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

THE INTERLUDE AND THE PUNJAB
army which came to pursue the Sepoys, killed everyone
they came across, and, after following them for some
distance, returned, boasting of their indiscriminate massa-
cres and inhuman cruelties.
The English were as much afraid of the Afghan tribes
beyond the border as of the armies of the Indian Revolu-
tionary party. When the secret propagation of the Revo-
lution of 1857 was still in progress, the Secret Society of
Lucknow had asked the help of the Amir of Kabul. From
a letter which fell into the hands of Mr. Forsyth in
August 1855, it is abundantly clear that Mussulmans of
Lucknow were intriguing with Amir Dost Mahomed. It
said, “ Ayodhya is now annexed, and when Hyderabad is
also swallowed up, even the name of Mahomedan rule
will not be heard of ! Some remedy must be found to
prevent this in time. If the people of Lucknow rise for
the sake of Swaraj, Sire, to what extent can we rely upon
your help ? ” To this question of Lucknow, the diplo-
matic Amir replied enigmatically, “ We will see to it.”
But the Amir of Kabul having recently concluded a treaty
with England, the English were afraid of the Maho-
medan tribes on the frontier near Peshawar rather than
of the Amir himself. Some Mullahs were sent to preach
among these tribes and exhort them not to rise against
the English. The English officers at that time near Pesha-
war were all bold, diplomatic, and clever in war. The
danger on the side of Peshawar was avoided, though with
very great difficulty, by the promptness of men like
Nicholson, Edwardes and Chamberlain who were heartily
supported by such an able officer as John Lawrence. They
found out at the very first stroke how to enlist these
Mahomedan tribes on their own side. Their greed for
money was exploited and they were bribed to enlist in the
English army. After buying these mountaineers with
money, Sir John formed a moving army to put down the
unrest smouldering everywhere in the Punjab. In this
army were English soldiers and experienced and tested
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