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

OFFERING IN THE SACRIFICIAL FIRE
At last, a Mahratta prince had entered the Deccan with
an army ! When it became known that Tatia had crossed
the Narbada near Hoshangabad and had arrived near
Nagpur, not only in the three presidencies, not only all
over India, not only in England, but all over Europe even,
all men, including even his enemies, shouted out in
applause, “ Bravo, Tatia, Bravo ! ” The whole Revolu-
tion had changed its colour at once !³ In front of him
lay the Nizam’s dominions where he had a powerful party
in the Durbar supporting him, on the other side were
Poona, Bombay, and the whole of Maharashtra. The
Jaripatka in the land of the Mahrattas—who knew what
hidden powers might not rise from that Raigarh, from
that Pawankhindi, from that Wargaon ! The Nizam of
Hyderabad, Lord Harris at Madras, Lord Elphinstone at
Bombay, and Lord Canning at Calcutta—all were be-
wildered with astonishment ! Such an astonishing feat
did Tatia effect in this descent into Maharashtra ! But
it was only astonishing ; for the time had now gone by
when it would also have been useful ! A year before,
this crossing of the Narbada would have had a wonderful
effect. Now, in the October of 1858, this wonderful
strategy would excite admiration but would not lead to
success ! The Revolution had by now been crushed in
almost all places. And the terrible bloodshed caused in
the fierce struggle which was still fresh before its mind,
had made the nation weak and stupid. In spite of this
if the people of Nagpur had shown some perseverance,

3. “ It was accomplished. The nephew of the man recognised
   by the Mahrattas as the heir of the last reigning Peshwa was on
   the Mahratta soil with an army . . . . The Nizam was loyal. But
   the times were peculiar . . . . Instances had occurred before, as in the
   case of the Scindia, of a people revolting against their sovereign
   when that sovereign acted in the teeth of the national feeling. It was
   impossible not to fear lest the army of Tatia should rouse to arms the
   entire Mahratta population and that the spectacle of a people in arms
   against the foreigner might act with irresistible force on the people of
   the Deccan.”—Malleson’s Indian Mutiny, Vol. V, pages, 239, 240.
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