१८५७ का स्वातन्त्र्य समर (वीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर - अंग्रेजों द्वारा छपने से पूर्व प्रतिबन्धित महाग्रन्थ)

THE VOLCANO
struggle of centuries, Hindu sovereignty had defeated the
rulership of the Mahomedans and had come to its own
all over India. It was no national shame to join hands
with Mahomedans then, but it would, on the contrary,
be an act of generosity. So, now, the original antagonism
between the Hindus and the Mahomedans might be con-
signed to the Past. Their present relation was one not of
rulers and ruled, foreigner and native, but simply that of
brothers with the one difference between them of religion
alone. For, they were both children of the soil of Hindus-
than. Their names were different, but they were all children
of the same Mother ; India therefore being the common
mother of these two, they were brothers by blood. Nana
Sahib, Bahadur Shah of Delhi, Moulvi Ahmad Shah,
Khan Bahadur Khan, and other leaders of 1857 felt this
relationship to some extent and, so, gathered round the flag
of Swadesh leaving aside their enmity, now so unreason-
able and stupid. In short, the broad features of the policy
of Nana Sahib and Azimullah were that the Hindus and
the Mahomedans should unite and fight shoulder to
shoulder for the independence of their country and that,
when freedom was gained, the United States of India
should be formed under the Indian rulers and princes.
How to achieve this ideal was the one all-absorbing
thought of everyone in the palace of Brahmavarta. Two
things were necessary for the success of this terrible war
that was to be waged to win back freedom. The first thing
was to create a passionate desire in Hindusthan for this
ideal ; the second was to make all the country rise simul-
taneously for the purpose of achieving it. To turn India's
mind into the channels of freedom and to guide India's
hand to strike for freedom, these two things it was neces-
sary to accomplish ; and this in such a manner that the
Company's government should not suspect anything
while the scheme was yet unripe. Not forgetting historical
experience but guided by it, a secret organisation was re-
solved upon and, at once, started at Brahmavarta.
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