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

THE ERUPTION
“ rule ” is used for “ authority ” both just and unjust, so
long its antonym “ rebellion ” can, also, be just as well as
unjust. And till then, before passing judgment on the
history and the authors of any revolt, bloodshed, and
revenge, there must be a full and minute inquiry of the
circumstances under which they took place. Revolt,
bloodshed and revenge have often been instruments
created by nature to root out injustice and introduce an
era of justice. And when Justice uses these terrible means
for her salvation, the blame of it does not lie on Justice
but on the preceding cruel Injustice, the power and
insolence of which called forth the means. We do not
hold the justice which gives the death sentence responsible
for bloodshed but rather the injustice which is taken to
the gallows. Therefore, the sword of Brutus is holy.
Therefore, the waghnakh of Shivaji is sacred. Therefore,
the bloodshed in the Revolutions in Italy is of fair fame.
Therefore, the beheading of Charles I is a just deed.
Therefore, the arrow of William Tell is divine. And the
sin of brutality falls heavily on the heads of those who
committed the provoking injustice.
Moreover, had the world no fear of revolt, bloodshed, and
revenge, the earth would have bent under the devil-dance
of unchecked robbery and oppression ! If Oppression
were to be secure from the fear that Nature would, sooner
or later, create the Avenger of Temporary Injustice, the
whole world would have swarmed to-day with Tsars and
robbers ! But because every Hiranya-Kashipu has his
Narasimha ; because every Dushshasana has his Bheema ;
because every evil-doer has his avenger, there is still some
hope in the heart of the world that Injustice cannot last.
Such a revenge, therefore, is nature’s own reaction against
Injustice. And, therefore, the sin of the cruelty of that
revenge rebounds on the original evil-doers.
And it was the fire of such a divine vengeance that was
burning in the heart of the sons of Hindusthan in 1857.
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