Mangal Pandey Hindu Champion

Champions of Hinduism: Mangal Pandey

Mangal Pandey (1827 - 1857)

Mangal Pandey was born in the village of Nagwa, in Uttar Pradesh.

At the age of 22 he joined as a Sepoy working under East India Company. Mangal Pandey’s name got etched into the Indian History after he attacked his senior British officers in an incident, which is today remembered as Mutiny of 1857 of India’s first war for independence.

Mangal Pandey was an Indian solder during British colonial era. He is counted amongst the most popular and fearless figures associated with the struggle for independence. The were rumors that the cartridges used in the riffles used by Indian sepoys were greased with animal fats – pigs and cows, which neither Hindus nor Muslims consumed. The cartridges were supposed to be bitten off with the teeth, to remove the cover. It was believed that British had deliberately used animal fat in the catridges to hurt the feelings of Indians and this was the main reason for Pande’s anger.

Pandey was angered by his religious motives and on March 29 l857 he attacked and injured the British Sergeant on the parade ground and wounded an adjutant with his sword. A native soldier prevented Pande from killing the adjutant and the Sergant.

Whn the Sergeant ordered the head of the troops by the name of Ishari Pande, to arrest Mangal Pandey, he refused to arrest him. Mangal Pandey turned the gun against himself but failed, and was captured and sentenced to death along Iahri Pande.

His execution was scheduled for April 18, but was summarily executed on April 8, 1857 ten days earlier, fearing the large scale revolt . Jamadar Ishari Pande, who had refused to arrest Mangal Pande earlier, was executed on April 22.

Thus a brilliant light was extinguished, which marked the beginning for the struggle of Indian independence.

Jai Hind!

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