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

TEMPORARY PACIFICATION
imprisoned in Agra. They have left no names or traces
of the chiefs of Behar, Orissa, and Bengal. Our ancient
possessions they took from us on pretence of distributing
pay and, in the 7th article of the treaty, they wrote on
oath that they would take no more from us. If, then,
the arrangements made by the Company are to be accept-
ed, what is the difference between the former and the
present state of things ? These are old affairs. But, even
recently, in defiance of oaths and treaties, and notwith-
standing that they owed us millions of Rupees, without
reason and on pretences of misconduct and the discon-
tent of our people, they took our country and property
worth millions of Rupees. If our people were discon-
tented with our royal predecessor, Wajid Ali Shah, how
comes it then, that they are content with us ? And no
ruler ever experienced such loyalty and devotion of life
and goods as we have. What, then, is wanting that they
do not restore to us our country ? Further, it is written,
in the proclamation, that they want no increase of terri-
tory, and yet they cannot refrain from annexation. If
the Queen has assumed the government, why does she not
restore our country to us when the people have unmis-
takably shown their wish to this effect ?
“ It is well known that no king or queen ever punished
a whole army or a whole people for rebellion. All will
be forgiven, for the wise cannot approve of punishing
the whole army and people of Hindusthan and also they
know that so long as the word “ punishment ” remains,
the disturbance will not be suppressed. There is a well-
known proverb, “ Marta kya nahin karta. ”
“ It is written in the proclamation, that they who har-
boured the rebels or who caused men to rebel shall have
their lives, but that punishment shall be awarded after
deliberation to them, that murderers and abettors of
murderers shall have no mercy shown to them, and that
all the rest shall be forgiven. Now even a silly person
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