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

THE ERUPTION
And, therefore, you terror-struck eyes, look now towards
the love-waves of the happy union of the Bhagirathi and
the Kalindi rivers. The city of Allahabad, eternally
laved by the calm, noble, and graceful waters at the union
(Sangama) , is situated about seventy miles from Benares.
To the holy purity of the Prayaga-Kshetra, the vast fort
built under the reign of Akbar, gave an additional beauty.
Allahabad is the key to all the important roads leading
from Calcutta towards the Punjab and Delhi. Here, the
fort of Allahabad has the imperial grace of a tall, strong,
and great commander appointed to guard over the move-
ments of these provinces. In the Revolution of 1857, he
who held this fort held the key to the whole province.
Such being the case, both sides made extraordinary efforts
to acquire or retain the command of this most important
fort. The plan of the Revolutionary party was that the
Sepoys as well as all the citizens of Allahabad should rise
simultaneously. While the secret organisation was work-
ing up towards this goal, the Prayaga Brahmins had been
of the greatest use in inspiring into the cities the ideals
of Swaraj. These influential Hindu priests had been long
sowing the seeds of the Revolutionary War, not only
among the citizens of Allahabad, but also among the
Hindu population in the whole province. With the
traditional Hindu prayer at the time of the bath, was
coupled the holy and religious prayers of the Revolution.
Also, among the vast Mussalman population of the town,
the Mullahs were very busy. Thousands of Mussalmans
were only awaiting the signal with a firm determination
to offer their blood on the battle-field in the cause of
country and religion. The English, at the time, quite
expected this. They seem to have been firmly convinced
that all Mussalmans were their mortal enemies. The well-
known writer of the Red Pamphlet says, “ The Mahome-
dans, too, have shown that they cherish in their hearts
the proselytising doctrines of their religion and that, as
Christians, they will ever detest and take advantage of
every opportunity of destroying Feringhis.” True as this
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