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

THE VOLCANO
Oudh, Nana was of opinion that that act would inevit-
ably force on a war.⁹
As this description is compiled from the histories written
by Nana's enemies, it is to be noted that those virtues
which his enemies ascribe to him must have been a
distinct feature in his character. For it cannot be ex-
pected that English historians, with their terrible hatred
for Nana, could acknowledge willingly his eminent virtues
except where absolutely necessary. The tardy acknow-
ledgment of such virtues is the more significant, as after
this slight confession of truth, these very historians have
wreaked to the full their devilish vengeance on Nana for
having leaped forth into the battlefield. The poisonous
pen of English historians has taken a fiendish delight in
calling him a " badmash ", a " high way robber ", a
" fiend ", and " Satan ", and has been heaping upon him
low, vulgar, and dishonest abuse. But even if all this
abuse was deserved, still the single fact, that Nana fought
for Swarajya and bled for Swadesh, is sufficient to esta-
blish his loving memory in the heart of us Indians. It
was essentially necessary that the whole world should
realise the fact that a grand and terrible vengeance is
visited sooner or later on those who dare to commit the
sin of depriving Hindusthan of Independence. Nana was
the incarnation of vengeance of the land of Hind ! Nana
was the Narasimha Mantra of this land ! Yes ; this one
fact will impress Nana's memory on the tablet of our
hearts ! Yet with this particular merit of Nana, when one
further remembers the individual instances of his genero-
sity, his pride of birth, and above all his noble and
patriotic heart, one's head bows in loving adoration of
that grand personality ; and then rises before one's mind's
eye the fair and noble form of Nana, with his huge
strength, crown on his head, his bright and alert eyes red
with injured pride, the sword (worth three lakhs of
9. Charles Ball's Indian Mutiny, Vol. I, p. 304.
38