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

NANA SAHIB AND LAKSHMI BAI
England. His face was noble, his speech sweet and silvery.
Knowing very well the customs and manners of contem-
porary English life, he soon became very popular among
Londoners. Attracted by his pleasant and silvery voice,
his spirited mien and Oriental magnificence, several young
English women fell in love with Azimullah. There used
to be a crowd, in those days, in the parks of London and
on the beach at Brighton, to see this jewelled Indian
"Raja". Some English women of respectable families
were so much infatuated with him that, even after his
return to India, they would send him letters couched in
the most affectionate terms. When, later, Havelock's
army captured Brahmavarta, he saw there the original
letters written by some English ladies to their "Darling
Azimullah!"
But though English women were captivated by Azimullah,
still the East India Company would not leave their
stern attitude. They put him off for some time with
beguiling words, and at last gave the stereotyped answer,
"We entirely approve of the decision of the Governor-
General that the adopted son of Bajirao has no claim
whatever to his father's pension." Thus, as regards the
principal object of his mission he was disappointed, in a
way. We say "in a way"; because at this very moment,
a new inspiration, a new hope, was rising in his heart.
There was no necessity of any foreigner's consent to realise
this hope, but it depended for its realisation on his own
country and countrymen! How to get the consent of his
own men? How to acquire the independence of his coun-
try by force when it could not be acquired by Sâma, Dâna,
or Bhêda (conciliation, money, or division)? These
thoughts breathed a new hope and a new life into Azim-
ullah's heart.
At this self-same moment, right in the heart of Lon-
don, a Brahmin was sitting, brooding over the means for
the attainment of that which he was unable to obtain by
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