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For the Hindi film of the same name, see Mangal Pandey: The Rising. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is Mangal Pandey The Rising (Indian title or The Ballad of Mangal Pandey (international title (released in India on August 12
Mangal Pandey

Place of birth:Nagwa, Ballia, Oudh
Place of death:Barrackpore, Calcutta, India

Mangal Pandey (c. Nagwa is a village with a population of 8000 and 1300 acre in the Ballia district in eastern part of Uttar Pradesh in India WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ballia ( Bhojpuri: বাল্লিয়া | बलिया is a city with a Municipal board For the Oudh tree see Agarwood. Awadh ( Hindi: अवध Urdu: اودھ) also known in various British historical texts as Oudh Barrackpore or Barrackpur (ব্যারাকপুর sub-division under District of North 24 Parganas in the state of West Bengal, is an old India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country July 19, 1827–8 April 1857) (Hindi: मंगल पांडे) was a sepoy (soldier) in the 34th Regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) of the English East India Company. Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Click here for Indian Rebellion of 1857 Year 1857 ( MDCCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the A sepoy (ˈsipɔɪ (from Persian سپاهی Sipâhi meaning "soldier" was a native of India, a soldier allied to a European power usually the The Bengal Regiment is a term ascribed a large number of Regiments first raised for the British Indian Army. The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or

Contents

Life

Pandey was born in the village of Nagwa in district Ballia (Uttar Pradesh). Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश اتر پردیش pronounced, Translation: Northern Province) referred to as '''U Families in Nagwa village claim Mangal Pandey to be their first ancestor and trace their family lineage to him. [1] There is some dispute over his exact place of birth. One account (Misra, 2005) claims that Mangal Pandey was born in a Bhumihar Brahmin family to Divakar Pandey of Surhupur village of Faizabad district’s Akbarpur Tehsil. Bhumihar Brahmin or simply Bhumihar or Bhuinhar is a caste mainly found in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> For the Faizabad in Tajikistan see Faizabad Tajikistan. [1] He joined the English East India Company's forces in 1849 at the age of 22, as per this account. Pandey was part of the 5th Company of the 34th B. A company is a Military unit, typically consisting of 75-200 Soldiers Most companies are formed of three to five Platoons although the exact number may vary N. I. regiment and is primarily known for attacking the officers of that regiment in an incident that was the first act of what came to be known as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 or the First War of Indian Independence. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of Sepoys of British East India Company 's army on the 10th of May 1857 in the town of Meerut, The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of Sepoys of British East India Company 's army on the 10th of May 1857 in the town of Meerut, Mangal Pandey was a devout Hindu and he practiced his religion diligently. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical

The 1857 Incident

At Barrackpore (now Barrackpur), near Calcutta on March 29, 1857, in the afternoon, Lieutenant Baugh, Adjutant of the 34th Native Infantry, was informed that several men of his regiment were in an excited state. Barrackpore or Barrackpur (ব্যারাকপুর sub-division under District of North 24 Parganas in the state of West Bengal, is an old Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Click here for Indian Rebellion of 1857 Year 1857 ( MDCCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the Adjutant is a military rank or appointment In some armies it is an officer who assists a more senior officer while in other armies it is a rank which normally corresponds Further, it was reported to him that one of them, Mangal Pandey raged in front of the regiment's barracks on the parade ground, armed with a loaded musket, calling upon the men to rebel and threatening to shoot the first European he set his eyes on. A musket is a muzzle -loaded Smoothbore Long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder Baugh immediately buckled on his sword, placed loaded pistols in his holsters, mounted his horse, and galloped to the lines. Pandey, who heard the hoof-beat of the approaching horse, took position behind the station gun, which was in front of the quarter-guard of the 34th, took aim at Baugh and fired. He missed Baugh, but the bullet struck his horse in the flank, and both horse and rider were brought down. . [2] Baugh quickly disentangled himself, and, seizing one of his pistols, advanced towards Pandey and fired. He missed. Before Baugh could draw his sword, Pandey attacked him with a talwar (an Indian heavy sword) and closing with the adjutant, slashed him on the shoulder and neck and brought him to the ground. A talwar, talwaar, or tulwar is a type of Sword, equivalent to the European Sabre (or Saber) originating in medieval South It was then that another sepoy, Shaikh Paltu, intervened and tried to restrain Pandey even as he tried to reload his musket. Shaikh Paltu was a soldier ( Sepoy) with the British East India Company, serving in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry in March 1857, as widespread [2]

