Mangal Pandey was an Indian soldier in the British Army and was a key figure behind the Sepoy Mutiny, the first Indian War of Independence in 1857. Due to his attack on two British soldiers, Mangal Pandey was hanged in April 1857 at the age of 29.
Born in Uttar Pradesh on July 19, 1827, Mangal Pandey joined the British East India Company in 1849 and is believed to have started a rebellion while in Barrackpore. With his courage, the martyr Mangal Pandey sowed the seeds of the first revolution in India in front of the entire British government. He gave the motto “Maaro Firangi Ko”.
The reason is generally attributed to the British’s introduction of a new type of Enfield rifle that required soldiers to bite off the ends of the cartridge to load the weapon. The lubricant in the cartridge was rumoured to be cow or pig lard. The Hindus, who considered the cow to be sacred, were dismayed, while the Muslims considered the pig impious and angry at using the cartridge.
The famous historian Surendranth Sen, in his renowned book Eighteen Fifty-Seven, had written about how the 1857 uprising resulted from massive discontent against anti-people politics and how people like Nana Saheb, Rani Laxmibai, Tatya Tope and Mangal Pandey were at the forefront of the rebellion against the British Raj.
Here are some powerful quotes by the revolutionary martyr:
1. “When you protect your country, religion is protected itself”
2. “Till today you’ve seen our loyalty, now you will see our Anger”
3. “The gun is a very unfaithful lover, anytime it can change its direction, there is no trust”
4. “It’s a fight for freedom, freedom with past for coming future.”
5. “Then I lost my sleep thinking of it, that the blood of the martyrs was for my sleep.”
6. “Give a salute to this tricolour, from whom you are proud, always keep your head high, As long as there is life in the heart!”
7. “Haste-Haste Fannsi Chadkar apni jaan gava di, aur badle mein de di ye pawan aazadi.”
8. “Mann ko khud hi Magan Karlo, Kabhi Kabhi shahidon ko Bhi Naman Karlo.”