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

THE VOLCANO
he reached Lucknow, the important centre among the
various nuclei. On that very day the people of Lucknow
had followed the buggy of Sir Henry Lawrence, Chief
Commissioner Sahib, and pelted him with a shower of mud
and stones. And now Shrimant Nana had come there!
This infused the whole city of Lucknow with an almost
uncontrollable joy and excitement. Nana started in a
huge procession through the chief streets of Lucknow, and
a strong confidence was instilled in the Revolutionary
party on seeing their would-be commander. Nana volun-
tarily went to Sir Henry Lawrence and told him that he
had come to see Lucknow out of simple curiosity. Sir
Henry issued orders to all the officers to show due respect
to Nana. Poor Sir Lawrence! He did not know what this
simple curiosity meant. After visiting Lucknow, Nana
went to Kalpi. The diplomacy of Nana was actively going
on, this time with Kumar Singh of Jagadishpur who was
in intimate correspondence with him about this time.²¹
Thus, after personally visiting the leaders of the princi-
pal nuclei at Delhi, Umballa, Lucknow, Kalpi, etc.,
and drawing up a clear programme and a definitely
outlined map of the future campaign, Nana returned to
Brahmavarta about the end of April.²²
While, by visiting the principal leaders, Shrimant
21. Red Pamphlet.
22. Nana must have gone during this tour to many other
cities, but, as English historians have not expressly mentioned them,
they cannot be given. The following quotation is rather important :
"Afterwards, the worthy couple (Nana and Azim), on the pretence
of a pilgrimage to the hills, visited the military stations all along
the main trunk road and went so far as Umballa. It has been
suggested that their object in going to Simla was to tamper with
the Gurkha regiments stationed on the hills. But finding, on their
arrival at Umballa, a portion of the regiment were in cantonments,
they were unable to effect their purpose with these men and desist-
ed from their proposed journey, on the plea of the cold weather."—
Russell's Diary.
96