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

THE VOLCANO
midnight, piercing the air with the age-inspiring cry,
“ The Mother goes forth to the war ! March on ! March
on !! Save her ! ! ! ” The gates of the cities are closed ;
still wait not thou till they open—but fly over through the
air. The mountain-defiles are deep ; broken are the steep
ascents ; the rivers are wide, the forests are dangerous ;
still dread thou not, but speed like an arrow with this
terrible national message. On thy speed depends the life
or the death of the Desh and the Dharma. Hence cover
as many miles as thou possibly canst and race with the
wind ! When the enemies destroy one shape of thee, go,
thou miraculous Angel, assuming hundreds of forms at
this critical period of our national existence ! In every
shape and form of thy speed create for thyself a thousand
tongues. Invite all---wife and husband, mother and child,
sister and brother—to come with their relatives to accom-
plish the predestined task ! Invite the spears of the
Mahrattas, the swords of the Rajputs, the Kirpan of
the Sikhs, the Crescent of the Islamites—invite one and
all to make the ceremony a success. Call the Goddesses of
War at Cawnpore ! Call the Goddesses of the forts in
Jhansi ! Call the Goddesses of Jagadishpur. To bless the
work of national Revolution, bring with thee all thy
relations, drums and trumpets, flags and banners,
clarionets and war-songs, thunderings and war-cries. The
martial spirit of the nation is awaiting the signal. Tell
them all, “ The auspicious hour is soon to strike ; so, be
ready ! ”
Ready ! Friends, be ready ! And, O unfortunate Tyranny
sleeping unconsciously and proud on the green,
green hills, be thou ready too ! The world might believe
that a hill appearing green from a distance is really green.
Nor does it fully know yet what a mistake it is to trample
under foot the crown of such a hill. Trample, aye, trample !
Now shines forth the year 1857, and in a moment it will
be clear that the description of Kalidas applies literally
to India. “ In those whose wealth is their penance and
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