The English Sergeant-Major, Hewson, had arrived on the ground, summoned by a native officer, prior to Baugh. A Sergeant Major is a rank or appointment in many militaries around the world He had ordered the jemadar in command of the quarter-guard to arrest Mangal Pandey. Jemadar was a rank used in the British Indian Army, where it was the lowest rank for a Viceroy's Commissioned Officer (VCO To this, the jemadar expostulated that he could not take Pandey on alone. At this, Hewson ordered him to fall in his guard with loaded weapons. In the meantime, Baugh had arrived on the field shouting 'Where is he? Where is he?' Hewson called out to Baugh, 'Ride to the right, Sir, for your life. The sepoy will fire at you!' [3] At that point Pandey fired, with the consequences outlined in the last paragraph.

Hewson had charged towards Pandey as he was fighting with Lieutenant Baugh. He then locked in combat with Pandey and was knocked to the ground from behind by a blow from Pandey's musket. The sound of the firing had brought other sepoys from the barracks; they remained mute spectators. At this juncture, Shaikh Paltu, while trying to defend the two Englishmen called upon the other sepoys to assist him. [2] Assailed by other sepoys, who threw stones and shoes at his back, he called on the guard to help him hold Pandey, but they threatened to shoot him if he did not let go of Pandey. [3]

On the order of the Jemadar of the troops, a man called Ishwari Prasad, the sepoys advanced and struck at the two prostrate officers. Jemadar was a rank used in the British Indian Army, where it was the lowest rank for a Viceroy's Commissioned Officer (VCO They then threatened Shaikh Paltu and ordered him to release Pandey, whom he had been vainly trying to hold back. However, Paltu, continued to hold Pandey until Baugh and the sergeant-major had had time to rise. [2] Himself wounded by now, Paltu was obliged to loosen his grip. He backed away in one direction and Baugh and Hewson in another, while being struck with the butt ends of the guards' muskets.

In the meantime, report of the incident had been carried to the commanding officer General Hearsey, who then galloped to the ground with his two sons. Taking in the scene, he rode up to the guard, drew his pistol and ordered them to do their duty by seizing Mangal Pandey. The General threatened to shoot the first man that disobeyed. The men of the guard fell in, and followed Hearsey in the direction where Pandey was still ranting and raving. Pandey, then realizing the situation he had put himself in, put the muzzle of the musket to his breast and discharged it by pressing the trigger with his foot. He collapsed burned and bleeding but not mortally wounded. [2]

He recovered, was brought to trial less than a week later. When asked whether he had been under the influence of any substances, he admitted to having used bhang (cannabis) and opium of late. Bhang (ਭੰਗ pa بھنگ /pə̀ŋg/ ভাং /bɦaŋ/ is the leaf and flower of a female Cannabis sativa plant as consumed in the Opium is a Narcotic formed from the Latex (ie sap released by lacerating (or "scoring" the immature seed pods of opium poppies ( He pleaded to not knowing what he was doing when intoxicated. He stated steadfastly that he had mutinied on his own accord and that none had played any role in egging him on. When asked to defend himself, he said "I did not know what I was doing. I did not know who I wounded and who I did not. What more shall I say? I have nothing more to say. I have no evidence. " [3] He was sentenced to death by hanging along with the Jemadar. Jemadar was a rank used in the British Indian Army, where it was the lowest rank for a Viceroy's Commissioned Officer (VCO His execution was scheduled for April 18, but was carried out ten days prior to that date. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. The Jemadar Ishwari Prasad joined him on the gallows on April 21. Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) [2]

The 34th N. I. Regiment was disbanded "with disgrace" on May 6 as a collective punishment, after a detailed investigation by the Government, for failing to perform their duty in restraining a mutinous soldier and protecting their officer. Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. This came after a period of six weeks in the course of which, petitions for leniency were examined in Calcutta. Shaikh Paltu was promoted on the spot to the post of Havaldar (native sergeant) by General Hearsey, for his gallant conduct. Havildar was the Military 'In Charge' of a Fort during the times of Maratha Empire. . [2]

