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

ROHILKHAND
any orders whatsoever in the land, to give further orders
was to inflame the quarrel. To lecture now about good
or bad cartridges was an unpardonable digression !
For the people of Rohilkhand had now received an
urgent and pressing invitation from the Swadeshi throne
of Delhi to hold aloft the flag of Indian freedom. Was
this invitation one that could be lightly treated ?
“ From the commander of the army at Delhi to the com-
mander of the army at Bareilly, hearty embraces. Brothers,
there is a fight with the English proceeding at Delhi. By
the grace of God, even the first defeat that they have
received at our hands has demoralised them more than ten
defeats would have done them at other times. Innumer-
able Swadeshi heroes are coming to Delhi. At such a
time, if you are dining there, come here to wash your
hands. The Padishah of Shahs and the Home Splendour,
our Emperor of Delhi, will give you a great welcome and
fitly reward your services. Our ears are anxious for the
sound of your cannon and our eyes are thirsting to see
you. Come ! Come at once ! For, Brethren, how will
the rose-tree flower without spring ? How will a child
live without milk ? ”
Was this an invitation to be rejected ? While the invita-
tion was on its way, Khan Bahadur Khan, the descendant
of Hafiz Rahmat, the last independent Rohilla chief, was
weaving the nets of the secret society. Khan Bahadur
Khan used to get two pensions from the English, one as
the descendant of Hafiz Rahmat, and the other as a judi-
cial officer under the English. He was known throughout
the province as a great favourite of the English. The
Government also had great confidence in him. And he
was the life and centre of all the secret societies of Bareilly!
But, though this invitation asked the people of Bareilly
to come at once, they decided to wait till the 31st of May,
in accordance with the plans originally arranged. All the
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