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

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
Bhaskar Rao hesitated and was not sure if the proper
time had arrived ; he only rose when the former was
completely crushed. On account of these lax, spasmodic,
and inopportune risings in the south, no one was crown-
ed with success. Baba Sahib was a cultured man and a
great lover of learning. He had also collected together
a large library of excellent books. His young wife was
as spirited as she was beautiful and had resolved upon
giving her whole life for the destruction of the Feringhis
since the time she was refused the right of adoption. It
was due to her inspiration that, at last, on the 25th of
May, 1858, after long hesitation, Nargund openly rose
and declared war with England. Baba Sahib threw off
the yoke of slavery to the British ostentatiously. When
the news came that the English officer, Monson, was
marching against him, Baba Sahib took a few select men
with him and surprised Monson at night in the woods
near Nargund. In the skirmish, Monson was killed, his
body was thrown in a fire near by, and his head was
taken back triumphantly to Nargund. Next morning, it
was hanging on the walls of Nargund. In the mean-
while, Baba Sahib's step-brother not only refused to join
the Revolution but actually joined the English side. An
English army then marched upon Nargund and defeated
the army of Baba Sahib who himself escaped from the
field. He was caught, a few days later, in disguise and
hanged on the 12th of June. His young, beautiful,
and daring Ranee did not surrender to the enemy,
but in company with her mother-in-law committed
suicide by throwing herself in the waters of the
Malaprabha.
Besides these, Bhima Rao of Komaldrug, the Bhils of
Khandesh and their valiant spouses, armed with bow
and arrow, and other small communities, organised risings
in Maharashtra of greater or less magnitude. But,
on account of the want of skill in choosing the proper
time, on account of unripeness of preparation, and on
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