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

SWADHARMA & SWARAJ
God does not wish that you should remain so ; for he has
inspired in the hearts of Hindus and Mahomedans the
desire to turn the English out of our country. And by the
grace of God, and your valour, they will soon be so com-
pletely defeated that in this our Hindusthan there will not
remain even the least trace of them ! In this our army,
the differences of small and great shall be forgotten, and
equality shall be the rule ; for, all who draw the sword in
this holy war for the defence of religion are equally glori-
ous. They are brethren, there is no rank among them.
Therefore, I again say to all my Hindi brethren, ' Arise
and jump into the battlefield for this divinely ordained
and supreme duty ! ' " The man who, after seeing such
magnificent utterances by the Revolutionary leaders, does
not understand its principles is, as we said, either a fool
or a knave. What stronger evidence is needed to prove
that Indian warriors drew their swords at the time for
Swadharma and Swaraj, feeling it the duty of every man
to fight for the rights given to man by God ? These Pro-
clamations issued at different times and places dur-
ing the war make it unnecessary to dilate more
on its principles. These Proclamations were not issued
by nonentities ; but they were orders issued from
adorable and powerful thrones. They were burning
expressions of the agitated feelings of the time. In
these the real heart of the Nation had spoken out,
when at the time of war, there was no occasion to conceal
real sentiments through pressure or fear. This tremendous,
heroic shout, ' Swadharma and Swaraj,' proclaims to the
world the character of the Revolution in which 'all who
draw the sword are equally glorious.'
But were these two principles understood as different
and exclusive of each other ? At least, orientals have
never had the idea that Swadharma and Swaraj have no
connection with each other. The Eastern mind has main-
tained a full and traditional belief, as is also said by
Mazzini, that there is no vast barrier between Heaven
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