88                                    The Eruption                            [ Pt. II

Panday, a Sepoy smashed his head with the barrel of his gun; and
a shout arose from among all the Sepoys, " Do not touch Mangal
Panday!" Immediately, Colonel Wheeler came and ordered
Mangal Panday's arrest. Another shout arose, " We would not
even touch the hair of this sacred Brahmin." The colonel, on
seeing the blood of Englishmen flowing and the Sepoys in such
a mood, speedily retreated to the bungalow of the general.
On the parade Mangal Panday continued waving his hands full
of blood in the air, shouting tremendously all the time, " Rise 1
Brethren, rise! " When General Hearsey heard this, he took some
European soldiers and rode hastily towards Panday. Seeing
that he would soon fall into the hands of Feringhis and preferring
death to falling into the hands of the enemy, Mangal Panday
turned the gun towards his own breast, and immediately his
sacred body lay wounded on the parade ground. The wounded
young soldier was taken to the hospital, and the English officers
returned to their tents, amazed at the bravery of this Sepoy.
This was on the 29*^^ of March, 1857.

Mangal Panday was, then, tried before a court-martial.
During the inquiry, attempts were made to make him reveal
the names of other conspirators. But the valiant youth bluntly
refused to do so. He also said that he had no personal malice
against the officers whom he shot. If there had been any
personal malice, Mangal Panday's name would have been in the
list of assassins and not of martyrs. But Mangal Panday's
brave deed was done through devotion to a high and noble
principle. His sword came out of its scabbord to defend country
and religion, "thinking alike of victory and defeat," as the
Bhagavat Gita enjoins. He came out with the firm resolution
to die rather than face the insult to his country and religion.
In this his bold attempt, his bravery as well as his patriotism
are worthy of the highest praise. He was condemned to be
hanged. The 8th of April was the day fixed for the execution.
Whatever might be the inspiring splendour in the actual blood
of martyrs, the very names of martyrs inspire us with noble
sentiments! What, then, must be the power of the martyr over
those who believed in him when he was before them in flesh
and blood, ready to undergo martyrdom ? It is no wonder that
a divine love for him inspired all those who saw Mangal
Panday. Not even a low-class man could be found in the whole
of Barrackpore to act as executioner! At last four hangmen
had to be brought from Calcutta to do the dirty work! Mangal