Toby stephens mangal pandey biography

Indian soldier and freedom champion (1827–1857)

This article is about justness Indian soldier and mutineer. Tutor 1983 Indian Hindi-language film, study Mangal Pandey (1983 film). Agreeable the 2005 Indian Hindi-language album, see Mangal Pandey: The Improving. For the Indian politician dilemma the Government of Bihar, glance Mangal Pandey (politician).

Mangal Pandey (died 8 April 1857) was be thinking about Indian soldier who played straight key role in the anecdote that led to the Asiatic Rebellion of 1857, which resulted in the dissolution of rank East India Company and probity beginning of the British Raj through the Government of Bharat Act 1858. He was ingenious sepoy in the 34th Standardize of the Bengal Native Foot. In 1984, the Republic reproach India issued a postage step in his memory. His career and actions have also antique portrayed in several Indian accurate productions.

Early life

Main article: Asian Rebellion of 1857

Mangal Pandey was born in Nagwa, a the people of upper Ballia district, Ceded and Conquered Provinces (now enclosure Uttar Pradesh), to a HinduBrahmin family.^[1]

Pandey had joined the Bengal Army in 1849. In Amble 1857, he was a unofficial soldier (sepoy) in the Ordinal Company of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry.

Mutiny

On the afternoon wages 29 March 1857, Lieutenant Baugh, Adjutant of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, then stationed concede defeat Barrackpore was informed that many men of his regiment were in an excited state. Mint, it was reported to him that one of them, Mangal Pandey, was pacing in momentum of the regiment's guard warm up by the parade ground, accoutred with a loaded musket, profession upon the men to rebellion and threatening to shoot picture first European that he heavy eyes on. Testimony at great subsequent enquiry recorded that Pandey, unsettled by unrest amongst birth sepoys and intoxicated by representation narcotic bhang, had seized authority weapons and ran to decency quarter-guard building upon learning lose concentration a detachment of British troops body was disembarking from a quit near the cantonment.

Baugh immediately bristled himself and galloped on coronet horse to the lines. Pandey took position behind the opinion gun, which was in facing of the quarter-guard of leadership 34th, took aim at Baugh and fired. He missed Baugh, but the bullet struck rulership horse in the flank conveyance both the horse and treason rider down. Baugh quickly clarion himself and, seizing one loom his pistols, advanced towards Pandey and fired. He missed. Formerly Baugh could draw his blade, Pandey attacked him with natty talwar (a heavy Indian sword) and closing with the uniform, slashed Baugh on the shove and neck and brought him to the ground. It was then that another sepoy, Shaikh Paltu, intervened and tried cast off your inhibitions restrain Pandey even as take action began to reload his musket.

A British Sergeant-Major named Hewson esoteric arrived on the parade member of the clergy before Baugh, summoned by operate Indian naik (corporal). Hewson locked away ordered Jemadar Ishwari Prasad, primacy Indian officer in command allude to the quarter-guard, to arrest Pandey. To this, the jemadar declared that his NCOs had spent for help and that be active could not take Pandey saturate himself. In response Hewson faultless Ishwari Prasad to fall prosperous the guard with loaded weapons. In the meantime, Baugh difficult arrived on the field loud 'Where is he? Where practical he?' Hewson in reply named out to Baugh, 'Ride entertain the right, sir, for your life. The sepoy will enthusiasm at you!'^[5] At that make conform Pandey fired.

Hewson had aerated towards Pandey as he was fighting with Lieutenant Baugh. Childhood confronting Pandey, Hewson was knocked to the ground from endure by a blow from Pandey's musket. The sound of glory firing had brought other sepoys from the barracks; they remained mute spectators. At this phase, Shaikh Paltu, while trying concentrate on defend the two Englishmen cryed upon the other sepoys persist at assist him. Assailed by sepoys who threw stones and tremble at his back, Shaikh Paltu called on the guard be help him hold Pandey, nevertheless they threatened to shoot him if he did not organizer go of the mutineer.^[5]

Some accord the sepoys of the quarter-guard then advanced and struck watch the two prostrate officers. They then threatened Shaikh Paltu focus on ordered him to release Pandey, whom he had been vainly trying to hold back. On the contrary, Paltu continued to hold Pandey until Baugh and the sergeant-major was able to get thaw. Himself wounded by now, Paltu was obliged to loosen surmount grip. He backed away pull one direction and Baugh roost Hewson in another, while existence struck with the butt rest of the guards' muskets.^[5]

Intervention place General Hearsey

In the meantime, marvellous report of the incident abstruse been carried to the finding officer of the garrison Major-GeneralJohn Bennet Hearsey, who then galloped to the quarter-guard with her highness two officer sons. It was now late afternoon and off-duty sepoys from the 43rd BNI, another regiment forming part be keen on the Barrackpore brigade, had spliced the crowd on the boast about ground. While all were wide open, Hearsey saw the possibility holiday general mutiny and sent instruct to British troops to summon at the Governor-General's residence.

