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

THE CONFLAGRATION
to his palace and was looking after them well. But, at
the same time, he was as busy in trying to throw off the
British yoke already tottering through the shocks of the
Revolution as he was in saving the lives of these English-
men. From the very beginning, the symbols of slavery
in his kingdom had been smashed and he was ruling as
an independent prince. Seeing the English army coming
to deprive him of his liberty, the Nabob, urged and aided
by the whole populace, was ready for battle. Several
engagements took place between the two parties, but,
being defeated in them, the Nabob started for Kalpi with
his army, and Whitlock entered Banda in triumph on the
19th of April. The next march was to be on the Rao
of Kirwi.
Rao Madhav Rao of Kirwi was a child of ten and his
guardianship was in the hands of the English. The Rao
of Kirwi was a near relation of Baji Rao Peshwa. In
1827, Anant Rao, the then ruler of Kirwi, deposited two
lakhs of Rupees with the English Government for some
charities in connection with the temples of Benares. As
soon as he died, the English swallowed the whole amount.
More than that, they took unlawful possession of a fur-
ther sum of several lakhs of Rupees foolishly deposited
with them by Anant Rao's son, Vinayak Rao, in spite
of the lesson he had already received. This was soon
after Vinayak Rao's death. Rao Madhav, the adopted
son of Vinayak Rao, being a minor, as the supervision
of the whole state was in the hands of the English, and
Ramachandra Rao, the chief Karbhari, had been appoint-
ed by the English, there was every reason to suppose that
there would not be much fear of revolt in the Kirwi State.
But, in 1857, whatever the Raos and Maharaos did was
not quietly acquiesced in by the people. Sometimes
obscurely and sometimes clearly, the power of the people,
the strength of the real nation, was slowly struggling into
prominence. The Zemindars, the priests, the merchants
of Kirwi, nay, even the common people, inspired by the
476

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
strong ideal of liberty, hailed with joy the news which
one day proclaimed Delhi free and the next day Lucknow
and the third that Jhansi had uprooted the flags of the
Feringhi. Encouraged by these hopeful incidents, they
proclaimed the independence of Kirwi and the destruction
of the alien yoke, not waiting for the opinion of the Rao
or the sanction of his ministers. Now, while this procla-
mation was being loudly celebrated by the populace, the
Rao, a boy of nine or ten, had not done even a single
thing against the English! Nay, when the English army
returned to Bundelkhand, he went forward to receive
them and invited them into the city. According to his
invitation, the English army entered the city silently, but
they entered to imprison this little Rao, to destroy his
capital and to pull down his palace! Dreadful looting,⁶
wholesale burning, and a vengeance of wickedness took
place. And the State was annexed.
Whitlock now encamped at Mahoba, in order to ‘pacify’
the conquered provinces. As a matter of fact, he had now
completed his campaign. He had conquered all the
eastern part of Bundelkhand and he had sent small ex-
peditions to ‘pacify’ one or two places. So now, leaving
Whitlock, let us again follow the sacred steps of the
gallant Queen of Jhansi.
The Ranee, now again full of hope, made an advance on
Kunchgaon, forty-two miles from Kalpi, with the army
of the Peshwa. But the Rao Sahib, it would appear, had
6. “With regard to this injustice done to Rao, Malleson has
to confess: “Not a shot had been fired against him (Whitlock),
but he resolved nevertheless to treat the young Rao as though he
had actually opposed the British forces. The reason for this per-
version of honest dealing lay in the fact that in the palace of Kirwi
was stored the wherewithal to compensate soldiers for many a hard
fight and many a broiling sun. In its vaults and strong rooms
were specie, jewels, and diamonds of priceless value....The wealth
was coveted.”—Kaye and Malleson’s Indian Mutiny, Vol. V, pages
140, 141.
477

