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

THE INTERLUDE AND THE PUNJAB
towns of Lahore and Amritsar were kept, at least for the
time being, from joining the Revolution.
After completing all these measures for the security
of the Panjab, Sir. J. Lawrence began to extend his
labours to places outside his own province. When the
news from Delhi reached him, he said it was not a rebel-
lion but a national revolution. Still he nursed the fond
hope that if Delhi could be taken within a short time
there would be no rising anywhere else. With this idea,
he sent letter after letter to General Anson to take Delhi
before June. Not only this, but he began to send con-
tingents from the Punjab to make up the complement of
the army of Ambala, while taking upon himself the res-
ponsibility of keeping the Punjab at peace. The first
instalment of this assistance was the Guide Corps Regi-
ment under Daly. John Lawrence had great confidence
in Daly's bravery, and therefore selected him to lead the
Guide Corps and march towards Delhi. Daly marched
towards Delhi by forced marches and joined the English
army at Bundel-ki-Sarai the day after the battle. In the
siege of Delhi were now two traitor regiments— the
Gurkhas under Bead and the Punjabees under Daly. The
English were exceedingly fond of these two regiments.
And who can say that this love was undeserved ? The
regiments deserved it fully, considering the measure of
their treachery !
While Daly's regiment was marching towards Delhi,
John Lawrence took a minute survey of the political situa-
tion of the Punjab. In that territory, Hindus, Mahome-
dans, and Sikhs were often at daggers drawn. The
Punjabees had not yet felt the common national awaken-
ing of the Hindus and Mahomedans as the people of
Northern India had. As a matter of fact, it was hardly
ten years since they had lost their freedom. But the very
Sikhs, who in 1849 fought furiously with the English,
were now in 1857, embracing them. The key to this
143