The country side had turned into a pressure cooker of anger and anytime it could explode. The rumour of cow and pig fat in the cartridge caps had spread through all the army garrisons and cantonments. The sepoys were extremely agitated over it. Their minds had become tinder boxes.Then, Major Mathews of Barrackpore garrison received […]
One month later, 34 Infantry battalion had settled down in Meerut contonment. Meerut garrison was the seat of Company’s Military Adjutant General. Major General J.B. Hearsy was its Commanding Officer. Both the generals were unsympathetic to the sentiments of the native sepoys.Colonel Douglus was an intelligent officer and he understood the feelings of the natives
Upon return to the Barrackpore cantonment Mangal learnt that his unit was likely to be moved to Meerut cantonment situated near Delhi.The British had got some wind of the impending trouble but they were not unduly worried. They had seen and dealt with many mutinities and rebellions effectively. The most of them were quickly crushed
When Mangal Pandey went home a couple of years before the uprising D. Day he sensed the anti-British atmosphere building up in the country side and the towns. It made him feel uneasy. No one had a good word for the British except a few educated elite who appreciated the reform measures and the opening
Robert Clive, the founder of the East India Company rule in India had been called back. He was made to appear before a parliamentary committee to answer the corruption charges against him. Robert Clive brazenly stated that he had done nothing wrong. What he amassed was forced upon him. If he wished he could have
Lalchand infact was the Drill Havildar. The recruitment incharge Sergeant, a white officer indeed had Lalchand in his good books. The Havildar’s words counted for something which became apparent when the officer paid special attention to Mangal Pandey.Young Mangal was his own recommendation. He had a fair complexion which made the white people feel psychologically
The kid Mangal continued growing up in his dusty village of Ballia. What the old wise man had said on that day on the hillock became more and more meaningful as he gained greater understanding as, he went on maturing into his teens. Meanwhile East India Company (Company Bahadur) was implementing its policies with greater
Sometime around 1845…Columns of red uniformed sepoys were marching on a dusty road of eastern U.P. The columns were headed and flanked by horse mounted white skinned superiors. Their posturing exuded masterly vanity. Although they also wore red liveries yet the material used was of expensive variety compared to that of sepoys. The sepoys were
On the morning of that fateful day, 27th January, 1931—As usual Azad took a dip in Yamuna river. Than he did usual worship and prayers. He was only wearing a langot.Then he restlessly began strolling to and fro on the bank. He was lost in thought. All the memories was coming to him. Meeting all
Azad again went through a period of deep depression, He could not think properly and was always seen in brooding mood. Some times he felt that he was going out of his mind. Then, he suspected everyone around him. He thought that some traitor was amongst them who was betraying him and the party. At
After returning from Allahabad Azad made Bhagwati Charan his Second-in-Command. The attitude of the British government made it clear that it won’t pardon or remiss the death sentences of his comrades. The appeals were going to fail. There was no hope.Azad started working on plans to rescue his comrades from police custody. He thought that
The death sentence to the dear comrades broke the heart of Azad. The organisation was in shambles. Where would he get comrades like Bhagat Singh again?From the onset Azad was not in favour of Bhagat Singh getting arrested voluntarily. He knew that of Bhagat Singh fell in the police hands, he would most certainly be
Meanwhile Bhagat Singh had reached Calcutta and Azad had gone to Mathura. After a short time the revolutionaries regrouped at Agra where they had set up secret headquarter and a bomb making factory.As the above mentioned bills were directly against the leftist militant youth and the trade unionists, the ‘Hindustan Socialist Republican Army’ drew up
Azad travelled to Allahabad to meet Motilal Nehru. He was warmly greeted at Anand Bhavan. They held a long discussion on militancy and their respective opinions.Motilal said, “British are big power. How would your a small group of youngman win against them in an armed battle?”“If your good wishes and blessings are with us then
The plan was to kill the Deputy Commissioner of Police Scott who had ordered the lathi charge. For this mission Azad, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Shiv Ram and Jaigopal were selected.Jaigopal spied on Scott and noted down his daily routine and the routes he used in the course of his duty. Based on his report action