New Delhi, 19 July (H.S.): On the birth anniversary of Mangal Pandey, the immortal freedom fighter and one of the pioneers of the First War of Independence of 1857, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and several other leaders paid tribute to him on Sunday, remembering his unmatched courage, patriotism and supreme sacrifice.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, in a post on social media platform ‘X’, paid his respects to Mangal Pandey, describing him as an immortal warrior of the 1857 freedom struggle and a symbol of unparalleled bravery and patriotism. He said that on March 29, 1857, Mangal Pandey’s courage and love for the nation at the Barrackpore cantonment created a decisive moment in Indian history, which shook the foundations of British rule and gave a new direction to the freedom movement. He added that his sacrifice remained a source of inspiration for countless revolutionaries in the following decades and continues to instil a spirit of patriotism among millions of Indians even today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Mangal Pandey and said that the great revolutionary is remembered with utmost respect on his birth anniversary. The Prime Minister said that Mangal Pandey sacrificed everything to protect self-respect and honour. He added that every Indian takes pride in his courageous life and that his saga of bravery and patriotism will continue to inspire generations across the country.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that by raising the call for revolution against foreign rule, Mangal Pandey ignited the spirit of patriotism across the nation and inspired countless people to fight for the freedom of the motherland. He said that his sacrifice, valour and unwavering dedication towards the nation will continue to motivate citizens to move forward on the path of national service and nation-building.

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, in his message, said that revolutionary hero Mangal Pandey sounded the bugle of the 1857 uprising and awakened national consciousness among the people. He said that Mangal Pandey fought against British rule to protect India’s culture, self-respect and national interests, and made the supreme sacrifice of his life to free Bharat Mata from colonial oppression and injustice. He added that the spark of revolution ignited by his sacrifice later transformed into a powerful flame of the freedom movement.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also paid his respectful tributes to Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary, saying that he was one of the leading warriors of India’s freedom struggle. He added that his dedication and sacrifice will always inspire citizens to work in the interest of the nation.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar