MANGAL PANDEY

• Mangal Pandey, born on July 19, 1827, in Nagwa village in Batia district, belonged to a Bhumihar Brahmin family. At the age of 22, he enlisted in the East India Company's army, serving as a soldier in the 6th company of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry.
• He took a stand against using the newly introduced Enfield rifle, which allegedly had cartridges coated with animal fat (beef and pork) that needed to be bitten open before use. This act was perceived by the soldiers as a direct attack on their religious beliefs, as they believed the British aimed to undermine their faith and promote Christianity.
• On March 29, 1857, Pandey rebelled and fired at his Senior Sergeant Major. Subsequently, he was subdued and executed on April 8, 1857, following a Court Martial at Lal Bagan in Barrackpore. His regiment, like the 19th infantry in Behrampore, was disbanded due to the display of dissent
• Mangal Pandey, who met his demise at the hands of the Company on April 8, 167 years ago, hailed from Awadh, a region annexed by the British in 1856 despite prior agreements with the Begums of Awadh.
• This annexation deeply angered the populace, particularly as Awadh was a significant source of soldiers for the Company's army, with approximately 75,000 troops hailing from the region.
• Nearly every agricultural household in Awadh had a member serving in the army, making the events in the region a matter of utmost importance to the Sepoy.
• The removal of the Nawab and the seizure of taluqdars' villages during the land revenue settlement of 1856 sparked widespread outrage.
• Around 14,000 petitions were lodged by the Sepoys, highlighting the hardships endured due to the revenue system. Mangal Pandey symbolized the discontent that permeated peasant families under British rule

3.1857 Revolt

• Pandey's act was followed by a similar defiance from the soldiers of the 7th Awadh Regiment, resulting in a similar outcome.
• By the onset of May, reports of the Sepoys' rebellion had reached Meerut. On the morning of May 11, 1857, a group of Sepoys from Meerut, who had refused to use the new cartridges and had killed their European officers the day before, crossed the Jamuna River. They set fire to the tool house and proceeded to march towards the Red Fort.
• Appealing to Bahadur Shah II, the elderly Mughal emperor who was receiving a pension from the East India Company, they requested him to lead their cause, providing legitimacy to their actions. After much persuasion, he acquiesced and was declared the Shah-en-shah-i-Hindustan
• Pandey's actions had extensive ramifications, prompting a shift in the dynamics of British governance in India. The uprising caught the British off guard, challenging their perception of Indian subjugation and revealing the potential for resistance among the Indian populace. Following the revolt, they recognized the necessity for a long-term strategy to maintain control over India.
• On August 2, 1858, the British Parliament enacted legislation transferring all authority of the East India Company to the Crown, designating Queen Victoria as the Sovereign of British India. Lord Canning's Queen's Proclamation, issued on November 1, 1858, to the Princes, Chiefs, and people of India, unveiled a new policy emphasizing perpetual support for native Princes and non-interference in matters of religious belief.
• The governance of India under the Monarch's authority through a Secretary of State aimed to enhance administrative oversight and control over the Indian government. It was decided to accord equal status to the "Natives of India" as other subjects of the British Empire, with assurances of legal equality under the Crown.
• The principles outlined in the Queen's Proclamation were reaffirmed during a significant event held at Delhi's Coronation Park in 1877, known as the Delhi Durbar, attended by a large assembly. Queen Victoria assumed the title of Qaiser-e-Hind, reinforcing the Crown's commitment to India and its diverse peoples