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

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
and a plain white bodice. Thus, sometimes in male attire
and sometimes in female, the Bai Sahib used to honour
the Durbar by her presence. Those assembled in Durbar
never used to see her person. For the room in which she
sat was separate from, and only opened into, the Durbar
hall. Gold carving adorned the doors, and over these fell
gracefully the chintz curtain, embroidered with gold
cloths. In this room sat the Bai Sahib on a gadi of soft
down, leaning on a soft pillow. Outside the door, two
pages with maces of silver and gold always attended.
Opposite the room, Lakshman Rao Dewanji stood with
a bundle of important documents in his hand, and beyond
him sat the Registrars of the Durbar. Being very keen and
intelligent, the Bai quickly grasped every matter brought
before her, and her orders were clear and definite and to
the point. Sometimes she wrote her orders out herself.
She was very careful in affairs of justice, and decided civil
and criminal cases alike with great ability. Ranee Sahib
worshipped Mahalakshmi devoutly. The temple of that
Goddess was situated on the banks of a lake filled with
lotus flowers, and every Friday and Tuesday the Bai
visited the temple. One day, it so happened that after
the Bai had returned from the temple and was passing
through the south gate, she saw thousands of beggars
blocking the passage and creating a disturbance. So, she
inquired of the Minister, Lakshman Rao Pande, the reason
of this. He inquired and informed her that the people
were very poor, and that they suffered immensely on ac-
count of excessive cold, and that, therefore, they requested
that the Bai would kindly consider their condition. The
Bai felt very grieved for these poor people, and she at
once issued orders—kind-hearted that she was—that, on
the fourth day from thence, a gathering of beggars should
take place, where every one should be provided with a
thick coat and a cap and a blanket either white or black.
The very next day, all the tailors of the town were given
orders to make caps and coats. On the day appointed it
was proclaimed that all the beggars were to gather in
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