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

THE CONFLAGRATION
with the Sepoys stationed for the protection of the pro-
vince, with the Zemindars, Rajas, with the chief towns in
the various districts, and all were hand and glove with
the secret society at Patna. The Sepoys in the camp at
Danapur began to hold secret meetings and form plans
at nights, under cover of the trees ! And if they saw some
Englishman who might have discovered them on
his patrol, they killed him ! When the power of
the people was thus organised and ready for Revo-
lution, negotiations began with the secret societies
at Delhi and at Lucknow.
When the final question was being discussed as to the
time when they were to start the Revolution, the English
commissioner, Mr. Tayler, got the news of Meerut. Fol-
lowing closely came the news that there was unrest among
the Sepoys at Danapur. The commissioner was a clever
man and thought the whole of India was rising in Revolu-
tion, the Sikhs were yet confirmed traitors. Therefore,
Tayler immediately sent two hundred Sikhs under Rattray
for the defence of Patna, and the Sikhs, accordingly left
for Patna. But, wherever they passed, all the way they
were despised and cursed, day and night ! They were
accused of treachery (Nimak-haram) to the nation and,
on the way, villagers would ask them sarcastically, “ Are
you true Sikhs or Feringhi converts ? ” They were advis-
ed, secretly and openly, to stand up for their country when
the crucial moment came. When the Sikhs, with the
curses of the whole province on their heads, began to enter
the town of Patna, the popular fury became intense every-
where on seeing them ; every citizen of the proud city
ostentatiously avoided the touch, even of their shadow.
What more—the priest of the Sikh temple in that free-
dom-loving city curtly refused entry to these traitors with-
in the temple! The belief that these Sikhs, were not real
followers of Guru Govind Singh—a belief shared by the
Sikh Guru, the Mahomedan Moulvie, and the Hindu
Prayagwal—is an excellent proof how, in the town of
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