THE CONFLAGRATION
not arranged the forces as she would have liked him to.
It must be borne in mind, however, that it was not possi-
ble to make effective arrangements, either for Rao Sahib
or Tatia Tope. Though in that place, the Nabob of
Banda, the Raja of Shahgarh, and the Raja of Banapur
had all gathered together under the same flag, they had
not gathered together as the organised and disciplined
parts of a grand military force, moved by oneness of
heart, with a unity of plan and constitution, sustained by
strict military discipline and subordination. No one
could get his ideas carried out. But, in the opposing
army, there was no such conflict amongst leaders. It
seemed that the whole organisation was perfect and well-
controlled. Before Sir Hugh Rose was appointed com-
mander, there was heated discussion and difference of
opinion ; but, once he was the commander, his opinion
was the opinion of all. Whatever orders he issued were
right ; and, even if they were not right, they must be
obeyed. And even mistaken orders of a weak general
carried out by the obedient and unanimous bravery of
the troops under him, become successful—are bound to
become successful. On the other hand, even well-planned
orders of a capable general lead to disaster and defeat,
through the self-willed behaviour of the troops and the
lack of oneness in command and proper subordination.
Otherwise the rout at Kunchgaon could never have taken
place. As soon as Sir Hugh Rose came from Jhansi, the
Revolutionaries met him at Kunchgaon. Knowing that
the mid-day sun was unbearable to the English, the Re-
volutionaries had ordered in one of their commands,
" None should engage in a fight with the Feringhis before
ten in the morning. The fight should begin always after
ten." This very clever rule was put into practice this
day. Much havoc was thereby created in the English
army as happened on many other occasions where the
fight took place after ten. But, in spite of this, the Revo-
lutionaries were defeated at Kunchgaon and retired to-
Published by Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, 2014.
478

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
wards Kalpi. The admirable way in which they retired,
the organised manner in which they fell back has been
praised very much even by the enemy.⁷ But then this
excellent organisation came after and not before the
engagement. With this defeat, the Revolutionaries came
on to Kalpi. There, they began to make up for the defeat
by wrangling against and abusing one another,—the
infantry laid the defeat at the door of the cavalry, the
cavalry blamed the Jhansi troops, and all together blamed
the general, Tatia.
But, Tatia Topé is not going to come any more to Kalpi
to hear these wranglings. He has gone at present to the
village of Charkhi, near Jalwan, to see his father. No
one knows definitely where he is going after that, or
whether he is going there at all. Let us remember that
Gwalior lies in the direction of his road ! May the meet-
ing between this extraordinary son and his fortunate father
be full of love ! And after that loving visit, may this
great messenger of the Revolution go with despatch to
carry out whatever designs he might have set his heart on!
While Tatia was going on this journey, Ranee Lakshmi
went to the royal tent of the Peshwa. The heroic
Lakshmi relieved him of his dejection after the defeat of
Kunchgaon and said to him that, if the army was pro-
7. "Then was witnessed action on the part of the rebels which
impelled admiration from their enemies. The manner in which
they conducted their retreat could not be surpassed. They re-
membered the lessons which the European officers had well taught
them. There was no hurry, no disorder, no rushing to the rear.
All was orderly as on a field-day. Though their line of skirmishers
was two miles in length, it never wavered in a single point. The
men fired, then ran behind the relieving men, and loaded. The
relieving men then fired, and ran back in their turn. They even
attempted, when they thought the pursuit was too rash, to take
up a position, so as to bring on it an enfilading fire."—Malleson's
Indian Mutiny, Vol. V, page 124. This praise by the enemy does
credit to the Panday party.
479

