. After learning that a detachment of British soldiers disembarking near the camp had arrived on a ship, an enraged Pandey allegedly took his weapons and left for the hostel.
General Hearsey, the commanding officer, learned of the incident and rode to the scene with his two officer sons to defuse the situation. The general drew his revolver and told the sepoys to do their duty, threatening to shoot anyone who disobeyed him. Now that the sepoys were following his orders, Pandey attempted suicide by pressing the muzzle of the musket to his chest and firing while pressing the trigger with the tip of his foot. However, this did not prove fatal as he suspected he would be arrested.
Written by: Vaishali Verma
