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

CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
the people to join in firing the batteries that women help-
ed men, and old men helped young men in the work. One
quotation will show how, in that season of noble ideals
and inspiration, the masses had risen up. A native
Christian says, " While I sat on a mat disguised as a
Mahomedan, I saw men returning to supply waters to
those who were fighting. Suddenly, one of them came up
to me and said, ' While our countrymen are fighting there,
it is a shame that a young Mahomedan like you should sit
here killing flies! Come there to help at the artillery.' He
also told me that the young son of the one-eyed pensioner
Karim Ali had done a great deed that day. He had made
some discovery and set fire to the English buildings. For
this bravery, he was rewarded with ninety rupees and a
shawl." To sit idly, instead of fighting for the country,
was considered a disgrace not only to a young man but
even to woman ; so, the women of Cawnpore had left their
Zenanas and jumped into the battle-field. But all these
young soldiers and heroic women were put to shame by
the ardour of a beauty which was no other than the
dancing girl Azizan, above-mentioned. She had now put
on a heroic garb. With her rosy cheeks and smiling lips,
she was there on horseback, fully armed. And the artillery
Sepoys would forget all their fatigue at the sight of her.
Nanak Chand says, in his diary, " Armed Azizan is flash-
ing everywhere like lightning ; often she stands in the
streets giving milk and sweetmeats to tired and
wounded Sepoys."
Even while the fight was going on in this manner, Nana
Sahib was making all possible arrangements for the civil
administration. Though it is always a difficult task to
introduce order in the revenue and police departments at
a critical time like that of a Revolution, Nana Sahib first
began the work of giving justice and protection to the
inhabitants. The prominent citizens of Cawnpore were
called together and the man elected by the majority of
them, Holas Singh by name, was given the office of chief
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