Mangal Pandey
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Contents |
The court martial of Sepoy Mungul Pandy of No.5 Company, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry
Sh. Neelotpal Mishra obtained the extracts placed below from
This article is an extract from The Indian Mutiny 1857-58 SELECTIONS FROM THE LETTERS DESPATCHES AND OTHER STATE PAPERS PRESERVED IN THE MILITARY-DEPARTMENT THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 1857-58 EDITED BY GEORGE W. FORREST, B.A. DIRECTOR OF RECORDS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA FELLOW OF THE BOMBAY UNIVERSITY VOLUME I CALCUTTA MILITARY DEPARTMENT PRESS 1893. |
5th April 1857
PRESIDENCY DIVISION ORDERS by Major-General, J. B.HEARSEY, C.B.,
Commanding the Presidency Division,
dated Head-Quarters, Barrackpore, 5th April 1857.
No.1 of 1857.-The Major-General cordially congratulates Lieutenant and Adjutant B. H. Baugh and Sergeant-Major J. T. Hewson, both of the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, for the personal gallantry displayed by them in the conflict with the sepoy, Mungul Pandy, of No.5 Company, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, who, in a state of religious frenzy, endeavoured to raise a mutiny in that regiment on Sunday afternoon, the 29th ultimo.
The Major-General will have much pleasure in bringing their praiseworthy conduct on this occasion to the notice of Government and His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. -
Shaik Pultoo, sepoy, Grenadier Company, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry (the orderly who accompanied Lieutenant Baugh), is promoted to havildar from the 29th March ultimo, and is to be borne on the rolls of the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, as supernumerary from that date; for the loyal and gallant conduct shown by him on that occasion, and application will be made by the Major-General to Government and His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief that he, Shaik Pultoo, Grenadier sepoy, may be further rewarded with the Order of Merit for being instrumental in saving the life of his officer.
This order is to be translated and read to all the native corps assembled on 'their regimental parades for that purpose, and afterwards to be, read at the head of each company.
6th April 1857
From Major-General J. B. HEARSEY, C.B., Commanding the Presidency Division to
Colonel R. J. H. BIBCH, C.B., Secretary to the Government of India, in the
Military Department,- No.151, dated Barrackpore, 6th April 1857.
In forwarding for the approval and confirmation of Government the accompanying copy of my Division Order, dated 5th instant, No. I, I beg that you will do me the honor to submit my earnest recommendation that the energetic and gallant conduct of Lieutenant and Adjutant B. H. Baugh and of Sergeant-Major J. T. Hewson, on the occasion in question, may be favorably noticed in G. 0.s; and further, that the promotion to a supernumerary havildar of Shaik Pultoo, sepoy, may be confirmed, and the Order of Merit bestowed on him by Government as a reward for his fidelity and bravery in defending the life of his European officer under most trying circumstances, in which act he was severely wounded.
Sepoy Mungul Pandy has not improved in. health since he came under my charge; he has been gradually becoming weaker, and is now much debilitated. The wound also presents an unhealthy appearance. I still, however, consider him in a fit state to be removed to the messhouse of the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry.
6th April 1857
CAMP BARRACKPORE (Sd.) T. D. REID,
The 6th April 1857. Asst. Surgeon, 53rd Regt.
I, James Allen, F.R.C.S., Assistant Surgeon, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, do hereby certify that Mungul Pandy, sepoy, No. 1446, 5th Company, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, is in a fit state to undergo his trial this day.
PROCEEDINGS in continuation of a native General Court-martial assembled at Fort William, by order of Major-General J. B. HEARSEY, C.B., Commanding the Presidency Division, for the trial of sepoys BOODHELELL TEWARY and BAHADOOR SING, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry, and all such prisoners as may be duly brought before it, and re-assembled at Barrackpore, on Monday, the 6th April 1857, by order of the Major-General, for the trial of Sepoy MUNGUL PANDY, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, and all prisoners who may be brought before it.
PRESIDENT:
Subadar-Major JOWAHIR LALL TEWARY, 43rd Regiment, Native Infantry.
