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

THE CONFLAGRATION
have passed, each adding new insults and new shame to
those previously inflicted ! To settle this standing account
of a century of degradation, to wash off these national
insults and this national shame by torrents of blood--
this is the fierce desire that gleams in the eyes of all the
Sepoys in the city of Delhi. Through every breeze of
the wind and through every ray of the sun, through every
thundering roar of the cannon and through every clashing
of the sword, comes forth a deep rumbling voice, " Plassey!
The Vengeance of Plassey !" As soon as the dawn an-
nounced the hundredth anniversary of the woeful field of
Plassey, the Revolutionary forces began to pour out of
the Lahore gates of the city. The English people, too
well aware of the fact that this day would tax their
energies to the utmost, were quite prepared and had al-
ready drawn up their soldiers in battle-array even before
the day rose. Nay, through this very anxiety, they re-
quested the Government of the Panjab to send them help,
which, fortunately for them, did arrive on the eve of this
day. This news of the arrival of fresh troops from the
Panjab infused the English with great confidence. But,
neither this news of the reinforcements which the English
received nor the discovery of the fact that the British had
already destroyed the bridges leading to their rear would
stop the enthusiasm of the Revolutionaries. They rushed
on through the Sabzi Mundi and began to open fire on
the British. The British infantry led charge after charge,
but the Revolutionists repulsed them as often as they
sallied forth. The artillery from the walls of the city was
doing its work with equal vigour. Hindu Rao's house,
too, was receiving its share of attention from the Revolu-
tionaries. At twelve in the noon, the battle was raging
hottest. The Revolutionaries led attacks after attacks on
the Panjabee division, the Gurkha battalion, and the white
troops of the British. Major Reid says : " The mutineers,
about twelve o'clock, made a most desperate attack on
the whole of my position. No man could have fought
better. They charged the rifles, the guides, and my own
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