Mangal Pandey, a key figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, belonged to the 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) regiment of the British East India Company’s army. Born on July 19, 1827, in Nagwa village of present-day Uttar Pradesh, Pandey enlisted in the East India Company’s army in 1849, becoming part of the 34th BNI stationed at Barrackpore
Pandey is renowned for his role in inciting the rebellion against the British. The immediate cause of his defiance was the introduction of the new Enfield rifle, which required soldiers to bite off the ends of lubricated cartridges. Rumors that the grease used in the cartridges contained cow and pig fat—offensive to Hindu and Muslim soldiers respectively—led to widespread anger
On March 29, 1857, Pandey attacked British officers, sparking a sequence of events that contributed significantly to the larger rebellion. He was court-martialed and executed on April 8, 1857 . Following the incident, the 34th BNI was disbanded for failing to act against Pandey during the mutiny