What is Mangal Pandey?
[[File:Mangal Pandey 1984 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|1984 Indian Stamp depicting Mangal Pandey|229x229px]] '''Mangal Pandey''' (19 July 1827 – 8 April 1857) was an [[India|Indian]] [[Soldier|solider]]. He was a soldier of the [[Bengal Army]] under the [[East India Company]]. He was known for actions in the events just after the start of the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian rebellion of 1857]]. == Early life and career == Pandey was born on 19 July 1827 (or 6 July as per Hindu calendar date of 2nd Friday of bright-half of Ashadha) at Akbarpur in [[Faizabad district]] of Oudh State. It is a village of upper Ballia district in what is now [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mangal Pandey birth anniversary: Know about India's courageous freedom fighter|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/mangal-pandey-birth-anniversary-know-about-indias-courageous-freedom-fighter|access-date=2022-09-05|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref> He was born to a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/mangal-pandey-legacy-revolt-1857-9256891/lite/ Bhumihar Brahmin] family.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mangal Pandey {{!}} Biography & Facts {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mangal-Pandey|access-date=2022-09-05|website=www.britannica.com|language=en}}</ref> He joined the Bengal Army in May 1849, at the age of 22, and underwent nine months of military training before being admitted as a sepoy (private solider) of 5th Company in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) in February 1850.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52456236|title=The Indian Mutiny : 1857|last=David|first=Saul|date=2003|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-14-100554-6|location=London|page=69|oclc=52456236}}</ref> == Death == Pandey was part of the [[revolution]] against the East India Company. They rebelled because the Company brought a new [[weapon]].{{Fact|date=August 2023}} It was called the Enfield Rifle. These rifles had [[Cartridge (firearms)|cartridges]] which were greased with the f