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

LUCKNOW
lish of fortifying their defences. The late Nabob of Luck-
now, Wajid Ali Shah, being a prisoner of the English at
Calcutta, they unanimously elected and placed on the
throne his son, Prince Birjis Kadir. This Birjis Kadar
being a minor, the regency of the kingdom of Oudh was
given in the hands of his mother, Queen Hazrat Mahal.
As in the palace of Delhi, on account of the extreme old
age of Emperor Bahadur Shah, the affairs of state were
looked after by Begum Zinat Mahal in the Emperor's
name, so in the palace at Lucknow, the Nabob being a
minor, the Government depended on his mother, Begum
Hazrat Mahal. This Begum of Oudh, though not quite
another Lakshmi Bai, was undoubtedly a great organiser,
full of love of liberty and the spirit of daring. She had
perfect confidence in an Omrah (nobleman) of the court,
called Mahbub Khan. She appointed various officers to
the judicial, revenue, police, and military departments.
These officers selected were such as were loved and ho-
noured by the representatives of the Sepoys, by Mahbub
Khan and other leading Sirdars, and also by the large
numbers of the people who hurried from all parts of Oudh
to Lucknow to join in the great War of Independence.
Every day, a Durbar was held to discuss political affairs,
and there, the Begum Sahiba exercised authority in the
name of the Nabob. The news that Oudh was free and
that not a trace of English rule remained there was sent
to the Emperor of Delhi, under the Begum's seal, along
with valuable presents. Letters were sent to all the neigh-
bouring Zemindars and vassal Rajas to come to Lucknow
with armed followers. From the appointment of the
various civil officers, from the good order in all the depart-
ments of Government, from the daily Durbars, and other
signs, it was apparent that the revolt had ended and con-
structive government had begun. But, unfortunately, the
Revolutionaries did not show as much zeal in obeying the
officers appointed as they showed in participating in their
appointment. In all Revolutions this common blunder is
committed, and this sows the seeds of destruction of the
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