Mangal Pandey was a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) regiment of the British East India Company. His actions on March 29, 1857, where he attacked British officers, were a significant catalyst for the Indian Rebellion of 1857. This rebellion is also known as the First War of Indian Independence or the Sepoy Mutiny.
Pandey’s regiment, the 34th BNI, played a central role in the early stages of the mutiny. The incident involving Mangal Pandey occurred in Barrackpore, where he openly defied and attacked his British superiors. This act of rebellion and subsequent events led to his arrest, trial, and execution on April 8, 1857​Â
The 34th BNI was later disbanded by the British authorities as a punitive measure for their failure to act against Pandey during the mutiny. This disbandment was part of the broader British efforts to suppress the rebellion and reassert control over their colonial forces​Â
Mangal Pandey’s legacy as a freedom fighter is honored in India, and he is remembered for his pivotal role in igniting the 1857 uprising, which eventually contributed to India’s struggle for independence from British rule​Â