- Shaikh Paltu
Shaikh Paltu was a soldier (
sepoy ) with theBritish East India Company , serving in the34th Bengal Native Infantry in March1857 , as widespread discontent broke out in the Bengal Army. When onMarch 29 , SepoyMangal Pandey of the same regiment revolted and attacked his British officers, it was Shaikh Paltu who saved the life of the adjutant by attacking Mangal Pandey. The whole regiment otherwise refused to take any action against their comrade and remained as "passive spectators".Fact|date=June 2007By that time an English
sergeant-major had arrived at the scene and attacked Pandey. He was however overpowered by Pandey. While other sepoys looked on, Shaikh Paltu continued to defend the two British officers, calling upon other sepoys to join him. The sepoys, with obvious sympathy for Pandey, chose to remain inactive. Some are reported to have attacked their officers with the butts of theirmusket s. The sepoys however threatened Shaikh Paltu asking him to let go of Mangal Pandey. Paltu however "continued to cling to him" until the British officers had time to rise.General Hearsey , who by now was at the scene, promoted Shaikh Paltu then and there to the post of a "Havaldar" (native sergeant). Other sepoys did not take any active measure to support their comrade Mangal Pandey, who was probably acting in concert with at least some others, if not all, if his speech to the sepoys on the spot is any indicator.Fact|date=June 2007 The sepoys however seem to have developed cold feet at the last moment. Another possibility is that Pandey acted hastily and too early so that the sepoys were not yet (mentally) prepared for an open conflict with the British.The complete regiment, with the natural exception of Shaikh Paltu, was disbanded on
May 6 of the same year "with every show of disgrace", as Malleson calls it.References
Suggested readings
* Malleson, G.B., "The Indian Mutiny of 1857", pp. 36-39, Delhi, Rupa & Co. publishers, 2005 (first published: 1890)
External links
* [http://www.india-world.net/india/history/modern/1857.html The Great Mutiny: India's War for Freedom]
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