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

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
and from Jumna to the Himalayas, the English had con-
quered back the whole territory. The Revolutionaries
were without an army, without a fort, without any hope
of getting fresh forces—defeated as they were again and
again. But Tatia Topé was still alive, and that was
enough ! Tatia, too, had returned to Gopalpur. People
say he had returned after visiting his father. Whatever
people say, history does not say so. It was when Sir
Hugh tried his deep-laid game at Kalpi that Tatia had
a sudden fit of fondness for his father—a fondness, by-
the-bye, which seemed to exceed even his fondness for
fight ; and, no longer able to control his filial feelings,
he went to Charkhi to see his father. What was the secret
of this sudden passion ? The secret was that, as soon
as Kalpi fell, it was absolutely necessary to get hold of
some other strong position, some strong fortress, and
some new army. And, therefore, this Messenger of the
Revolution had escaped from Kalpi secretly to enter Gwa-
lior, and see how the Revolutionary idea was progressing
there ! He accepted the promises of the chief officers of
the army, and created a new army for the Revolution,
by secretly winning over the Durbar functionaries, Sir-
dars, and others. They promised to give him all the aid
they could, and in one month he had the whole of Gwalior
in the hollow of his hand. He then collected every in-
formation about the military position of Gwalior and,
thus, after undermining the throne of the Scindia, Tatia
returned to Rao Sahib at Gopalpur. He had 'seen
his father'!
Learning the glad news, that Tatia had come back from
Gwalior having successfully won over the people to the
side of the Revolution, Ranee Lakshmi urged the Peshwa
to advance straight towards Gwalior. On the 28th of May,
the Revolutionaries came to Amin Mahal. The Mahal-
kars tried to stop them. They were answered, " Who are
you to obstruct us ? We are the Peshwa and his forces
and we are fighting for Swaraj and Swadharma."
483