Why Mangal Pandey, even Mahatma Gandhi, Jhansi Laxmibai,Kittur Chenamma etc. can be termed as accidental heroes. If Gandhi would not have been pulled out of First Class Compartment to the Rly.platform, he could have continued his legal practice.Similarly if Britishers would not have denied the adoption Laxmibai and Rani Chenamma would have continued to rule thier kingdom. I contrast take the case of Shivaji/ Netaji or Sardar Patel, they had determined their mission in their early childhood and fought with Mughals/Britishers to fulfil the dreams of throwing the yolks of Mughals and Britishers. skj
hi its called fortune favours bravemen.Mangal pandey was a brave men of our indian history.There were so many men, at that time but no one dare to oppose the british empire. Mangal panday is why important for our generation??? Because, he waas so much simple man, belong from ordinary family, but having so much great thought for nation!!!!!!!its really amazing!!!!!!!His mother land was Village NAGWAN, DISTRICT--BALLIA(UP).Thats motherland is worshipable for every INDIAN.I proud of like BALLIA district, which has given a great son for INDIA.
They always try to steal Inida of its heros don't they? Fact is they themselves would not have either guts nor the intellect in the situations such as those that Pandey confronted and yet they choose to comment on his bravado.
Mangal Pandey was a very good character to be remembered.
But to make a film we need a character who give us a sense of pride. In the history of last 1000 years merely 40r 5 1individulas are there whom we can felt proud.
1. Maharaja Ranjit Singh: He was perhaps the only Indian ruler in the entire Indian history who defeated Pathans in their own backyard.
2. Hari Singh Nalwa: His was the name of terror for all the afghans and their army.
3. Chatarpati Shivaji: The way he fought with Aurangzeb and escaped from the prison can make a good movie.
4. Banda Bahadur: He was very brave Rajput from Poocnh J&K about whom Indians must know.
5. Guru Teg Bahadur: The way he sacrificed his life and his family for saving the lives and religion of different faith is beyond any comparison. For me he is gift of god to mankind. His achievements are much greater then the combined achievements of Rama, Krishna, Jesus, Budha. But he never get his due share in the society. May be because he belonged to small different faith. But what he was done was for the entire mankind.
Many persons are claiming that Mangal Pandey was accidentally made into a martyr. That he was in a state of intoxication and so was not responsible for his acts.
But the arguments are faulty. All soldiers of all armies across the world are given free liquor and they often drink with their superiors. They do not start shooting at their superiors immediately after getting intoxicated. Lacs of Hindus consume bhang during holi every year. All do not get violent and start attacking other people there after. Mangal Pandey may have consumed Bhang but still it may not have been the first time he did so. Liquor or any other intoxicant just reduces inhibitions and fears.
Mangal Pandey must have been frustrated by the way British treated Indians for a long time. That he exhorted other soldiers to follow him also shows that he wanted at least his infantry /division to revolt against the British, though even he may not have envisioned that his act would start off such a revolt as it did. Probably his act was like a trigger that triggered similar actions from many people all of whom resented the British.
Something similar had happened some time back. During the tenure of Mr. VP Singh, a person called Rajiv Goswami attempted self immolation against Mandal commission. Again, his act was quite unexpectedly repeated by thousands of youth across the country. It stirred the hearts of thousands the same way. What Rajiv Goswami did was not accidental. But what followed was quite unexpected.
It is very easy for someone to write off the act of Mangal Pandey as accidental. But the person should ask just question. IN THE ABOUT 100-150 YEARS OF BRITISH RULE, WHY NO OTHER SOLDIER EVER FIRED AT A BRITISH OFFICER EVEN UNDER INTOXICATION. Dont tell that bhang or liquor was not popular among Indian soldiers in those days.
No accidental hero was Mangal Pandey. It is time we stop getting influenced by british history and few "britishmen" still left in Hindustan who perceive our first war of independence as sepoy mutiny!!!
Mangal Pandey was a hero and will remain a hero in Indian Hearts!!!
Anything better that anyone can expect from this leftist who has done nothing better in his life except trying to snatch away the last bits of pride left among Indians?
Hi, I am always confused why people want to create controversies with the national heros. I just want to say even if what the author is saying (that Mangal Pandey was drunk) is true the act he did was under influence of it but because of that the 1857's First Freedom War started and he can't ignore it.
