Lalchand infact was the Drill Havildar. The recruitment incharge Sergeant, a white officer indeed had Lalchand in his good books. The Havildar’s words counted for something which became apparent when the officer paid special attention to Mangal Pandey.
Young Mangal was his own recommendation. He had a fair complexion which made the white people feel psychologically closer. He was tall, another plus point, because the Englishman themselves were tall. It made the communication easier being on closer levels physically. The officer did notice the frailty of Mangal’s body but he knew that it was due to the malnutrition which the regular good food of the fauzi mess would fill up. Infact, the officer thought that the army will get a good soldier in Mangal Pandey.
To the Mangal’s great relief he was formally told that he was a soldier of the East India Company with immediate effect. He was handed over a document called ‘Warrant’ and directed to report to a large godown like structure. At the production of the warrant the officer incharge there got a pair of red-uniform set issued to him along with vests and under wear. Mangal also got a pair of leather shoes and two pairs of socks with a brush and boot polish pack. The uniforms included a leather belt. A roll of durrie-blanket was also issued to him. Further directions sent him to a large hall. Mangal found dozens of new recruits there. The recruits were to make that hall their home for the next six months during which they were to get the military training. There two new items were issued to them, a wooden box and a thali-mug set each. The mess was in the next building where the recruits would get meals and tea at appointed hours when the gong was rung. A native naik announced to them the regulations in Hindustani. The recruits spread out their bed rolls on the floor. With a great care the recruits put some of the issued items and their own personal belongings in their respective wooden boxes kept on the head side of the spread out bed rolls, by the walls. The each recruit thus had marked 3’×10′ personal space.
The recruits unused to such regimented life were feeling disoriented. Some were really stunned. The most of the recruits had come from rural backgrounds. So, it was awe inspiring for them. Mangal Pandey was also feeling very uneasy and seemed lost in confusions. Then, Havildar Lalchand came there to calm him down. He himself had gone through that disorientation experience. He talked to Mangal for sometime and put him at ease.
From the very next day, Mangal’s life became a strict routine of exercises, parade, running, drills, meal, rest, then evening drill, meals and dropping into bed a dead tired man. Mangal Pandey applied himself to the training regime with such dedication that he forgot all other concerns of the world and his life. After a few week’s of drills the trainees were issued guns and firing practices began. They were taught use of the bayonets also, moving forward on knees and elbow, digging trenches and taking position in them.
Now the military style of organised life was becoming a habit of Mangal Pandey. Some of the trainees went away to join the Artillery Unit to learn to man the big guns that played decisive roles in the battles of those days because native armies had very few and inefficient cannons. Mangal decided to stay an infantry man.
On Sundays and Saturdays the regiments used to hold sports competitions. Mangal took part in wrestling competition. Due to such associations he had come to the special notice of his white superiors who handled him as trainers, drill masters and coaches. Some of them had become quite friendly with Mangal. One of them even had befriended Mangal on social level.
After six month Mangal joined the 34 Infantry Regiment as a full sepoy. He kept himself to the barracks and lived a perfect military life. He had cut himself off the outside world and the development there. He was happy that now he could afford to send some money every month to his parents and prove a worthy son who was taking care of the old father and the mother. He wrote them letters and they wrote back to him. Each letter from home would contain the names of a large number of relatives who wished their greetings or blessings to Mangal. The rest of the space was filled with the details of the marriage proposals for him they were getting.
Sometimes once or twice sepoys were allowed to go to the town. Mangal also availed of those opportunities. He visited bazaars but did not interact with common folk at social level. The people appeared to shun them and look at them suspiciously. Mangal would not care. It was rumoured that most of the sepoys used those outing opportunities to visit red light areas of the city. Some suspected that Mangal too tried to do so. Once he was seen to be going to the town with his white friend.
Thus, a couple of years went by. Mangal did not go home. He stayed on in the cantonment oblivious of the situations outside.
Many sepoys who had gone on annual leave came back with some disturbing news about the dangerous situations out on the country side. Mangal did not pay any attention to them. He also observed that groups of native sepoys used to talk in whispers at night. Mangal thought that it was some private conclave of friends, where they regaled one another by telling stories of their marriages and suhagraats (Nuptial nights) in juicy details.
But he did not know how the situation out their was becoming explosive politically due to several factors. He would face the reality when he will go home on annual leave.
At last, Mangal decided to take leave.
