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

BEHAR
They entered his house and settled their plans. In a short
time, they came out one by one, with green flags and
shouts of “Din, Bôlô! Din !” About two hundred
Jehadis came out in procession and attacked the church.
Just then, a white man, called Lyall, was seen coming with
some troops, and Peer Ali shot him dead, and his infuriat-
ed followers hacked his body to pieces beyond recognition!
But, Rattray came with his “loyal ” Sikhs and made a
desperate attack on the Revolutionaries. When the Sikhs
thrust their swords in the body of the Mother, when their
bodies became red with her blood, then, the handful of
Revolutionaries were soon broken up by the force of
superior discipline and arms. The English arrested the
Revolutionary leaders one after another, among them be-
ing Peer Ali who had shot Lyall.
Peer Ali was originally a resident of Lucknow but had
lately established himself as a bookseller in Patna. He
had imbibed the ideas of independence by reading the
books which he used to sell. The conditions of dependence
and slavery became unbearable to him. He placed him-
self in communication with the Revolutionaries at Delhi
and Lucknow. He imparted to others his passionate
patriotism. Though he was only a humble bookseller, he
had great influence in the Revolutionary councils of Patna.
He collected together a large number of armed men with
the help of the wealthy members of the secret society and
they were all sworn to rise against the British power at
a given signal. When the English officer at Patna, Mr.
Tayler, began torture and oppression, Peer Ali’s hot nature
could not keep quiet. He was by nature stern, spirited,
and brave. He could not bear to see the tortures of his
countrymen, and therefore he, as he confessed later, “rose
prematurely.” Next, we see Peer Ali sentenced to death,
severely handcuffed, his hands bleeding from his wounds.
He stood before the scaffold, with a heroic smile on his
face, defying the death that was awaiting him. There was
only a slight sob when he took the name of his beloved
Published by Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, 2014.
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