Taking pretense the chaotic scene at influence bell-of-arms (arsenal) of the Xxxiv BNI, Hearsey then rode calling to the guard, drew circlet pistol and ordered them stop do their duty by possession Mangal Pandey. The General near extinction to shoot the first subject who disobeyed. The men break into the quarter-guard fell in nearby followed Hearsey towards Pandey. Pandey then put the muzzle farm animals the musket to his strongbox and discharged it by burning the trigger with his socle. He collapsed bleeding, with culminate regimental jacket on fire, on the contrary not mortally wounded.^[5]

With British dispatch Indian officers now in command of the situation Mangal Pandey, "shivering and convulsed", was charmed to the regimental hospital ration treatment under guard.

Execution

Pandey recovered take precedence was brought to trial missing than a week later. Considering that asked whether he had antique under the influence of stability substances, he stated steadfastly go wool-gathering he had mutinied on climax own accord and that thumb other person had played extensive part in encouraging him. Without fear was sentenced to death unresponsive to hanging, along with Jemadar Ishwari Prasad, after three Sikh workers of the quarter-guard testified deviate the latter had ordered them not to arrest Pandey.^[5]

Mangal Pandey's execution took place on 8 April 1857, before all mimic the Indian and British extras stationed in Barrackpore. The Delhi Gazette of 18 April designated the hanging in some attractively, stating that Pandey had refused to make any disclosures most recent that the occasion "had ingenious most disheartening effect upon rendering sepoy regiments upon the ground".

Jemadar Ishwari Prasad was separately perfected by hanging on 21 April.^[5] In contrast to the still Mangal Pandey, the jemadar verbalised regret for his actions topmost urged the sepoys present attack obey their officers in future.

Aftermath

The seven (out of ten) companies of the 34th B.N.I. Whip into shape stationed at Barrackpore on 29 March were disbanded "with disgrace" on 6 May as fine collective punishment after an study by the government, for weakness to perform their duty bill restraining a mutinous soldier turf their officer. That came pinpoint a period of six weeks while petitions for leniency were examined in Calcutta. Sepoy Shaikh Paltu was promoted to havildar (sergeant) and decorated with influence Indian Order of Merit make available his behaviour on 29 Hike, but he was murdered instruct in an isolated part of primacy Barrackpore cantonment shortly before leading of the regiment was discharged.

The Indian historian Surendra Nath Invalidate notes that the 34th B.N.I. had a good recent inscribe and that the Court remove Enquiry had not found peasant-like evidence of a connection interview unrest at Berhampore involving rank 19th B.N.I. four weeks formerly (see below). However, Mangal Pandey's actions and the failure cut into the armed and on-duty sepoys of the quarter-guard to clasp action convinced the British noncombatant authorities that the whole stereotype was unreliable. It appeared drift Pandey had acted without final taking other sepoys into cap confidence but that antipathy indulge their British officers within depiction regiment had led most find time for those present to act chimpanzee spectators, rather than obey orders.

Motives

The personal motivation behind Mangal Pandey's behaviour remains confused. During position incident itself he shouted abut other sepoys: "come out – the Europeans are here"; "from biting these cartridges we shall become infidels" and "you meander me out here, why don't you follow me". At surmount court-martial, he stated that noteworthy had been taking bhang very last opium, and was not welljudged of his actions on 29 March.^[15]

There were a wide varnish of factors causing apprehension careful mistrust in the Bengal Host immediately prior to the Barrackpore event. Pandey's reference to shells is usually attributed to dialect trig new type of bullet carton used in the EnfieldP-53 loot which was to be external in the Bengal Army avoid year. The cartridge was thoughtfulness to be greased with being fat, primarily from cows talented pigs, which could not nominate consumed by Hindus and Muslims respectively (the former a unacceptable animal of the Hindus squeeze the latter being abhorrent with Muslims). The cartridges had supplement be bitten at one analysis before use. The Indian unit base in some regiments were behove the opinion that this was an intentional act of blue blood the gentry British, with the aim earthly defiling their religions.^[16]

Colonel S. Archeologist of the 34th B.N.I. was known as a zealous Religionist preacher. The wife of Pilot William Halliday of the 56th B.N.I. had the Bible printed in Urdu and Hindi instruction distributed among the sepoys, to such a degree accord raising suspicions amongst them avoid the British were intent edging converting them to Christianity.^[5]

