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

THE CONFLAGRATION
front of the palace. Poor people, too, had been included
in this gathering. All were given clothes by the Bai and
they went away satisfied....In the fight with Nathe
Khan when the wounded men were brought into the city,
the Bai herself would insist on being present when their
wounds were being dressed. Her very presence soothed
their pain, and they felt themselves sufficiently rewarded
by the kind and sympathetic interest she took in their
well-being. The Ranee grieved at their grief, gave them
ornaments and medals, patted them, and showed such
sympathy that others, instead of being disheartened at
the sight of these wounded soldiers, felt that they could
even give up their lives for the sake of the Ranee. The
grandeur of the Bai's processions passes description. On
the occasions of the visits to the temple of Mahalakshmi,
she started sometimes in a palanquin, and sometimes
on horseback. When in the palanquin, the palanquin
would be covered with curtains of gold and embroidered
cloths tied with golden ribbon. When she was on horse-
back, in male attire, the end of a thin and beautiful batti
floated on her back and it fitted her admirably. The
national flag of freedom was carried before her, with the
band playing military music. Two hundred Europeans
followed the flag and a hundred horsemen rode before and
behind her. With the palanquin came the karbharis,
ministers, feudatories, and other officers like Bhayya
Sahib Upasane ; and others either rode or followed on
foot. Sometimes troops accompanied the procession.
When the Bai started from the palace, the choughada on
the fort made sweet music. The choughada of the nagar-
khana of Mahalakshmi started at the same time.”¹
And thus, from the Vindhyas to the Jumna, there was not
a vestige of British authority left. Brahmins, Moulvies,
Sirdars, Dorakdars, Sepoys, the police, Rajas, Raos,
bankers, villagers—all were desirous fighting for only one

1. D. B. Parasnis’s Life of Lakshmi Bai, pages 147-151.
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