THE CONFLAGRATION
perly organised, the enemy should never again be vic-
torious. The Nabob of Banda was inspired by her speech.
Proclamations in spirited language were again published
in the Revolutionary army. And to-day, on the banks
of the Jumna, crowds are gathering. Swords and guns,
angry Sepoys invoking the Jumna to bless the cause of
the independence of their soil—such a Revolutionary
pilgrimage the banks of the Jumna had probably never
before seen. These banks are simply echoing forth the
triumphant cries for the Mother and for Dharma ! “ Jai
Jumna ! With this thy sacred water in our hands, we
swear that the Feringhis shall be extinct, that Swadesh
shall be independent, and that Swadharma shall be re-
established ! Jai Jumna ! If all this is accomplished,
then alone we will live. If not, we will die this day on
the field of battle. We swear, by thee, O Kalindi,
three times ! ”
Heroes, thrice bound by this oath, come on then to the
field. Rao Sahib will lead the whole army. Drive away
this 25th infantry under Sir Hugh Rose. They are all
Indians—drive these traitors before you ! Major Orr
advances—make him share the same defeat ! In this
maidan before Kalpi, our position—with this undulatory
part to cover—is almost impregnable. But look, the
vanguard, is falling back ! It went too far, and being
not well covered, has had to retreat. Run then, Lakshmi,
run to protect them. She rushed forward sword in her
hand with lightning-like rapidity, and fell on the right
wing of the English, with her red-uniformed cavalry.
The triumphant right stopped dead, so sudden was the
attack ; stopped dead, and then retired back helpless.
This rapid onslaught of the girl of twenty-one, her horse
at full speed, her sword cutting men down to the right
and to the left,—seeing this, who would not fight for her?
Who would not be inspired by her ? All the Revolu-
tionaries were inspired by her strength ; the battle raged
bloody and hot. The Feringhi gunners of the light field
480

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
artillery began to die one after another. The Ranee and
her cavalry, then, advanced right on the guns which were
spitting deadly fire, and attacked the artillery. English
gunners left the guns; the horse artillery was routed;
the heroes of the Revolution advanced on and on, from
all sides, overjoyed at the prospect of crushing the
Feringhis who had so long escaped them; and before
them all fought Lakshmi !
Sir Hugh Rose, taken aback by this terrible onslaught,
then advanced with his reserve camels, and the English
saved their own lives, simply because of the camels. An
English writer says, "Fifteen minutes more, and the
mutineers would have cut us down! Fresh camels, one
hundred and fifty in number, changed the fortunes of the
day. Ever since that day, I have looked on the camel
with eyes of affection." By the strength of the camel-
men alone, on the 22nd of May, the Feringhis succeeded
in forcing the Peshwa's army to retire towards Kalpi.
After another complete defeat of the Peshwa's troops
and after a few skirmishes, Sir Hugh entered Kalpi on
the 24th of May. In the fort of Kalpi, the English cap-
tured a very considerable amount of military supplies
which Shri Rao Sahib Peshwa and Tatia Topé had, with
great trouble, gathered together in one year. Sixty thou-
sand pounds of gunpowder were found buried under the
ground; muskets beautifully made, brass balls of the
latest type for the guns, factories for making and repair-
ing cannon-balls, heaps of military uniforms, flags, drums,
French trumpets, Howitzer guns manufactured in
Europe, and arms of various kinds—such was the very
useful find that the English army came upon !
What they did not capture was the brave and ever-memor-
able leaders of the Revolutionaries. For, when Kalpi
fell after a week, Rao Sahib, the Nabob of Banda, Ranee
Lakshmi Bai, and other leaders had left Kalpi and gone
—nobody knew where. But now these unfortunate, help-
481
31

THE CONFLAGRATION
less people, without an army and without arms, could
do nothing beyond falling into the jaws of death, either
by privations, or by capture, or by suicide !
Thus Sir Colin had begun the reconquest from the
northern bank of the Jumna, and went on conquering as
far as the Himalayas. Sir Hugh Rose and Whitlock
began from the Narbada, and conquered all the country
as far as the south bank of the Jumna. The English had
now every reason to congratulate themselves that they
had destroyed the Revolution completely. Sir Hugh Rose
congratulated his army in these eloquent words :—
" Soldiers, you have marched one thousand miles, cap-
tured one hundred guns, swam rivers, crossed mountains,
marched through jungles, defeated big armies, reconquer-
ed extensive tracts, and re-established the glory of your
country ! Brave you are ; and you have also observed
the strictest discipline ; for courage without discipline is
nought. In the midst of difficulties, temptations, and
trouble, you have obeyed strictly the orders of your
general, and have never showed even a single sign of
insubordination. From the waters of the Narbada to the
waters of the Jumna, this, your success, has come to you
through your splendid discipline ! "
After publishing this glorifying proclamation, Sir Hugh
resigned his charge for the sake of his health. And the
triumphant English army, having destroyed the enemy
completely, sighed the sigh of relief and wished to rest.
But how dare you rest yet ? While Tatia and Ranee
Lakshmi Bai are alive, there is no rest possible for the
British troops. Come, stand up ! And if you would not
stand of your own accord, here is the whole force of
Gwalior, ready to goad you on ! After escaping from
Kalpi, the Revolutionary leaders went to Gopalpur to
discuss their future plans. Practically, at this time, there
was not a sign of hope. From the Narbada to the Jumna,
482

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
and from Jumna to the Himalayas, the English had con-
quered back the whole territory. The Revolutionaries
were without an army, without a fort, without any hope
of getting fresh forces—defeated as they were again and
again. But Tatia Topé was still alive, and that was
enough ! Tatia, too, had returned to Gopalpur. People
say he had returned after visiting his father. Whatever
people say, history does not say so. It was when Sir
Hugh tried his deep-laid game at Kalpi that Tatia had
a sudden fit of fondness for his father—a fondness, by-
the-bye, which seemed to exceed even his fondness for
fight ; and, no longer able to control his filial feelings,
he went to Charkhi to see his father. What was the secret
of this sudden passion ? The secret was that, as soon
as Kalpi fell, it was absolutely necessary to get hold of
some other strong position, some strong fortress, and
some new army. And, therefore, this Messenger of the
Revolution had escaped from Kalpi secretly to enter Gwa-
lior, and see how the Revolutionary idea was progressing
there ! He accepted the promises of the chief officers of
the army, and created a new army for the Revolution,
by secretly winning over the Durbar functionaries, Sir-
dars, and others. They promised to give him all the aid
they could, and in one month he had the whole of Gwalior
in the hollow of his hand. He then collected every in-
formation about the military position of Gwalior and,
thus, after undermining the throne of the Scindia, Tatia
returned to Rao Sahib at Gopalpur. He had 'seen
his father'!
Learning the glad news, that Tatia had come back from
Gwalior having successfully won over the people to the
side of the Revolution, Ranee Lakshmi urged the Peshwa
to advance straight towards Gwalior. On the 28th of May,
the Revolutionaries came to Amin Mahal. The Mahal-
kars tried to stop them. They were answered, " Who are
you to obstruct us ? We are the Peshwa and his forces
and we are fighting for Swaraj and Swadharma."
483