Motivation

The primary motivation behind Mangal Pandey's behaviour is attributed to a new type of bullet cartridge used in the Enfield P-53 rifle which was to be introduced in the Bengal Army that year. A cartridge (also known as a "round" packages the Bullet, Gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the The Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF was a UK government-owned Rifle factory in Enfield, now part of north London, which produced British The Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifled Musket (also known as the Pattern 1853 Enfield, P53 Enfield, and Enfield Rifled Musket) was a.

The cartridge was rumoured to having been greased with animal fat (primarily pig fat and cow fat, which animals are not consumed by Muslims and Hindus respectively, the former being abhorrent to Muslims and the latter a holy animal of the Hindus). A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical [4] The cartridges had to be bitten at one end prior to use. [5] The mutineers were of the opinion that this was an intentional act of the British, with the aim of defiling their religions.

Commandant Wheeler of the 34th BNI was known as a zealous Christian preacher, and this may also have impacted the Company's behaviour. The husband of Captain Wilma Halliday of 56th BNI had the Bible printed in Urdu and Nagri and distributed among the sepoys, thus raising suspicions amongst them that the British were intent on converting them to Christianity. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised [6]

Also, the 19th and 34th Native Infantry were stationed at Lucknow during the time of annexation of Oudh for mis-government by the Nawab on February 7, 1856. Lucknow is also a mansion in New Hampshire Lucknow ( लखनऊ لکھنؤ Lakhnaū) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh For the Oudh tree see Agarwood. Awadh ( Hindi: अवध Urdu: اودھ) also known in various British historical texts as Oudh Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year The annexation had another implication for sepoys in the Bengal Army (a significant portion of whom came from that princely state). Before the annexation, these sepoys had the right to petition the British Resident at Lucknow for justice—a significant privilege in the context of native courts. As a result of the annexation, they lost that right, since that state no longer existed. Moreover, this action was seen by the residents of the state as an affront to their honour, the annexation being done in violation of an existing treaty.

Thus, it was quite natural that sepoys were affected by the general discontent which had been stirred up by the annexation. In February 1857, both these regiments were situated in Barrackpore.

The 19th Native Infantry Regiment is important because it was the regiment charged with testing the new cartridges on February 26, 1857. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Click here for Indian Rebellion of 1857 Year 1857 ( MDCCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the However, right up to the mutiny the guns had not been issued to them and the cartridges in the magazine of the regiment were as free of grease as they had been through the preceding half century. However, the paper used in wrapping the cartridges was of a different colour, arousing suspicions. The non-commissioned officers of the regiment refused to accept the cartridges on the 26 February. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed This information being conveyed to the commanding officer, Colonel Mitchell, he took it upon himself to try to convince the sepoys that the cartridges were no different from those they had been accustomed to and that they need not bite it. He concluded his exhortation with an appeal to the native officers to uphold the honour of the regiment and a threat to court-martial such sepoys as refused to accept the cartridge. A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a Military court. These military courts can determine Punishments for members of the Military subject However, the next morning the regiment rose in rebellion and it was only due to the persuasive powers of Colonel Mitchell and his sagacity that the sepoys were convinced to return to their barracks. A Court of Enquiry was ordered which after an investigation lasting nearly a month, recommended the disbanding of the regiment. The same was carried out on the 31 March. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor The 19th N. I. Regiment, far from being dismissed with dishonour, as is held by some, were allowed to retain their uniforms and provided by the Government with an allowance to return home.

The Enfield Rifle and Cartridge

The P-53 was officially known as the Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket. The Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifled Musket (also known as the Pattern 1853 Enfield, P53 Enfield, and Enfield Rifled Musket) was a. Rifling refers to the Helix -shaped pattern in the barrel of a Firearm, which imparts a spin to a Projectile around its long axis A musket is a muzzle -loaded Smoothbore Long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder Introduced in the British Army by the War Department during 1854 in the Crimean War, they proved very effective at a range of 50 to 300 yards (270 m). The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought It was introduced in the Bengal Army by the East India Company in early-1857.

