AMangal Pandey
BRani Lakshmibai
CBahadur Shah Zafar
DTatya Tope
Answer:
A. Mangal Pandey
Read Explanation:
Mangal Pandey was the first martyr of the 1857 Freedom Struggle Revolt. He was a sepoy (soldier) in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry regiment of the British East India Company's army. On March 29, 1857, at Barrackpore near Calcutta (now Kolkata), Mangal Pandey openly rebelled against his British officers when he refused to use the new Enfield rifle cartridges that were greased with cow and pig fat, which was offensive to both Hindu and Muslim religious sentiments.
During this revolt, Mangal Pandey attacked his British sergeant and attempted to incite his fellow sepoys to join the rebellion. When Lieutenant Baugh tried to arrest him, Pandey shot at him as well. Though he tried to take his own life to avoid capture, he was unsuccessful and was later court-martialed.
Mangal Pandey was executed on April 8, 1857, making him the first martyr of what would later become known as India's First War of Independence. His act of defiance sparked the larger sepoy mutiny that spread across northern and central India, marking the beginning of organized resistance against British colonial rule.
While other options like Rani Lakshmibai, Bahadur Shah Zafar, and Tatya Tope were also important figures in the 1857 revolt, Mangal Pandey holds the distinction of being the first to sacrifice his life for the cause, earning him the title of the first martyr of the 1857 Freedom Struggle.