THE CONFLAGRATION
These words of Rao Sahib silenced the cowards, and
thousands of patriots in that part welcomed the Revolu-
tionaries heartily, and thus the army of the Peshwa
pressed right on the walls of the city of Gwalior. They
had written to the Scindia, “ We are coming to you
in a friendly spirit. Remember our former relations. We
expect help from you, so that we shall be enabled to
proceed towards the south.” But this ungrateful man
had forgotten the former relations. Well then, remember
the former and the present relations too ! “ The ancestors
of the Scindia were our servants, our Hujres—that was
the former relation. And, the present relation ? The
whole army of the present Scindia has joined us. Tatia
had gone to Gwalior, seen the leaders, and gained all
necessary information ! ” But still, forgetting all this,
the Scindia, with all his army and all his guns, advanced
on the Peshwa on the 1st of June, near Gwalior. The
Shrimant who deserves the respect of the whole country
thought for a moment that the Scindia had repented and
was coming forward to salute the flag of Swadesh. But,
Lakshmi said that he was coming, not to salute, but to
smash that golden flag. She came forward with her three
hundred horsemen and advanced right on the guns of
the Scindia. Soon, she caught the view of Jayaji Rao
Scindia and his personal guard the brave “ Bhaleghate ”
troops. The cobra shows not such rage when it is trod-
den upon as Lakshmi showed at the sight of this traitor !
Like an arrow she dashed at his troops. Behold, you
Bahadur—descendant of Mahadaji, this helpless girl of
twenty-two, brought up in the Zenana, is inviting you for
a trial of strength of the sword ! Let us all see now how
much of the prowess of Mahadaji, the devoted lover of
his country, has descended upon this Jayaji the devoted
slave of the Feringhi ! As soon as this angry lightning
struck him hard on the front, his personal guards waver-
ed and the Scindia, with all his “ Bhaleghate ” troops,
was routed. But, at least, there was hope that his huge
army and terrible artillery would do their best—and they
484

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
did do their best ! As soon as they saw Tatia, these
troops which had been bound over by secret oaths to
Tatia refused, point-blank, to fight against the Peshwa.
As previously arranged, they joined the Peshwa with all
their officers ; the guns were silent and everyone in
Gwalior honoured the flag of the Peshwa. The throne
of the Scindia thus crumbled to pieces at the touch of
the Revolutionary magician.
And so, Jayaji Rao Scindia, coward as he was, and his
minister, Dinkar Rao, fled, not only from the field, but
from Gwalior itself, and ran to Agra !
Gwalior, was now mad with joy. The army fired salutes
in honour of the Shrimant. The Finance Minister, Amar
Chand Bhatia, surrendered the whole treasury of the
Scindia, to the last pie, to Shrimant. Those few patriots
who were in prison under the old regime for having shown
sympathy with the Revolutionaries were released from
their prisons amidst the joyous cries of the populace.
The traitors who had advised the Scindia to join the
English had fled, but their mansions and their property
were destroyed so that not a vestige of them remained.
The black charge that the Asiatics do not understand
the true relation between a ruler and his subjects, was
washed away completely by Gwalior. For, how can he
who goes against his own country and against his own
Dharma be a ruler ? Poona had been in 1818 guilty of
being a traitor to the motherland in not having dragged
Rao Baji from his Peshwai in right time. Gwalior was
not guilty of that ! And therefore, this Revolution of
1857 must be recorded in history as the first indication
in modern India of the omnipotence of the vox populi,
the power of the people. If Scindia joins not his country,
the country shall not aid him either. Swords and guns,
infantry and cavalry, Durbar and Sirdars, Mankarees and
citizens, temples and images—all are for the country,
alone ; and if the Scindia is not for the country,
485

THE CONFLAGRATION
drag him down from his throne ; and outside the palace,
outside the capital, outside the borders of the kingdom
let him be driven out ! Hereafter, according to the
Scriptures, " The King receives his power only by pleas-
ing the people ! "
And now, we must not let this auspicious day, the 3rd of
June, slip by uselessly. And so " a big Durbar was held
in Phul Bagh. All Sirdars, statesmen, noblemen, Shile-
dars, and cavalry officers, who had joined the Shrimant,
took their seats according to their rank. Tatia Topé and
the Arabs, Rohillas, Pathans, Rajputs, Rangdes, Parde-
shis, and others under him came to the Durbar in their
military uniform and with swords by their side. The
Shrimant himself was dressed in the Peshwa's uniform
Shirpana and Kalgitura on head, pearls in his ears, and
pearl and diamond necklaces, round his neck. Thus, with
all the paraphernalia of the Peshwai, Bhaldars and
Chobdars making way for him, and Mourchas flying, the
Shrimant came to the Durbar. Then, as usual, all stood
up in reverence, salutes were received, and the Shrimant
ascended the throne. With tears of joy in his eyes, he
congratulated all the noblemen with great eloquence.
Ram Rao Govind was appointed Chief Minister. Tatia
Topé was made general and a sword studded with pre-
cious stones was presented to him. The eight ministers
were elected. Twenty lakhs of Rupees were distributed
to the army. The Durbar was a complete success. Joy
was on every face and salutes of guns were fired." ⁷
Shrimant Rao Sahib, representative of Nana Sahib
Peshwa, had thus established a new throne, infusing a
new hope and a new life into the Revolutionary party,
and had created a centre, a basis, round which might be
attracted the scattered forces of the Revolution. Tatia
Topé was not mad in busying himself with this corona-
7. D. B. Parasnis's Life of Lakshmi Bai, page 309.
486

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
tion and giving salutes after salutes just in the midst of
the war. The whole world had seen the dead body of
the Revolution which by this means alone he now lifted
from the grave of despair. The world—some with plea-
sure and others with despair—had cried : "That is a
dead body, there is no life in it !" But what wonderful
magic this ! Tatia took the dead earth at Gopalpur, he
breathed on it thus, and—wonderful !—the whole world
saw with the dumbness of surprise, a throne rising from
the thimbleful of earth, jingling with lakhs of Rupees !
Wonder of wonders ! See the thousands of swordsmen
advancing ; hear the salutes thundering forth from the
guns ! A new army is up, new guns are up, Tatia has
captured a new kingdom ! Tatia has done all this not
merely to strike the world dumb with his splendid
triumph. He knew that the Revolutionaries who had
spread far and wide would, on hearing the salutes pro-
claiming the Shrimant as the Peshwa of the Mahratta
empire, get a concentrated inspiration, vigour, and hope.
He knew that the sight of the triumphant flag of the
nation, thus unfurled at Gwalior, would infuse an uncon-
trollable enthusiasm and dash. He knew that the law-
lessness which had set in owing to the want of a rallying
point, would now make way for discipline, through res-
pect for the new-established throne. All this Tatia saw.
And what he foresaw soon came to pass. For the body
of the Panday party was soon instinct with life. While
thus, on the one hand, his countrymen were encouraged,
the English army, which just gave a sigh of relief, was,
on the other hand, again disheartened. It was for this
that the coronation was proclaimed loudly by Tatia and
other leaders of the Revolution. Their deep-laid game
was successful. For, by this very thunder of Tatia’s can-
non, Sir Hugh Rose’s idea of rest was rudely shattered
to pieces ! ⁸
8. Malleson, writing about the cleverness and diplomacy which
Tatia and Lakshmi Bai showed in taking Gwalior, says :—" How the
487

THE CONFLAGRATION
So far so good ; but once having shocked Sir Hugh Rose
and disheartened him, woe betide him who listened not
to the words of Ranee Lakshmi Bai ! All other functions
but the one great function of war must be stopped. But
it seemed that, as ill-luck would have it, the intoxication
of the Revolutionaries would make them blind to the
necessity of keeping the army in complete readiness.
They were all immersed in luxury, good dinners, and fatal
dilatoriness—they thought, perhaps, that this was the
sole end of Swaraj !
They were only losing Swaraj. For, the surprised Sir Hugh
Rose marched rapidly on Gwalior with his excellent army
under him. He brought with him the renegade Scindia
and proclaimed to all that the English were going to fight
only for the Scindia’s sake ! It was a trick to deceive the
simple men of Gwalior, who had the slavish and discredit-
able merit of blind loyalty, and it was calculated to pre-
vent these from fighting against the Scindia. But the
old world had changed, giving place to the new. Tatia,
so far successful in awakening the Revolutionaries, rushed
forward to meet the English. The English had already
defeated the Morar contingents. Now, with the shadow
of defeat on them, there began some excited movements
“ impossible ” happened has been told. . . . He (Sir Hugh Rose)
realised, moreover, the great danger which would inevitably be
caused by delay. No one could foresee the extent of evil possible
if Gwalior were not promptly wrested from rebel hands. Grant them
delay, and Tatia Tope, with the immense acquisition of political
and military strength secured by the possession of Gwalior, and
with all its resources in men, money and material at his disposal,
would be able to form a new army on the fragments of that beaten
at Kalpi, and to provoke a Mahratta rising throughout India. It
might be possible for him, using the dexterity of which he was a
master, to unfurl the Peshwa’s banner in the southern Mahratta
districts. Those districts were denuded of troops, and a striking
success in Central India would probably decide their inhabitants
to pronounce in favour of the cause for which their fathers had
fought and bled.”—Malleson’s Indian Mutiny, Vol. V, pages 149-150.
488

