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

THE ERUPTION
Banias, even, took such an important part in that popular
agitation that General Neill in his report makes a special
reference to their hatred of the English ! “ The majority
of the chief merchants and others have shown the worst
spirit towards us. Many of them have taken active part
against us.” But, even after this, the English were
boasting that the peasants would take their side. But
Allahabad shattered this vain delusion to pieces ! The
peasants took a leading part in the Revolutionary War
of 1857, as, perhaps, they never had done in any political
agitation before. Under the banner of their old Talukdars
—not the new ones appointed by the English—the pea-
sants threw their ploughs and ran with lightning speed
to join the war for freedom. They had compared the
English Company with their old kings ; and they were
firmly convinced that their own Swaraj was a thousand
times better than the Feringhi Company’s rule. There-
fore, when the hour of consummation arrived, they began
the work of revenge for the wrongs of decades. Every-
where, Swaraj was hailed with shouts of delight and even
the children in the streets began to spit on slavery ! It
is true ; even children spat, for children of twelve or
fourteen would organise processions in the streets with the
Revolutionary flag. The English arrested such a proces-
sion and sentenced the little boys to death ! Hearing this
sentence, an English officer felt so ashamed that, with
tears in his eyes, he came to the chief commandant and
requested him to release the children. But it was of no
use ! And the children who committed the crime of rais-
ing the flag of independence were all publicly hanged !
Will not the murder of these little angels fall back on the
head of the assassins ? The whole province shook with
tremor ; peasants and Talukdars, old and young, men and

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before, had licked our hands, but the superannuated pensioners of
the Company’s native army who though feeble for action, were
earnest in their efforts to stimulate others to deeds of cowardice
and cruelty.”—Kaye’s Indian Mutiny, Vol. II, page 193.
See also Red Pamphlet.
198