On the birth anniversary of Mangal Pandey, regarded as one of the earliest figures of India's 1857 first war of independence, Arvind Kejriwal posted a tribute to him on the social media platform X, describing his courage as a source of inspiration even today.
What Kejriwal wrote
Posting from his handle @ArvindKejriwal, Arvind Kejriwal wrote, "Countless salutes on the birth anniversary of the great hero of the 1857 first war of independence, immortal martyr Mangal Pandey ji." He went on to add that the courage of that brave soldier, who shook the very foundations of British rule, continues to be a source of inspiration for every Indian even today.
About Mangal Pandey
Mangal Pandey was a soldier in the East India Company's 34th Bengal Infantry and is counted among the most significant early figures of India's 1857 first war of independence. He clearly refused to bite open a cartridge greased with cow fat, an act that is regarded as one of the first major acts of defiance against British rule of that era, and one that went on to spark the wider 1857 uprising across the country. The British administration of the time branded him a mutineer, but ordinary Indians have always honoured him as a hero of the freedom struggle. He was arrested for this act of rebellion and hanged on 8 April 1857. In recognition of his contribution to India's freedom movement, the Government of India issued a postage stamp in his honour in 1984.
Other leaders also paid tribute
Arvind Kejriwal was not the only one to remember Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary. According to news reports, leaders including Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, among several others, also paid tribute to Mangal Pandey on the occasion. Senior leaders have remembered him on this day in previous years as well, last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to Mangal Pandey on the same occasion and said his courage remains an inspiration for the countrymen. News reports also noted that Mangal Pandey continues to be remembered around other events linked to the 1857 uprising, such as observances in Meerut for Dhan Singh Kotwal, whose name has been connected in news reports to events that preceded Mangal Pandey's own act of rebellion. This also reflects that the 1857 uprising was not the story of one man alone, but of people across different parts of the country who rose against British rule around the same period.
Why he is remembered every year
Mangal Pandey's birth anniversary is considered significant every year because he is regarded as the spark behind the wider 1857 movement that eventually helped lay the foundation for India's independence. That is why leaders across political parties continue to pay tribute to him and recall his contribution on this occasion each year.
Public reaction
Arvind Kejriwal's post drew a mixed response on social media. Several users supported the post and extended their own greetings on the occasion of Mangal Pandey's birth anniversary, while some others used the replies to criticise Kejriwal and raise unrelated political questions.
