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

OUDH
alone in the capital and among the palace officials. The
traditional rights of properties and Inams (fiefs) of the
big Zemindars and Rajas were also confiscated by the
English. So, all these Rajas and Zemindars saw how, bet-
ween even a bad Swaraj (national rule) and subjection
to a highly developed foreign rule, the former was to be
preferred and was infinitely more agreeable and honour-
able. The increase in the land-tax produced discontent
among the peasants. Most of the Hindusthanee Sepoys
in the English army were from Oudh, and the misery and
slavery of the place of their birth soon made them intense-
ly disaffected. Every one put his hand to the sword when
he remembered how the English ruined Nabob Wajid Ali
Shah with their cruel treachery and deceit. The big
Zemindars of Oudh, were descendants of Rajput heroes.
They were intensely excited when they heard of the per-
fidious cruelty of the English towards their King. After
the annexation of Oudh, the English asked them to come
and accept services under the new regime. Hundreds of
the freedom-loving and valiant men replied, at that time:
“We have eaten the food of Swaraj! We will not touch
the foreigner’s food!”
Sir Henry Lawrence was made the chief officer of the new
Oudh province. He was the elder brother of Sir John
Lawrence by whose alertness and statesmanship the seeds
of the Revolution in the Panjab were smothered before
taking root. Just as the chief commissioner of the Panjab
had saved that province, so also his brother in Oudh had
begun his preparations to save this. If anyone deserves
the credit of having materially helped to perpetuate Bri-
tish power in India in this Revolution, it is the Lawrence
family. Sir Henry Lawrence, as soon as he stepped into
Oudh, really grasped the situation there and had expressed
the fear of a Revolution, long before any other Englishman
thought of it. Lucknow being the capital of Oudh pro-
vince, Sir Henry had his headquarters there. He started
the policy of pacifying disaffected Zemindars by sweet
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