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

ROHILKHAND
and thus saved their lives. The Sepoys took possession
of the treasury and all government property, and before
sunset the green flag began to fly on Moradabad.²
There is also another district town, called Budaun, bet-
ween Bareilly and Shahjahanpur. Mr. Edwardes was
then collector and magistrate of the district. Since the
English government came into Rohilkhand, the old
Zemindars were being frightfully oppressed with heavy
taxes and otherwise. Therefore, the big Zemindars and
their tenants were very much disaffected. In fact, the
land-tax in Budaun was so oppressive, that Edwardes
himself knew that Budaun was perfectly ready, and only
waiting for a chance to drive out the English ; and for
this reason he asked military help from Bareilly. But the
situation in Bareilly, as has already been described, was
not such that help could be sent to Budaun. However,
a message from Bareilly came that troops under European
officers would be despatched on the 1st of June. At this
news Edwardes felt happy and on the 1st of June sat with
his eyes towards the road from Bareilly. He soon saw a
government man coming galloping on towards Budaun.
In the hope that he would be the forerunner of the
succour which he expected, Edwardes hastily interrogated
him. But in reply, instead of an assurance of help from
Bareilly, he got the message that, at Bareilly itself, the
English power was at an end ! There were Sepoys kept
at Budaun to guard the treasury, and Edwardes asked
their head, “Bareilly has become independent ; what
about Budaun ?” The head replied that the Sepoys
under him were loyal and that there was no cause for
anxiety. But in the evening, the town of Budaun rose in
revolt ! The Sepoys at the treasury, the police, and the
leading citizens announced, by beat of drum that the
English rule was at an end. Thus, the whole district
went willingly into the hands of Khan Bahadur Khan.
2. Charles Ball’s Indian Mutiny.
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