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

THE ERUPTION
but the nation should not die, must not die. The ideal
was the establishment of the country's freedom by break-
ing the dreadful chains of slavery, and the universal war
was sounded for the attainment of this noble end, even
though the way to it was over the ashes of cottages and
of thrones. He is a king who would free his country. The
other kings were as well dead as alive.
The people in the states like Gwalior, Indore, Rajpootana,
and Bharatpur were, also, full of the spirit of the Revo-
tionary War, as much as those in territories which had
completely lost their independence. None of them enter-
tained the sordid idea of keeping away from risk and
danger, because his own native state was safe; nor looked
upon his own tiny state as the whole nation, and upon the
annexed provinces as people having exclusive interests
and belonging to a foreign system. Foreigner! One son
of the Mother, a foreigner to another! No; 1857 has come
and all India is one; one in life; one in destiny!
Now, then, you Scindia of Gwalior! Give us the order to
fight against the English. Give us not only the order but
come and be our leader; Raise the holy cry of "Swadesh"
and "Swadharma" on the battlefield and march on with
the army to complete the half-done work of Mahadaji.
The whole country is hanging on the one word of Jayaji
Scindia! Say "War!", and Agra falls, Delhi is liberated,
the Dekhan rises amidst thunder, the foreigner is expelled
from the country, the land is free, and you are the man
who shall give it the gift of freedom! The lives of two
hundred millions of men depended on the tongue of one
man. Such an occasion is verily Historical!
But, the one tongue of the Scindia first would not move
at all and, when it did move, it said "Friendship!" in-
stead of "War!" The Scindia resolved to preserve his
friendship—not with the country but with the English!
At this, the people rose in a fury. If the Scindia does not
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