The revolt of 1857 was the conscious beginning of the Independence struggle against the colonial tyranny of the British. • There are various names for the revolt of 1857 – India’s First War of Independence, Sepoy Mutiny, etc. • It was initiated by sepoys in the Bengal Presidency against the British officers. • This war of Independence marked the end of rule by the British East India company. Important Notes: Mangal Pandey was the first soldier to be hanged for the 1857 revolt. • He was an Indian soldier in the British army and is believed to be one of the key figures behind Sepoy Mutiny or India’s First War of Independence in 1857. • Due to his attack on two British soldiers, Mangal Pandey was hanged to death on April 8, 1857, at the age of 29. • On 29 March 1857, Mangal Pandey, a sepoy of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI) mutinied against his commanding officers of the East India Company. • This event and Pandey’s subsequent punishment led to more resentment among the sepoys of the Bengal Army ultimately aiding in the Revolt of 1857. • Mangal Pandey’s mutiny did not directly cause the Revolt of 1857 but it did intensify the feeling of anger and frustration that Indian sepoys harboured against their English masters. Related Concepts: • Srimanth Mahadji Shinde (also spelt as Mahadji Scindia) was a Maratha statesman known for his crucial role in resurrecting Maratha power following the disastrous Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. • Batukeshwar Dutt, also known as B K Dutt, was a Revolutionary Freedom Fighter. He, who was involved in the Central Legislative Assembly Bombing Case of 1929, passed away on 20th July 1965 after an illness at the age of 54.