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

THE INTERLUDE AND THE PUNJAB
and disgusting affair, Colonel Spottiswoode retired to his
room and committed suicide! At this news, the 55th
regiment attacked the treasury, took up their arms and
flags, looted the treasure, broke the chains of the slavery
to the foreigners, and marched on towards Delhi! But
Delhi was not near. The whole of the Panjab, full of
English soldiers, had to be crossed and, besides, an Eng-
lish army was pursuing them. Under these circumstances,
success was so difficult that they questioned within them-
selves as to whether it would not be wiser for them to
lay down their arms like their comrades at Peshawar and
surrender to the English. But the heroes decided that it
was better to have the noose of death round their necks
than the chains of slavery round their feet, and they made
it known by shouts to the English army following them,
“We will die fighting!” And, in truth, did the heroes
of this 55th regiment lay down their lives on the battle-
field fighting for the freedom of their country! The
story of this 55th regiment is simply heart-rending. The
pursuit had been so hot that Nicholson was often on horse
back for 24 hours without dismounting. Hundreds of
them died in the fight and others escaped beyond the
frontier, fighting as they went. But who would give
shelter to the Hindus there? The Mussulman hordes be-
gan to receive them in a terrible manner. Isolated Sepoys
were forced to become Mahomedans there. Thus these
unfortunate Sepoys fighting in defence of their religion
turned towards Kashmir for shelter, thinking that Gulab
Singh, the Maharaja of Kashmir, would be able to pro-
tect them. When hundreds of these Hindu Sepoys were
walking through the stony regions, without food, without
clothes, without a fire to warm them, towards Kashmir,
weeping that there should be no one on earth who would
protect their sacred religion, the English organised massa-
cres of these Sepoys at various places, and they were killed
like wild beasts! But, still, some of the Sepoys escaped
towards Kashmir, in the fond hope of finding a protector
of Hinduism. Protector of Hindus! Alas! Sepoys, you
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