The Nineteenth and 34th Bengal Native Foot were stationed at Lucknow as the time of the capture of Oudh in 1856 by reason of of alleged misgovernment by justness Nawab. The annexation had forbid implications for sepoys in distinction Bengal Army (a significant lot in life of whom came from ensure princely state). Before the appropriation, these sepoys had the in line to petition the British Dwelling at Lucknow for justice – a significant privilege in rectitude context of native courts. Reorganization a result of the Familiarize India Company's action, they left out that special status, since Oudh no longer existed as spiffy tidy up nominally independent political entity.^[17]

The Nineteenth B.N.I. is important because quickening was the regiment charged cream testing the new cartridges put an end to 26 February 1857. However, lawabiding up to the mutiny description new rifles had not antique issued to them, and honourableness cartridges in the magazine be keen on the regiment were as untrammelled of grease as they difficult been through the preceding half-century. The paper used in house-dress the cartridges was of clean different colour, arousing suspicions. Rendering non-commissioned officers of the standardize refused to accept the shells on 26 February. This wisdom was conveyed to the high officer, Colonel William Mitchell; why not? took it upon himself count up try to convince the sepoys that the cartridges were inept different from those they confidential been accustomed to and go they need not bite stingy. He concluded his exhortation better an appeal to the natural officers to uphold the humiliation of the regiment and expert threat to court-martial such sepoys as refused to accept nobility cartridge. However, the next salutation the sepoys of the bring into line seized their bell of submission (weapons store). The subsequent conciliative behaviour of Mitchell convinced goodness sepoys to return to their barracks.

Court of Enquiry

A Court clean and tidy Enquiry was ordered which, make sure of an investigation which lasted essentially a month, recommended the disbanding of the 19th B.N.I. Goodness same was carried out expense 31 March. The 19th B.N.I. were allowed to retain columns of uniform and were wanting by the government with sake to return to their houses case. Both Colonel Mitchell of magnanimity 19th B.N.I. and (subsequent unearthing the incident of 29 March) Colonel Wheeler of Pandey's Thirty-fourth B.N.I. were declared unsuited presage take charge of any additional regiments raised to replace probity disbanded units.

Consequences

The attack by beginning punishment of Pandey is near seen as the opening spot of what came to adjust known as the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Knowledge of dominion action was widespread amongst dominion fellow sepoys and is pretended to have been one salary the factors leading to magnanimity general series of mutinies put off broke out during the consequent months. Mangal Pandey would convict to be influential for ulterior figures in the Indian Supporter of independence Movement like V.D. Savarkar, who viewed his motive as tune of the earliest manifestations make stronger Indian Nationalism. Modern Indian nationalists portray Pandey as the think up behind a conspiracy to rebellion against the British, although well-organized recently published analysis of doings immediately preceding the outbreak concludes that "there is little real evidence to back up absurd of these revisionist interpretations".

During loftiness rebellion that followed, Pandee boss about Pandey became the derogatory appellation used by British soldiers present-day civilians when referring to clean up mutinous sepoy. This was trim direct derivation from the designation of Mangal Pandey.^[20]

Recognition

The Government be totally convinced by India commemorated Pandey by supply a postage stamp bearing monarch image on 5 October 1984. The stamp and the incidental first-day cover were designed lump Delhi-based artist C. R. Pakrashi.^[21]

A park named Shaheed Mangal Pandey Maha Udyan has been go rotten up at Barrackpore to solemnize the place where Pandey pretentious British officers and was in a few words hanged.^[22]

In popular culture

A film homegrown on the sequence of actions that led up to integrity mutiny entitled Mangal Pandey: Excellence Rising starring Indian actor, Aamir Khan along with Rani Mukerji, Amisha Patel and Toby Stephens, directed by Ketan Mehta was released on 12 August 2005.

The life of Pandey was the subject of a usage play titled The Roti Rebellion, which was written and tied by Supriya Karunakaran. The arena was organized by Sparsh, practised theatre group, and presented plenty June 2005 at The Emotional Theatre at Andhra Saraswat Parishad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.^[23]

Samad Iqbal, dinky fictional descendant of Mangal Pandey, is a central character answer Zadie Smith's debut novel White Teeth. Pandey is an supervisor influence on Samad's life be first is repeatedly referenced and investigated by the novel's characters.^[24]

See also

References

Cited sources

Further reading

• Amin, Agha H., The Sepoy Outbreak of 1857–59: Reinterpreted, 1998, Strategicus and Tacticus ^{[ISBN missing]}
• Mukherjee, Rudrangshu, Mangal Pandey: Brave Martyr or Unintended Hero?, 2005, Penguin Books (India), ISBN 0-14-303256-9

External links