MEMBERS:
Subadar BHOLA OPUDEAH, 17th Regiment, Native Infantry.
Subadar HURRUCK SING, 40th Regiment, Native Infantry.
Subadar RAM SING, 9th Battalion, Artillery.
Subadar AMANUT KHAN, 37th Regiment, Native Infantry.
Subadar SEWUMBUR PANDY, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry.
Subadar DIRGA RAM, 70th Regiment, Native Infantry.
Subadar KHOODA BUKSH, 2nd Regiment, Native (Grenadier) Infantry.
Subadar MEERWAN SING, 70th Regiment, Native Infantry.
Subadar SOOKHLAL MISR, 43rd Regiment, Native Infantry.
Subadar AJOODHIA TEWARY, 70th Regiment, Native Infantry.
Subadar JALIM SING, 43rd Regiment, Native Infantry.
Jemadar DEWAN ALLIE, 9th Battalion, Artillery.
Jemadar MOHUN SING, 65th Regiment, Native Infantry
Jemadar LALLA RAM BUKSH, 8th Regiment, Native Infantry
JUDGE ADVOCATE:
Captain G. C. HATCH, Deputy Judge Advocate-General, Presidency Division.
INTERPRETER:
Lieutenant JAMES VALLINGS, 19th Regiment, Native Infantry.
The Court re-assembled at the Mess House of the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, at Barrackpore, at 11 A.M., the President, Members, Judge Advocate,
Interpreter all being present.
From Captain G. C. HATCH, Deputy Judge Advocate-General, to Major-General J. B. HEAESEY, C.B., Commanding the, Precidency Division,
-dated Barrackpore, 6th April I857.
I have the honor to make the following reports to you in regard to the state of the votes of the officers forming the general court-martial
on the trial of Sepoy Mungul Pandy, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry:-
1st-That the verdict was carried by the votes of fourteen officers on the first charge; and by the votes of fourteen officers on the second charge.
2nd-That eleven officers voted for the sentence of death.
8th April 1857
From Major-General J. B. HEARSEY, C.B., Commanding the Presidency Division, to
Colonel R. J. H. BIRCH, C.B., Secretary to the Government of India, in the
Military Department,-dated Barrackpore, 8th April 1857.
I have the honor to report, for the information of the Governor-General, that Mungul Pandy, sepoy, 5th Company, 34th Regiment Native Infantry, who was found guilty by a native General Court-martial of mutiny and murderous assault on Lieutenant and Adjutant B. H. Baugh and Sergeant-Major J. T. Hewson of that regiment, on Sunday, the 29th of March (ultimo), and sentenced to be hung by the neck till dead, was executed this morning in presence of the native brigade stationed here and all the other troops, European and Native; within two marches of Barrackpore, drawn up on parade.
The columns of native infantry were then advanced close to the gallows, and I addressed the men, telling them they had now witnessed the punishment for mutiny, and I bid them to take warning by it.
All was conducted with strict order and agreeable to military law, and everything went off quietly.
The 84th Queen's arrived at Barrackpore from Chinsurah at 6 P.M. yesterday evening, during a most violent storm. I kept them on board the steamers and flat that the men might not be exposed to the severity of the weather, and when the storm had passed over, or about midnight, the corps was moved up to camp, where they found dry ground to sleep upon till morning. I shall order the corps back to Chinsurah, after the men have had their breakfast, by the steamers and flat.
9th April 1857
From Captain G. C. HATCH, Deputy Judge Advocate-General, to Colonel R. J. H. BIRCH, C. B., Secretary to the Government of India, in the Military
Department,- No. 131, dated Calcutta, 9th April 1857.
Under instructions from Major-General J B. Hearsey, Commanding the Presidency Division, I have the honor to forward, for the information of Government, a copy of the Proceedings of a native General Court-martial, held at Barrackpore on the 6th instant, upon the trial of Sepoy Mungul Pandy, 34th Regiment, Native Infantry, on charges for mutiny and violence to the adjutant and sergeant-major of his regiment, and upon whom sentence of death has been carried out.
