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

DELHI FALLS
among the Revolutionaries made their defeat more and
more certain. The Emperor, whom they had set upon a
rejuvenated throne, though of praiseworthy qualities of
kindness and mercy fit for times of peace, was quite in-
experienced in war and unequal to military leader-
ship. There was no lack of brave Sepoys at Delhi. Those
who had even surpassed English troops in warfare when
fighting on their side, those who had learnt their drill and
discipline under the English themselves, those whose
swords had extended English rule right up to Afghanistan
—there were fifty thousand of such heroes within the walls
of Delhi. But there was wanted at least one capable head
to command and lead to victory these fifty thousand men.
All honour to these fifty thousand men who fought and
failed. The wonder is that they held on for so long with-
out a capable leader to lead them! Even the old Emperor
whom they had placed on the throne was as anxious to
find a good leader for them as they were themselves. He
tried many experiments, but they did not work. He gave
all the power in the hands of Bakht Khan. He appointed
three generals to manage the army. He then ordered that
a committee of six—three Delhi citizens and three Sepoy
leaders—should together look after all the affairs of the
army. And when this representative council also proved
fruitless, the noble and patriotic Emperor, fearing that,
perhaps, the Revolution was being destroyed on account
of his fault and that capable men were leaving his side on
account of his being at the head, announced publicly that
he was ready to give up all his power and abdicate. Rather
than India come back under the English, rather than
the constantly wheeling vulture of foreign domination tear
the entrails of long-suffering India, rather than India be
always submerged in the mire of slavery, the old Mogul
proclaimed that the rule of any man over Hindusthan
who would give her freedom and Swaraj would be a hun-
dred times more pleasing to him than the continuance
of his own rule. He sent letters written in his own hand
to the Rajas of Jeypore, Jodhpur, Bikaneer, Alwar, etc.
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