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

CAWNPORE AND JHANSI

Ganges and join the army at Allahabad! Sir Wheeler
did not rest with the preparation of this fortified place as
a protection for the English in case of a rising but he
also sent urgent letters to Sir Henry Lawrence at Lucknow
to send reinforcements! But such was the strength of
the Revolutionary propaganda at Lucknow that Lawrence
was crying for reinforcements himself! However, he
immediately sent towards Cawnpore eighty-four English
soldiers, the English artillery under Lieutenant Ashe, and
some cavalry. There was nothing special in these pre-
parations which Sir Wheeler made for the defence of the
English. But the third remedy which he sought for re-
moving the danger to the English power was one which
now appears very extraordinary and yet gives a true idea
of the skill in the Revolutionary organisation of the time.
This was the request made by Sir Wheeler to the Raja
of Brahmavarta to come to save Cawnpore! The news
of Meerut had produced an extraordinary agitation
among the ranks of the Sepoys and the common people
in the bazaars, but the palace of Brahmavarta appeared
as quiet, peaceful, and unruffled as before. It was im-
possible to have discovered even a ruffle on its surface that
would betray the tremendous internal agitation. The
movement among the Cawnpore troops at least put Sir
Wheeler on his guard. But, he never for a moment enter-
tained any adequate suspicion that the Raja of Brahma-
varta would go against him. The man whose crown the
English had trampled under foot only a short time before,
the Nâga snake whom they had only just before enraged
by wilfully treading on his hood, from that man the
English now asked for protection in their hour of need!
The English were not altogether mistaken in this proce-
dure. Nana Sahib was "a gentle Hindu," and how
many cowardly Hindus are there not in India who are
harmless and cringing even when trodden under foot by
the English? In the pious belief that Nana Sahib was
also one of them, Sir Wheeler invited his help. What
better chance could there be for the Prince of Brahma-

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