Mangal Pandey:
The Prime Minister recently paid tributes to the great revolutionary Mangal Pandey ji on his birth anniversary.
- Mangal Pandey was a brave Indian soldier during the pre-independence era.
- His attack on British officers on March 29, 1857 is widely regarded as one of the earliest triggers of the Revolt of 1857, referred to in different historical traditions as the First War of Independence or the Sepoy Mutiny.
- He was born on July 19, 1827, Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh.
- In 1849, Pandey joined the army of the British East India Company at the age of 22.
- He served as a sepoy in the 6th Company of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry in Barrackpore.
- He revolted against the East India Company for introducing cartridges that were greased with animal fat, as it hurt the religious sentiments of the soldiers.
- Mangal Pandey attacked two British officers on March 29, 1857.
- Following this, he was hanged to death on April 8, 1857, in Barrackpore. He was only 29 years old when he was executed.
- However, his act of revolt, subsequent arrest, and hanging triggered a nationwide uproar and marked the beginning of the revolt of 1857.
- Following this huge mass movement, the British were forced to recognise the trouble and passed new rules through the Government of India Act, 1858.
