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

THE VOLCANO
such paraphernalia, they could influence and impress the
people better, and the Sirkar also had fewer reasons to
suspect them. Influential and noble Moulvies were
appointed to preach the political Jehad, and they were
rewarded with thousands of Rupees. Through towns and
villages, these Moulvies and Pundits, these Fakirs and
these Sanyasis began to travel, from one end of the
country to the other, preaching secretly the war for
political independence. Just this start was wanted, for
this same trick was begun independently by other groups
of the Revolutionary Organisation. After these paid
missionaries came volunteers. Begging from door to door,
they began to sow, in all directions, the principles of in-
dependence, patriotism, and love of Dharma—for the
awakening of strength among the people. This work of
preparing for revolutionary rising was done so cautious-
ly and secretly that not much inkling of what was going
on could reach even such cunning people as the English,
until the explosion actually took place. When such a
Fakir or a Sanyasi went to a village, a strange agitation
and an unrest began in that village, and of this the English
were sometimes cognisant. Whisperings went on in
bazaars ; ' sahibs ' were refused water by the Bhishtis,
Ayahs left English homes without permission ; Baberchis
purposely stood before the Mem-Sahibs half-dressed ; and
Indian messenger boys walked insolently and slovenly
before their " masters ", when sent out.¹⁰ These Fakirs
and Pundits used to walk round and about the military
cantonments more particularly. From Barrackpore to
Meerut, Umballa and Peshawar, they started secret
societies and, more than that, practically surrounded every
military cantonment. The Hindu and Moslem Sepoys in
the army being very devoted to their religious teachers,
the Sirkar, though they might suspect them, could hardly
proceed against them. For, they feared that the Sepoys
would find in it another grievance against the Govern-
10. Trevelyan's Cawnpore.
82