Mangal Pandey, a resident of Ballia, in Uttar Pradesh, was a soldier in the army of the British East India Company. At the time of the First War of Independence, the Company introduced new rifles, which used animal fat for greasing the cartridges. Influenced by the example of his compatriots in Behrampur, Mangal Pandey refused to use the greased cartridges and broke into open mutiny on March 29, 1857, at Barrackpore near Calcutta and used his comrades to join him.
Surrounded by guards and European Officers, he tried to commit suicide by shooting himself and was seriously wounded. He was court-martialed on April 6 and hanged at Barrackpore on April 8, 1857.
Source: Information Brochure of Commemorative Postage Stamp issued by Department of Posts.