Celebrating Mangal Pandey: Importance of the Rebel in the Current Generation

Posted On: 2024-07-19 10:26:34

Mangal Pandey was just an ordinary soldier and a man looking for bread like everyone else. But his single action caused a wave of events that would change history forever and bring about a nationalistic consciousness in the minds of Indian people everywhere.

Pandey was born on 19th July, 1827 in the small village of Nagwa in Ceded and Conquered Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh). He was hanged for killing an English officer on March 29, 1857. The motivation of the rebel has been credited to a rumour that emerged among the sepoys regarding the new Enfield rifle, which according to the rumour required soldiers to bite cartridges greased with animal fat.

While the motivation might have been blurry with false rumours it nevertheless incited the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which saw various factions uniting to overthrow the British Imperial Government. Even though the resulting rebellion was unsuccessful it was one of the early stages that would crumble the colonial regime.

Mangal Pandey’s courageous actions were more than an act of defiance against colonial rule. It was a demonstration that a single man can change the world. Even today we live in a world of injustices. People still are discriminated against based on race, religion, caste, gender or sexual orientation. Mangal Pandey’s gallantry serves as an inspiration to all of us for fighting the good fight.

In the age of social media and interconnectedness, one need not be enlisted in the army to incite a change. Social media has been credited for widespread consciousness that the ruling class are trying hard to suppress. Whether it be a call against genocide or rising up for marginalised groups in conservative countries, the oppressor is still trying to suppress our voice even in the democratic age.

Mangal Pandey is an example for not fearing any tyrants and being brave in the face of injustice. Even though the path to justice is laid with thorns, the end destination makes the price worth it. Mangal Pandey was hanged, but his act resulted in us enjoying freedom today. This serves as a lesson to activists all over the world that throughout their journey they might be forced to give up, but they need to resist.

Pandey’s story also reminds us of the importance of collective action. His act of resistance inspired Indians to unite in their freedom struggle finally. They forgot all that divided them like race, religion, gender and caste. Bahadur Shah II, Nana Sahib, Rani Lakshmibai, Tatya Tope, Bakht Khan,  Begum Hazrat Mahal and Kunwar Singh all united under one goal of freeing India.

Filaantro and Child Help Foundation greatly respect the struggles of Indian freedom fighters and have made their bid to incite a patriotic consciousness among the children. National festivals like Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti are celebrated in all of their Ashram Schools.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Make sure to share it with all your friends and family members. 

AUTHOR: Adil Sayyad