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

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
blessing of Almighty God, we shall faithfully and cons-
cientiously fulfil.
“ And it is our further will that, so far as may be, our
subjects, of whatever race or creed, be freely and im-
partially admitted to offices in our service, the duties
of which they may be qualified by their education, ability,
and integrity, duly to discharge.
“ Our clemency will be extended to all offenders, save
and except those who have been and shall be convicted
of having directly taken part in the murder of British
subjects.
“ To all others in arms against the Government, we
hereby promise unconditional pardon, amnesty, and
oblivion of all offences against ourselves, our crown, and
dignity, on their return to their homes and peace-
ful pursuits.”
In such a manner was this ‘ Magna Charta ’ (?) of
Hindusthan published! The principal reason for its
publication was, no doubt, the desire to extinguish the
Revolution in Oudh. But Oudh did not care even to
glance at it. The Begum of Oudh published the follow-
ing counter-proclamation : “ In the proclamation, it is
written that all the contracts and agreements entered into
by the Company will be accepted by the queen. Let the
people carefully observe this artifice. The Company has
seized on the whole of Hindusthan, and if this arrange-
ment be accepted, what is there new in it? The Com-
pany professed to treat the Chief of Bharatpur as a son
and then took his territory. The chief of Lahore was
carried off to London, never to return again. The Nabob
Shams-ud-din Khan, on the one hand, they hanged,
while, on the other hand, they salaamed to him. The
Peshwa they expelled from Poona and Satara and im-
prisoned for life in Bithoor. The Raja of Benares they
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