Mangal Pandey was born to a Brahmin couple in Nagwa village, Uttar Pradesh. He joined the British army and got a salary of Rs. 7/- per month. Indian soldiers who had agreed to join the revolt wanted to wait until 31st May, but 26-year-old Mangal Pandey could not. He refused to use the Enfield Rifle. Sargeant-Major Hewson ordered for his arrest, but Mangal Pandey shot him and defeated another British officer also. Indian soldiers refused to arrest Mangal. When he was cornered, Mangal shot himself with his own rifle.
A bleeding Mangal Pandey was taken to hospital to get information about the revolt from him. The British pretended to run a case against Mangal on 6th April, 1857. The entire procedure was purposely in English. Though he was sentenced to death, he did not divulge any information to the British. He was hanged at 5:30 a.m. on 8th April, 1857. Thus, Mangal Pandey became the First Martyr of the 1857 revolt.
