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

THE CONFLAGRATION
alone. Let all those to whom God has granted determina-
tion and will, renounce the hope of property and of life
and join us in this cause of our ancient faith. If the
people sacrifice their private interest for the public good,
the Englishmen will be exterminated from our land. It
should be known that no one dies before his time and, when
his time comes, nothing can save him. Thousands of men
are carried off by cholera and other diseases ; while, to be
killed in a war of Dharma is martyrdom. And it is the
duty of every man and woman to kill or expel every
Feringhi from the land of Hindusthan. Let zeal for reli-
gious duty alone be the motive of those who join me, and
not any worldly aspiration, though they who rise for the
faith get happiness in this world too ! ”
These extracts are from the different, and sometimes simi-
lar, Proclamations published in Oudh and Delhi. Another
Proclamation was issued from the throne itself and was
most widely published all over India. Even in the farthest
south were found copies passing from hand to hand, in
the bazaars and in the army. It insisted : “ To all Hindus
and Mahomedans ! We, solely on account of religious
duty, have joined with the people. Whoever shall, in these
times, exhibit cowardice or credulously believe the pro-
mises of the English impostors, will be very shortly put
to shame and receive the reward for their fidelity to Eng-
land which the rulers of Lucknow got. It is further neces-
sary that all, Hindus and Mahomedans, unite in this
struggle and, following the instructions of some respectable
leaders, conduct themselves in such a way that good order
may be maintained, the poorer classes kept contented, and
they themselves be exalted to rank and dignity. Let all,
as far as it is possible, copy this Proclamation and fix it
in some prominent place, escaping detection if prudence
requires it, and strike a blow with the sword before giving
circulation to it ! ”
Soon after the general declaration of war against the
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