Agreeably to instructions received from the Brigade-Major, the Field Officer and Interpreter of the week having proceeded to the quarter-guard of Her Majesty's 53rd Regiment, put the following questions to, and received the following answers from, the prisoner of the 34th Regiment, Native Infantry:-
Question-Have you anything to disclose, or do you wish to say anything?
Answer-No.
Question-Did you act on Sunday last by your own free will, or were you instructed by others?
Answer-Of my own will. I expected to die.
Question-Did you load your own musket to save your life?
Answer-No, I intended to take it.
Question-Did you intend to take the adjutant's life, or would you have shot anyone else ?
Answer-I should have shot anyone who came.
Question-Were you under the influence of any drugs?
Answer-Yes, I have been taking bhang and opium of late, but formerly never touched any drugs. I was not aware at the time of what I was doing.
The prisoner was asked frequently if he would give up the names of any connected with the occurrence, and was given to understand that he bad nothing to fear from his own regiment by disclosing anything, but he refused to state more than the above.
The sepoy attending him was removed from the tent during the investigation.
(Sd.) W. A. COOKE. Major,
Field Officer of the week
" F. E. CHAMIER, Ensign,
Interpreter and Qr.-Mr. of the week.
" C. GRANT, Brigr.,
Comdg. at Barrackpore.
BARRACKPORE.
The 4th April 1857.
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Pandey and Meerut
The Times of India, Apr 8, 2016
The myth of Mangal Pandey: How city mistook 1857 hero for a 'Meeruthiya'
Uday Rana
As the nation marked 159 years of Mangal Pandey's martyrdom on Friday, the city, which was the epicentre of the 1857 revolt, also remembered the mutineer as its own "local hero".
The Ballia-born rebel's association with Meerut runs deep even though there is no evidence to suggest that the famed mutineer ever visited the city. There is a blurred line which discerns the facts from the fiction as one treads to find out the association of Pandey with the city, which owns him as 'Meeruthiya'.
Most historians and experts believe that since Pandey's rebellion in Barrackpore Cantonment in West Bengal had triggered the rebellion in Meerut, locals nourished an association with him.
Meerut, the city where the revolt of 1857 began on May 10, has several landmarks named after Pandey. From the locals to government officials, the myth that Pandey was a 'Meeruthiya' runs deep. This is despite the fact that there is no evidence that Pandey, who was born in Ballia—over 800 km from here—and died in Barrackpore, even visited Meerut once! On April 8, 1857, Pandey was hanged for rebellion against the East India Company.
KK Sharma, head of the history department at Multanimal Modi College here, said, "The notion that Mangal Pandey was a resident of Meerut is so popular that people have started to believe that it is a fact. The misconception is not just limited to local Meerut residents. It is also prevalent among the government officials. So many landmarks in Meerut have been named after the martyr. The crossing at Budhana Gate has been named as Mangal Pandey Chowk. In fact, there is even a statue of Mangal Pandey at the crossing. A girls' college in Madhopuram has also been named after him. The Uttar Pradesh Awas Vikas Parishad (UPAVP) started a residential project in Meerut which was named Mangal Pandey Nagar."
"This proves that the common people in the city regard him as a local hero, he said. "In fact, Pandey never even visited Meerut. Sometimes, when I point this out to people they assume that Barrackpore was a Cantonment near Meerut. They think it has been renamed now," Sharma said. Sunil Kumar Patel, a shopkeeper in Saket area here, said, "I was stunned to find out that Mangal Pandey was not a Meeruthiya. That was something we had always assumed. Many of us circulate text messages on his birth and death anniversaries, paying homage to the great martyr. That is because we just assumed he was a local hero."
Explaining why the misconception exists, Sharma said, "Mangal Pandey died in Barrackpore on April 8 and the revolt started in Meerut on May 10. While the two incidents took place thousands of miles away from each other, there wasn't even a gap of a month. It is natural for people to draw a causal link between the two events. But we should be careful of the facts." The glorification of Pandey, suggested Sharma, may have led to the relative anonymity of other freedom fighters. "Nobody can take away from the martyrdom of Mangal Pandey. There is no doubt that he was a hero. However, we do not know much about the freedom fighters that were actually from Meerut and neighbouring areas."
