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

CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
After the military review, Nana Sahib, in company with
his brother Bala Sahib, proceeded to the historically
famous palace of Brahmavarta. The 1st of July was
fixed as the day of coronation. On that day, what splen-
dour there was in the palace! The old historic throne of
the Peshwas was brought with great ceremony into the
Durbar Hall, and Nana Sahib, with the royal Tilaka on
his forehead, amidst the booming of guns and the thunder-
ing applause of thousands, ascended the throne which was
independent, earned by his prowess, supported by the
populace, and blessed by religion. On that day, hundreds
from Cawnpore sent presents to Nana Sahib.^{15} The Mah-
ratta throne which the English hurled down from Raigarh
thus re-emerged out of the Ganges flowing red with Eng-
lish blood. The Hindus all over the land hailed it with
"Raja Ramachandra ki Jay!!!"
But while Nana Sahib was straining every nerve to regain
freedom in childhood, Rani Lakshmi Bai, a fellow com-
petitor with him in childhood at Brahmavarta in horse-
riding and elephant-riding, did not keep idle. When Nana
Sahib cast the die on the battlefield for independence at
Cawnpore, she did the same at Jhansi. She was as close
an associate to him in the game of Revolution as she was
in the games of childhood. On the 4th of June, on the
same day that Cawnpore was suffused with the clouds
of fiery fume of cannonade, the Rani of Jhansi too dashed
out like lightning and joined the battle of freedom.
On the 4th of June, Jhansi rose. Before this rising, a few
letters fell into the hands of the British commissioner at
Jhansi from which it appeared that Lakshman Rao, a
Brahmin in the Ranee's service, was organising a Revolu-
tion and, as a preliminary, intended to kill the British
officers in command of the army. But while the English
were discussing amongst themselves as to what precautions
15. Trevelyan's Cawnpore, page 293.
239