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

THE ERUPTION
But soon, the news of the extraordinary and sudden growth
of these seeds of Revolution again disturbed England's
sleep. The news about the Cawnpore massacres somehow
reached the people and on the 14th of August, 1857, the un-
happy, terror-stricken, and agitated masses caused a ques-
tion to be put in the Parliament, in the House of Lords,
“ Is the rumour about Cawnpore true ? ” Earl Gran-
vile replied : “ I have received a personal letter from
General Sir Patrick Grant that the rumour about the mas-
sacres at Cawnpore is altogether untrue and is a vile fabri-
cation. A Sepoy first set up the rumour. Not only is his
baseness discovered but he has been hanged for spreading
the false rumour.” ⁷ While the rumour about Cawn-
pore was being discussed in the House of Lords, a month
had already passed since the “ truth ” had been written
in grim letters of red blood ! While English politicians
were resting a little in safety, after hanging the Sepoy
who started the rumour, the truth came in person to the
shores of England. And the whole of England became
mad and hysterical with anger, fury, wounded pride, and
this malicious fury continues up to this day. And Eng-
land is shouting, even to-day, in every line of her own
histories, that the massacres committed by the Revolu-
tionaries are demoniacal in their cruelty and are a blot on
the fair name of Humanity !
And this loud shouting by the English at the top of their
voice has made the whole world deaf ! The very name
of 1857 brings a shiver and horripilation and shame to
everybody ! The very mention of the name of the Revo-
lutionaries of 1857 creates disgust and loathing in the
minds not only of their enemies, not only of innocent
and indifferent third parties, but even of those for
whose sake the Martyrs shed their blood ! Their enemies
give them choice epithets like ‘ demons ’, ‘ goblins ’,
‘ blood-thirsty and hellish vermin.’ The strangers call
7. Charles Ball's Indian Mutiny.
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