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Gwalior was the decisive turning
point in the history of 1857. The
twenty three-year old Maharaja
Jayaji Rao Scindia was then the ruler
of the State, and Dinkar Rao Raj-
wade the Prime Minister. A vast and
powerful army of the Revolutionaries
under Tatia Topé, Rao Saheb Peshwa
and Rani Lakshmi Bai, with the
considerable contingent force at
Gwalior joining them, was ready
for action before the place only
awaiting Scindia's reply. How grave
and alarming the situation was from
the British point of view will be
realised from the telegram despat-
ched by the then Governor General
Lord Canning. He says, "If the
Scindia joins the Mutiny, I shall

THE FORT, GWALIOR

DIWAN DINKAR RAO RAJWADE

MAHARAJA JAYAJI RAO SCINDIA
have to pack off tomorrow." But as an
official writes—"The real state of the case
was this: the Political Agent had full influ-
ence over Scindia's Diwan Dinkar Rao;
the minister in his turn influenced his
master; and thus Major Macpherson, from
the interior of the fort at Agra, ruled the
course of events at the Court of Gwalior."
The Scindia declined to join and the Revolu-
tionaries marched and captured Gwalior on
June 1, 1858. Dinkar Rao, with his master,
fled to Agra. The Revolutionaries ruled
at Gwalior for nearly eighteen days. The
British recaptured Gwalioron the 19th of
June and the Scindia was reinstated on the
throne. Later, Dinkar Rao much repented
his conduct, but that was too late.

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RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
among the Revolutionary leaders. Rao Sahib was has-
tening towards the house of the Nabob of Banda and the
Nabob of Banda was rushing towards the house of Rao
Sahib. But, in the midst of all this confusion, the Ranee
alone was calm and was ready. Her sword was out.
What need she fear now ? Hope as well as despair she
had trampled under foot ; she treated with contempt the
things on this earth ; she had one aspiration alone, namely,
that the flag of liberty should stand proudly erect until
she gave up her last breath ! Neither of them were to
be in the dust ; they were to lie in battle alone. So,
she gave Rao Sahib a word of courage, rearranged the
undisciplined troops as far as she could, and took upon
herself the task of guarding the eastern gate. She only
demanded, " I am ready with all my soul to do my duty ;
mind, you do yours ! "
She donned her usual military uniform, rode a noble
steed, took out her gem-bestudded sword from the sheath,
and ordered the army under her to march on. She made
ready all the posts near Kotaki Serai which had been
given to her care and, when the English army was in
sight, everywhere, trumpets and pipes, drums and nagaras
rent the air. If only she had an army, equal in courage
and daring to herself ! Even the insubordinate and hesi-
tating felt heroic under her influence and, with them and
her select band of horsemen, she charged hard the Eng-
lish army ! Her two female friends, Mandar and Kashi,
also fought bravely by her side. May the sweet memory
of these two patriotic girls—beautiful in appearance,
with male attire put on, taking pleasure in fight—
live in history along with that of their mistress as long
as history lives ! A general like Smith was charging the
Ranee's army, but to-day the Ranee's bravery and daring
were a sight to see. Like lightning, she moved about all
day. The English attacked the solid phalanx a number
of times. On every occasion she maintained her hold
firm. Her army occasionally felt enthusiastic and attack-
489