The rifle used a Metford-Pritchitt cartridge that required the use of a heavy paper tube containing 2½ drams (68 grains) of musket powder and a 530-grain (34 g), pure lead bullet. As the bullet incorporated no annular grease rings like the French and American minié ball bullets introduced in 1847, it was wrapped with a strip of greased paper to facilitate loading. The Minié ball (or minie ball) is a type of muzzle-loading Rifle Bullet named after co-developer Claude-Étienne Minié. The cartridge itself was covered with a thin mixture of beeswax and mutton tallow for waterproofing. For the rock song by Nirvana see Beeswax (song. Beeswax is a natural Wax produced in the bee hive of Honey bees of the genus Lamb, hogget, and mutton are the meat of Domestic sheep. The meat of an animal in its first year is lamb; that of an older sheep is hogget Tallow is a rendered form of Beef or Mutton Fat, processed from Suet.

To load his rifle, the sepoy had to first bite off the rear of the cartridge to pour the powder down the barrel. He then inverted the tube (the projectile was placed in the cartridge base up), pushed the end-portion into the muzzle to the approximate depth of the bullet and tore off the remaining paper. The bullet could then be easily rammed on top of the charge.

Since Hindus consider cows as sacred and Muslims regard pigs as dirty, native sepoys could be expected to have reservations in its usage. The company therefore kept this fact suppressed. Thus, when it came out as a rumour, it had an even more damaging effect, as all kinds of rumours started spreading. For instance, it was thought that the British planned to make their sepoys outcaste in the society in order to force them to convert to Christianity. Another rumour said the British had adulterated the wheat flour distributed to the sepoys with ground bone-dust of bullocks.

The matter could have been worsened by the fact that an overwhelming number of sepoys in the Bengal Native Infantry were Brahmins from Awadh, Purvanchal and Western Bihar. Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. For the Oudh tree see Agarwood. Awadh ( Hindi: अवध Urdu: اودھ) also known in various British historical texts as Oudh Purvanchal (est - mountain is a geographic region of north-central India, which comprises the eastern end of Uttar Pradesh state Bihar ( Hindi:बिहार Urdu: بہار bɪhaːr) is a state in eastern India. As Brahmins are generally devout Hindus and therefore vegetarians, they are not supposed to eat or touch meat, the resistance was even stronger. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes Meat (including game and slaughter by-products Fish (including Shellfish and other sea

The Commander-in-Chief, General George Anson reacted to this crisis by saying, "I'll never give in to their beastly prejudices," and despite the pleas of his junior officers, he did not compromise.

Later, the British contemplated reducing the discontent by allowing the sepoys to use their own grease made of ghee (clarified butter). Ghee ( Hindi घी ghī, Urdu گھی ghī, Punjabi ਘਿਉ/گھیو ghiu, Kashmiri ग्याव/گیاو Lord Canning sanctioned a proposal of Major-General Hearsey to this effect. However, the proposal was shot down by the Meerut-based Adjutant-General of the Army Colonel C. Meerut ( Hindi: मेरठ Urdu: میرٹھ is a city and a Municipal corporation in Meerut district in the Indian Chester, who felt it would be tantamount to an admission of guilt and could therefore worsen the matter. [7] He falsely claimed that the sepoys had been using cartridges greased with mutton fat for years and that there was therefore no reason to give in now. This claim was however not correct as native sepoys had till then only used Brown Bess muskets for which unsmeared paper cartridges were employed. Brown Bess is a nickname of unknown origin for the British Army 's Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives The Government let itself be convinced and rescinded the order allowing the usage of ghee.

Consequences

The attack by, and punishment of, Pandey is widely seen as the opening scene of what came to be known as the 'Indian Rebellion of 1857'. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of Sepoys of British East India Company 's army on the 10th of May 1857 in the town of Meerut, He is often referred to in India as Shaheed (Martyr) Mangal Pandey.

