Mangal Pandey was a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry regiment of the British East India Company. He played a key part in the events immediately preceding the outbreak of the Indian rebellion of 1857. In 1984, the Indian government issued a postage stamp to remember him. His life and actions have also been portrayed in several cinematic productions.
About Mangal Pandey in brief
Mangal Pandey was a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry regiment of the British East India Company. He played a key part in the events immediately preceding the outbreak of the Indian rebellion of 1857. In 1984, the Indian government issued a postage stamp to remember him. His life and actions have also been portrayed in several cinematic productions. He was born on 19 July 1827 in Nagwa, a village of upper Ballia district, Ceded and Conquered Provinces. He joined the Bengal Army in 1849. In March 1857, he was a private soldier in the 5th Company of the34th BengalNative Infantry. He seized weapons and run to the quarter-guard building upon learning that a detachment of British soldiers was disembarking from a steamer near the cantonment. The adjutant, Lieutenant Baugh, was knocked to the ground from behind by a blow from Pandey’s musket. Baugh quickly disentangled himself and, seizing one of his pistols, advanced towards Pandey and fired. The bullet struck his horse in the flank bringing both the horse and its rider down. In the meantime, a report of the incident had been carried to the officer General Hearsey, who then galloped to the scene with his two sons.
The first man who disobeyed Pandey then put the muzzle of the musket towards the commanding officer and ordered them to do their duty by seizing Pandey by seizing his musket and putting it to his head. Pandey fired at Baugh but missed. He then took position behind the station gun, which was in front of thequarter-guard of the 34st, and fired, but the bullet struck Baugh and his horse. The sound of the firing had brought other sepoys from the barracks; they remained mute spectators. A British Sergeant-Major named Hewson had arrived on the parade ground, summoned by a native officer, before Baugh. He had ordered Jemadar Ishwari Prasad to arrest Pandey, but he could not take him by himself. The sergeant-major then called out to Baugh: ‘Ride to the right, sir, for your life. The sepoy will fire at you!’ At that point Pandey shot. At this juncture, Shaikh Paltu, while trying to defend the two Englishmen called upon the other sepoy to assist him. He called on the guard to help him hold Pandey but they threatened to shoot him if he did not let go of the mutineer. Some of the sepoys of the quarter.guard then advanced and struck at the two prostrate officers.
You want to know more about Mangal Pandey?
This page is based on the article Mangal Pandey published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 11, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
