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

THE ERUPTION
who was pure in his private life and undaunted in battle,
the idea of the freedom of his country had entered and
electrified his blood. How could his sword be patient ?
The swords of martyrs never are. The crown of martyr-
dom shines only on the head of those, who, regardless of
success or failure, bathe their cherished ideals with their
hot blood. But from this apparently useless waste of
blood does the sacred image of victory spring forth. The
idea that his brethren were going to be insulted before him
fired Mangal Panday's heart, and he began to insist that
his own regiment should rise on that very day. When
he heard that the leaders of the Organisation would not
consent to his plan, the young man's spirit became uncon-
trollable, and he at once snatched and loaded his gun,
and jumped on the parade-ground, shouting, “ Rise ! ye
brethren, rise ! Why do you hold back, brethren ? Come,
and rise ! I bind you by the oath of your religion !
Come, let us rise and attack the treacherous enemies
for the sake of our freedom.” With such words, he called
upon his fellow-soldiers to follow him. When Sergeant-
major Hughson saw this, he ordered the Sepoys to arrest
Mangal Panday. But the traitor-Sepoys whom the
English had been used to count upon upto now were
nowhere to be found. Not only did no Sepoy move to
arrest Panday at the orders of the officer, but a bullet
from Panday killed the officer, and his corpse rolled on
the ground ! Just at this time, Lieutenant Baugh came
upon the scene. While his horse was prancing forth on
the parade, another bullet from Panday struck the horse
and brought both the horse and the rider to the ground.
While Panday was loading his gun again, the officer got
up and aimed his pistol at Panday ; but the latter, undis-
mayed drew out his sword. Baugh fired but missed his
mark ; he then drew his sword ; but before he could use
it Panday struck him down rolling again. While another
white man was charging Panday, a Sepoy smashed his
head with the barrel of his gun; and a shout arose from
among all the Sepoys, “ Do not touch Mangal Panday !”
Published by Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, 2014.
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