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

TEMPORARY PACIFICATION
The Revolution of 1857, as such has been discussed, from
time to time. Did the Revolution burst out too early,
before the preparations were ripe ? We think not. The
preparations that were made in 1857 are not usually
found even in successful revolutions. When regiment
upon regiment of soldiers, Princes, higher officers
of the existing government, the police, and large
towns, all, one after another, gave promises to rise,
who would not start at once ? Besides, it is often
the case that the real difficulty is at the start and
the whole country rises only later on. This consi-
deration also proves that the leaders of the Revolu-
tion did not at all precipitate matters. Those who
dare not rise even with so many facilities are not the
men who can ever rise at all !
Then, why was there the defeat ? Several minor reasons
have already been mentioned in their proper places. But
the chief reason appears to be this. Though the plan of
the destructive part of the Revolution was complete, its
creative part was not attractive enough. Nobody was
against destroying the English power ; but what about
the future ? If it was only to re-establish the former
internecine strife, if it was to bring again the same state
of affairs as before, the same Moguls, the same Mah-
rattas, and the same old quarrels—a condition, being tired
of which, the nation, in a moment of mad folly, allowed
foreigners to come in—if it were only for this, the more
ignorant of the populace did not think it worth while to
shed their blood for it. Therefore, the Revolution worked
out successfully as far as the destructive part was con-
cerned ; but, as soon as the time for construction came,
indifference, mutual fear, and want of confidence sprang
up. If there had been set clearly before the people at
large a new ideal attractive enough to captivate their
hearts, the growth and completion of the Revolution
would have been as successful and as grand as its
beginning.
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