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

THE CONFLAGRATION
and the birds began to flutter about in helpless agony !
And it was with a determination to avenge the wrongs of
his dynasty and his country that the old youth was stand-
ing on the terrace of Jagadishpur palace, twirling his
moustache !
An old youth !—yes, he was an old youth. For, nearly
eighty winters had passed over his head and yet the fire in
his soul was as fierce as ever and the muscle in his arm
was strong. A Kumâr of eighty years and a Singh ! How
could he bear the sight of the spoliation of his country by
the English ! After Dalhousie swallowed the kingdom
of Oudh, the English went about, throughout Hindusthan,
digging up and demolishing all raised places in order to
raze them all to the ground. It was in that campaign
that Kumar Singh's country also fell a victim. Kumar
Singh swore that he would shatter to pieces the English
rule which had ruined his country and Swaraj in this in-
excusable, cruel, and unjust manner ! And he began at
once communications with Nana Sahib.
Commissioner Tayler of Patna had, for long, been receiv-
ing information that Kumar Singh was planning a Revo-
lution, that he had established communications with Revo-
lutionary societies throughout India, and that hundreds
of Sepoys at Patna were secretly in league with him. The
very idea, however, that this old man of eighty would run
to the battle-field, instead of lying down for a peaceful
death, appeared to his mind absolutely impossible. Be-
sides, was not Kumar Singh always writing letters of
loyalty to him ? Still, Tayler who was not an exception
to the usual nobility of heart of Englishmen wrote to
Kumar Singh : " You are very old and your health is
very bad! I feel great anxiety for your company for the
rest of your days. I will feel very much obliged if you
will do me the honour of accepting my hospitality. With
the hope that this invitation will not be rejected,—I am
yours etc., Tayler." In the past Afzul Khan had sent a
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