Mangal Pandey's stand at Barrackpore

A sepoy's defiance over the new cartridges, weeks before the great revolt.

Key points for UPSC

• Mangal Pandey of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry attacked British officers at Barrackpore on 29 March 1857 and was hanged on 8 April.
• The immediate grievance was the cartridge of the new Enfield rifle, said to be greased with cow and pig fat, which sepoys had to bite open.
• His regiment was disbanded; his name became a symbol of the revolt that broke out at Meerut in May.

Who was involved

• Mangal Pandey · raising the call

Test yourself

1. 1. Mangal Pandey belonged to which regiment?

   • (a) 34th Bengal Native Infantry
   • (b) 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry
   • (c) 19th Madras Infantry
   • (d) Garhwal Rifles
   Show answer

   (a) 34th Bengal Native Infantry. He served in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry at Barrackpore.

2. 2. The immediate cause of the sepoys' anger in 1857 was:

   • (a) Greased cartridges of the Enfield rifle
   • (b) The Ilbert Bill
   • (c) The Vernacular Press Act
   • (d) The partition of Bengal
   Show answer

   (a) Greased cartridges of the Enfield rifle. The cartridges, rumoured to be greased with animal fat, offended both Hindu and Muslim sepoys.

3. 3. Barrackpore lies close to which city?

   • (a) Calcutta
   • (b) Meerut
   • (c) Lucknow
   • (d) Delhi
   Show answer

   (a) Calcutta. Barrackpore is a cantonment just north of Calcutta (Kolkata).