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

SECRET ORGANISATION
Government was to see anything. But, on the other hand,
it had been decided that, until the critical moment, these
Government officers should not show even the least oppo-
sition to the Sirkar. Not only that, but very often it
happened that, when it was necessary to arrest a Revo-
lutionary leader, these Indian officers, who were the
accomplices of this man, used to treat him as cruelly as an
English officer would do, and used to sentence him to
heavy punishment. When the Meerut Sepoys were tried,
it was the native judges that passed heavy sentences on
them ; but it came to light that these very judges were
scheming for a Revolution. Anonymous proclamations
were posted at every square of the city of Lucknow,
written in very strong language, to agitate the masses.
These proclamations were couched in fiery and violent
language. We give the following as a specimen. “ Hindus
and Mahomedans, rise unitedly and decide, once for all,
the fate of the country ; for, if this opportunity is allowed
to slip by, not a single way will be left open to the people
even to preserve their lives. This is the last chance. Now
or never ! ” Though the English authorities knew well
that proclamations were issued every day, they could do
no more than tear them off ; and still, every time they
were destroyed, new ones were put up. The police used to
declare that it was impossible for them to find out as to
who put up these posters and when they were put up.
The English came to know the reason soon after. The
police themselves were the prominent members of the
Revolutionary party.18
Not alone in the revolutions of Russia, but in the
Revolution in India, too, the police were found to be in
sympathy with the people. The programme, then, of the
civil officers was to join secretly in the Revolutionary
organisation of their countrymen without giving up gov-
ernment service and, when the right time came, to work
18. Red Pamphlet : Part II.
93