Mangal Pandey

Mangal Pandey

Prominentwriter · 8 months ago

Mangal Pandey was born on July 19, 1827, in Nagwa, a village in Uttar Pradesh, India. His father, Divakar Pandey, was a farmer, and his mother, Abhiyadevi, was a housewife. Mangal was the eldest son of his parents and had two younger brothers.

Mangal Pandey joined the British East India Company's army in 1849 and was posted to the 34th Bengal Native Infantry regiment. He received his training in Barrackpore, West Bengal, where he met other Indian soldiers who were also discontent with British rule.

In 1857, Mangal Pandey became a central figure in the Indian Rebellion against the British East India Company. Many remembered him for his role in the Barrackpore Mutiny, which took place on March 29, 1857.

Mangal Pandey had a very interesting story as a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry. During that time, there were rumors that cow and pig fat was being used in rifle cartridges, and due to this, Mangal Pandey refused to use those cartridges. The reason behind not using cartridges by Mangal Pandey was that greasing cow and pig fat in cartridges was against the religious beliefs of both Hindus and Muslims.

The rebellion of Pandey, which was against his British superiors, resulted in a much larger mutiny in the regiment, which quickly spread to other units as well. This was the mutiny that marked the start of the Indian Rebellion of 1857; it is also called the First War of Independence.

But a very unfortunate incident took place, and the Britishers captured Mangal Pandey, and he was sentenced to death by hanging. The date on which he was executed or hanged was April 8, 1857. This all took place in the presence of his fellow soldiers. But it should be noted that despite this unfortunate incident, the fight for India's independence did not stop. This incident inspired many others to join the rebellion started by Mangal Pandey for the freedom of the country.

Annie Besant

Prominentwriter · 8 months ago

Annie Besant was a remarkable woman born in London, England, on October 1, 1847. Her father, William Wood, was a doctor, and her mother, Emily Morris, was a devout Anglican. Annie grew up in a family that valued education and was sent to a boarding school in London. Unfortunately, her education was cut short when her father died because of some uncertain issues.

Annie Besant was a prolific writer, orator, and social reformer. She fought throughout her life for the rights of oppressed people and women. It would not be wrong to say that she was a champion of women's suffrage, working for Indian independence and workers' rights. She was also very spiritual, which led him to be a leader in a society named Theosophical, whose objective was to unite all religions.

Annie Besant had a keen interest in India from the start, and her interest led her to come to India in the year 1893. After her arrival, she started working as a social reformer in India. She was one of them who criticized British rule in India. She worked really hard to promote Indian independence. She was also a supporter of the Indian National Congress and worked with many great leaders there, like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi.

Annie Besant continued her work in India until her death on September 20, 1933, in Adyar, Chennai. She suffered a fatal bout of influenza, and because of her old age and other health problems, it got worse over time. She was mourned by people worldwide for her tireless work on behalf of social justice and her unwavering commitment to the cause of Indian independence.