It’s been 17 years since Aamir Khan’s ‘Mangal Pandey: The Rising’ hit the silver screen. But the family of one of the heroes of the 1857 rebellion is still carrying the hurt.
The New Indian visited Mangal Pandey’s descendants who lived in Nagwa village in the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh.
Santosh Pandey, the fifth generation descendant of the 1857 hero, said that a deliberate attempt was made to tarnish the image of Shaheed Mangal Pandey.
“Baba Mangal Pandey was a pujari. He did not even consume onions and garlic. But, in the Aamir Khan movie, he’s being portrayed as one who consumes liquor and visits prostitutes,” Pandey said. A hurt Pandey termed Khan a businessman with profit being his only motive.
Pandey has knocked the doors of justice and the hearing is going on in the case. “I demand from the government and censor board that any movie which lowers the dignity of our revolutionaries, great personalities and our country must not get clearance,” he said.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiating the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, Pandey said that it’s a wonderful initiative by the PM to ensure every Indian not only witnesses freedom but also feels it.
“We live in a democracy and everyone has a right to have, and express their views and opinions. But when it comes to Tiranga, everyone should speak with one voice,” Santosh Pandey said.
“Our Tiranga is our pride. People and parties can have differences, but when it comes to the national interest, Tiranga, all should speak with one voice. There should be no politics over it,” he said.
The Union government launched the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate 75 years of Independence and also launched the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign with the aim that the Indian tricolour should reach all Indians.
Talking about the journey of Independent India, Pandey said that since PM Modi came to power in 2014, the biggest change in the country is how he made Indians aware of different issues.
“Earlier people used to throw litter here and there. But, since PM Narendra Modi appealed about keeping the country, homes, roads etc clean, people have become very conscious. An ordinary Indian doesn’t litter here and there now,” Pandey said while pointing out the government’s Swachhata Abhiyan.
Pandey also pointed out that the stature of India has increased on the global stage. “The country is getting a lot of respect these days on different international platforms,” he said.