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

SECRET ORGANISATION
Nana was touring to determine the date and bring about
the necessary unity of purpose, a strange band of secret
messengers of Revolution were going about at express
speed throughout the length and breadth of India, to pre-
pare the people for the great day. These messengers were
not a new thing at all. Whenever the work of Revolution
was started, these agents—Chapatees—have as a rule done
the work of carrying the errand far and wide in the land.
For, in the Mutiny of Vellore, too, Chapatees were used
to perform the same function. These angels with unseen
wings were flying through every secret corner of the
country, setting the mind of the whole country on fire by
the very vagueness of the message. Whence they came
and whither they went, no one could say. To those alone
who were expecting them these strange symbols carried
the exact message and spoke with limited significance ; as
for those whom they took unawares, illimitable was the
conversation that they carried on ! Some silly Govern-
ment officers tried to get hold of these Chapatees, cut them
to small crumbs, powdered them, and powdered once
more, and tried if they could give some message ; but, like
witches the Chapatees had no tongue when they were asked
to speak. The Chapatee spoke only to those it meant to
speak to. It was made from wheat or millet flour.
Nothing was written on it ; yet it inspired the men who
knew it with a strange Revolutionary energy at its very
touch. The Chowkidar of every village had it. He ate a
bit of it first himself and gave the rest, as Prasâd, to those
who asked. The same number of Chapatees were made
afresh and sent to the inhabitants of the neighbouring
villages. The Chowkidar of the latter place would send
it to yet another village and, so, this fiery red cross of
India travelled from village to village, kindling with flames
every village it touched. Speed on, Angel of Revolution,
speed on ! Go thou forth to preach the Gospel to all the
dear children of India, that the country is ready for a
holy war to make everyone of them free. Dash on, Mes-
senger, to all the ten directions, not stopping even at
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