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

THE ERUPTION
because this unthought-of rising at Delhi spoiled all the
preconcerted plans of the Secret Revolutionary Organisa-
tion. And the Englishmen were not, now, likely to repeat
the tactical mistakes which they committed while confused
at the sudden rising in Delhi. They got an opportunity
to retrieve their mistakes, being forewarned of the future
great danger by this sudden shock. The throne of Delhi
could now be wrested from the Emperor in a couple of
days by a sudden onslaught. Whereas, if the rising had
taken place simultaneously in all places on the 31st, as
arranged previously, the complete success of the Revolu-
tion would have been assured in the course of a single
day. Though that plan failed on account of the sudden
rising at Meerut, the taking of Delhi at once openly gave
the Revolution a national character, and the sudden news
had brought about an extraordinary awakening in the
whole of Hindusthan. Now, the question was whether to
take advantage of this awakening and rise at once, or
wait till 31st as arranged before. What were the plans
adopted by the Centres ? Would not a rising without
consultation of the rest produce confusion similar to that
of the rising at Meerut ? Such were the questions which
the Revolutionary leaders in other places put to them-
selves and wasted their time with. There is no other
life-killing poison to a revolution than indecision. The
sooner and the more sudden the spreading of a revolution
the greater are its chances of success. If a delay is made
after the first start and breathing time is given, the enemy
gets time to guard himself ; those who rise prematurely
lose confidence, when they see no one joining them ; and
a clever enemy, profiting by the past, puts obstacles in
the way of those who want to rise later. Therefore, to
give the enemy time between the first rising and the
spreading of a revolution is always harmful to the Revo-
lution. But that is exactly what happened. This sudden
rising in opposition to their previous plans confused the
Revolutionary leaders in various places and they could,
for the time being, neither hold back nor rise.
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