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

THE VOLCANO
Hindusthan in 1846. There is not now much time left
for commencing the task which was sworn to on the
battlefield of Plassey.
From the above chain of causes, it will be clearly seen
that, before Dalhousie landed in India, the seeds of dis-
content had gone deep, very deep, all over Hindusthan.
Rajas and Maharajas, deprived of their kingdoms by the
English, were burning in their hearts. The fact that the
centenary of Plassey was approaching inspired a strange
feeling of hope among the people ; and in the very armies
of the English, the sepoys were secretly chafing with rage
and hatred. Even if India had had at this time a Viceroy
who would strive to allay this secret discontent, it is very
doubtful how far his efforts would have been successful.
The question now was not whether the Company's rule
should be good or bad ; but the only question that used to
be asked all over the country was whether the rule should
exist at all. The one other force that was necessary for
making an attempt to solve definitely this question was
supplied when Dalhousie became viceroy ; for he gave up
the policy of coating poison pills with sugar before ad-
ministering them to the victim, and began a system of
open and direct oppression which did not fail to burn its
way into the hearts of the masses.
Lord Dalhousie is described, by English historians, as
one of the founders of the English Empire. This fact
alone is sufficient to form an estimate of his capacity and
character. In a country where unjust wars of conquest
and oppression of foreign nationalities and races are
universally popular, it is no wonder that those who have
committed the greatest injustice and oppression are the
most honoured. Thus, he who is most unjust is deemed
the most capable, and one has no better way of proving
himself a great man in such a country than by committing
a climax of injustice. In such an Empire, where there is
such an emulation of injustice and oppression, Lord
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