Film and Stage Adaptations

The Rising (2005)

Aamir Khan played the role of Mangal Pandey in the movie Mangal Pandey: The Rising
Aamir Khan played the role of Mangal Pandey in the movie Mangal Pandey: The Rising

A film based on the sequence of events that led up to the mutiny, entitled Mangal Pandey: The Rising starring Indian actor, Aamir Khan along with Rani Mukerji, Toby Stephens and Amisha Patel, produced by Bobbie Bedi and directed by Ketan Mehta was released in August 2005. Aamir redirects here For the Indian movie see Aamir (2008 film. Mangal Pandey The Rising (Indian title or The Ballad of Mangal Pandey (international title (released in India on August 12 Mangal Pandey The Rising (Indian title or The Ballad of Mangal Pandey (international title (released in India on August 12 Aamir redirects here For the Indian movie see Aamir (2008 film. Rani Mukerji (রাণী মুখার্জী रानी मुखर्जी born on March 21, 1978, is an award winning Indian Film actress Toby Stephens (born 21 April, 1969) is an English stage, television and Film Actor, best known for playing supervillain Amisha Patel (अमीषा पटेल (born June 9, 1976, also known as Ameesha Patel) is an Indian Bollywood actress Born in Navsari in Gujarat, Ketan Mehta was educated in Delhi and graduated in film direction from Film and Television

This was one of India's grandest and most epic movies to date, according to some, and had a historic opening week at the box office. At the time of release, it created controversy for apparently misrepresenting the character of Mangal Pandey, which led to small scale rioting in the hinterland of Northern India, in the native region of Mangal Pandey. The allegations however could not be substantiated and the director of the movie submitted evidence to the Delhi High Court on the matter. The fact however remains that the film dramatised the life and actions of Mangal Pandey in an extensive manner, for there is not really much information available about him except for the above-mentioned incident. In fact even his exact place of birth (village as well as district) is subject to controversy.

The Roti Rebellion (2005)

The life of Mangal Pandey was the subject of a stage play titled The Roti Rebellion, which was written and directed by Supriya Karunakaran. The play was organized by Sparsh, a theatre group, and presented in June 2005 at The Moving Theatre at Andhra Saraswat Parishad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

Bombay to Goaa (2007)

The brief parody appearance made Mangal Pandey renamed "Jungle Pandey a. k. a Sarker"

English Language

In the English language, Pandey is best remembered for the word his surname and his actions helped coin, pandy - a traitor, particularly a rebellious sepoy of the Mutiny of 1857. Once a colloquial term on the lips of every English-speaking Indian and Englishman resident in India, the word is no longer in regular use. [8][9]

Commemoration

A stamp issued in the memory of Mangal Pandey by the Government of India
A stamp issued in the memory of Mangal Pandey by the Government of India

Postage Stamp

The Government of India commemorated Mangal Pandey by issuing a postage stamp bearing his image on October 5, 1984. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The stamp and the accompanying first-day cover were designed by Delhi-based artist C. R. Pakrashi.

References

  1. ^ a b [Misra, Amaresh, Mangal Pandey: True Story of an Indian Revolutionary, 2005, Rupa & Co. publisher, Delhi]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g [Source: "The Indian Mutiny of 1857", Col. G. B. Malleson, reprint 2005, Rupa & Co. Publishers, New Delhi]
  3. ^ a b c [Source: "The Great Mutiny", Christopher Hibbert, 1978, Penguin Books]
  4. ^ Proceedings of a Special Court of Inquiry concerning the Native Infantry, 6 February 1857 Archives of Project South Angel, Missouri Southern State University
  5. ^ Memorandum from Lieutenant and Brevet-Captain J. A. Wright to the Adjutant of the Rife Instruction Depot concerning the reaction of the Indian soldiers to the Enfield cartridges, 22 January 1857 Archives of Project South Angel, Missouri Southern State University.
  6. ^ Memorandum from Major-General J. B. Hearsey to Major W. A. J. Mayhew concerning the rumor that sepoys must embrace Christianity, 28 January 1857 Archives of Project South Angel, Missouri Southern State University
  7. ^ Source: 'British India 1818-1875' by Sanderson Beck)
  8. ^ ["Chambers 20th Century Dictionary", W. & R. Chambers Limited, Edinburgh, 1983]
  9. ^ ["Funk and Wagnall's New Standard Dictionary", The Standard Dictionary Company, London and New York, 1929]

See also

Further reading

External links

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