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

THE VOLCANO
“ Hindu sovereigns have a right to adopt, to the exclusion
of collateral heirs, and the British Government is bound
to acknowledge the adoption, provided it is regular
and not in violation of the Hindu law.” ³ It may
be safely asserted that nowhere else but in English politics
could be found the audacity of denying the very existence
of those promises which were given most definitely and
which are contained in their own documents. Not only
by these declarations but on innumerable other occasions,
the English have acknowledged the right of the native
princes to adopt in accordance with the Hindu Shastras.
Suffice it to say that, within the short period of two years
(1846-47), the English Government had consented to the
succession to the Gadi of innumerable adopted sons, and
acknowledged their rights.
Indeed, to try to seek, in the language of promises and
treaties, the root cause of annexing these states, is to
work in a wrong direction altogether. The real truth of
the matter is that Dalhousie had come to reduce all India
to a dead level and the grave of the Hindu Empire at
Satara was trying to raise its head. Obviously, therefore,
though Pratap Singh and Appa Sahib had both adopted
in accordance with the Hindu Shastras, the English
annexed the Raj under the pretex of failure of legitimate
heirs. The Gadi of Satara ! The same Gadi on which
Shivaji was crowned by the hand of Gaga Bhatt ! The
same Gadi to which Baji Rao I. dedicated all his triumph,
before which he bowed low ! O Maharashtra ! behold that
same Gadi, on which Shivaji sat, and to which homage
was paid by Santaji, Dhanaji, Niraji, and Baji, has been
broken to pieces by Dalhousie ! Go on, if you will, with
your petitions and deputations. What if Dalhousie does
not listen to these ? In England at least, you think, the
Directors will listen to you ? Dalhousie is apparently a
mere man ; but, who knows, perhaps the Directors in
3. Parliamentary Papers, 15th February, 1850, page 141.
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