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

CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
and bravery the Sepoys displayed in the assault, on
the 18th of June, on the fort were remarkable. On this
day, disregarding the cannon-fire of the enemy, they ran
straight, like arrows, at the enemy's camp, mounted the
walls, took an English gun, and turned its mouth, and it
seemed for a moment that the flag of freedom would never
be set back. Instead of helping such brave Sepoys, some
had, on the other hand, sworn as it were to create disorder
without reason and bring confusion in all the ranks. This
weakness compelled the whole army to return. Like the
brave Sepoys of Oudh, some brave hearts at Cawnpore
did their duty, as heroes always do, without waiting to see
what the others did. One day when the assaulting party
was retiring, one Sepoy lay down there, pretending to be
dead. When Captain Jenkins, renowned for his bravery
and a bold fighter, came up there galloping confidently,
the Sepoy jumped suddenly at his prey and shot him
dead in the neck in an instant !
The 23rd of June came. One hundred years before, on
this day, the English had laid the foundations of their
power on the battle-field of Plassey. On that 23rd of
June, the English got their first decisive victory in Hindu-
sthan. The sting of the insult of that unfortunate day
was burning in the heart of Hindusthan so much that,
even after a hundred years, that evil day and its evil
memory was fresh in the heart of all Indians. The terrible
wound of slavery inflicted on that day had not been healed
even after a hundred years. No balm had yet been
found that could heal it ! What a righteous hatred was
rankling in the heart even of the peaceful and forgiving
India ? In the last breath of every dying generation and
in the first breath of every new one being born, she has
been mixing in the spirit of revenge for Plassey! This went
on for a hundred years, and the morning of the 23rd of
June, 1857, had risen. Astrologers had foretold that at
last on this day the Mother would be avenged. Nana
Sahib ! Though the fulfilment of the prophecy is in the
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