THE CONFLAGRATION
ed the British and cut down many of them. At last,
Smith was forced to retire ; he gave up the attempt of
breaking the mass and began to turn to another side,
leaving the nest of the cobra alone !
Thus closed the day and thus rose the 18th of the month!
This day, the English had resolved to make desperate
charges. From all directions, they advanced on the fort,
and tried their utmost. General Smith, forced to retire
the day before, was very determined to-day and, aided
by re-inforcements, he charged the same Jhansi side he
had gone for the day before. Sir Hugh Rose thought
that his presence was also absolutely necessary and so he
was personally present with the force attacking the Jhansi
side. The Ranee too was ready for him with all her
forces. “ She was ready with all her soul to do her duty.”
That day, she wore a Chanderi turban embroidered all
over, a tamamee cloak, and pyjamas. A pearl necklace
was round her neck. Her famous steed being tired that
day, a new, fresh-looking horse was made ready for her,
fully caparisoned. While her two beautiful maids were
taking sherbet, news came that the English were advanc-
ing. Lakshmi immediately darted forward from her tent.
The arrow flies not so rapidly, the lightning flashes not
forth with such force from the clouds, a lioness leaves
not her lair so quickly to fall upon the approaching ele-
phant ! She rode her horse, lifted her sword, and charged
the enemy with her army. An English writer says, “ Im-
mediately, the beautiful Ranee went over the field and
made a firm stand against the array of Sir Hugh Rose.
She led her troops to repeated and fierce attacks and,
though her ranks were pierced through and were gradual-
ly becoming thinner and thinner, the Ranee was seen in
the foremost rank, rallying her shattered troops and per-
forming prodigies of valour. But all was of no avail.
The camel corps, pushed up by Sir Hugh Rose in person,
broke her last line. Still the dauntless and heroic Ranee
held her own.”
490

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
But while her side was fighting with such unexampled
bravery, she saw the English army advancing on her rear
—for they had broken through the ranks of Revolutiona-
ries who were holding the posts behind her !
The artillery dumb, the main army routed, the victorious
English army closing on her from all sides, with only
fifteen or twenty horsemen with her, Ranee Lakshmi,
accompanied by her maids, put her horse to a gallop,
in order to break through the enemy, and to join her
comrades on the other side. The Feringhi horsemen of
the Hussars, who knew not so far where she was, fired
shot after shot on her and pursued her like hounds. But
the Queen, with unexampled courage, cleared her way
with her sword and marched on. Suddenly was heard a
cry, “ I am dead, Bai Sahib, I am dead ! ” Alas, whose
is this cry ? Lakshmi turned round and found that it
was her maid Mandar whom a white soldier had shot
and killed ! Angered, she attacked the Feringhi, and her
blow felled him on the spot. She had avenged the death
of fair Mandar ! She then marched on. She came to a
small rill. Now, one jump and Jhansi would have been
out of the Feringhi’s clutches. But her horse would not
take that jump ! If only she had had her old horse ! As
if the fiery line of a magician was round him the horse
moved in circles, round and round, but would not cross.
Before you could say “one”, the English horsemen
closed on her ! Still not a word of surrender or fear !
One sword against their several swords,—yet she closed
on them. She crossed sword with sword with them all,
but one of them hit her on the head from behind. With
that blow, the right part of her head, and even her right
eye came out—just then, another blow hit her on the
chest. Oh Lakshmi, Lakshmi ! the last drop of thy
sacred blood is dripping and, therefore, now, Mother,
take this last sacrifice for thee ! Even at the point of
death, she killed the British foe who had attacked her,
and now the young Queen was breathing her last breath !
491