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

CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
work of the Secret Society. Even on the day before the
rising, the English had not any adequate inkling about
the plans of Emperor Bahadur Shah, Nana Sahib, or the
Queen of Jhansi ! And, amongst all these, the palace of
Brahmavarta kept the closest and strictest secrecy. The
historian Kaye says : "Nana had not studied in vain
the history of Shivaji, the founder of the Mahratta
Kingdom ! ”
The chief rendezvous of the secret societies of Cawnpore
was the house of Subahdar Tikka Singh. Another place
of meeting for the secret societies was the house of the
Sepoy leader Shams-ud-din Khan. At these secret meet-
ings, two faithful servants of the Brahmavarta palace
household, Jwala Prasad and Mahomed Ali, used to at-
tend on behalf of Nana Sahib. Subahdar Tikka Singh
and Jwala Prasad—both bold, freedom-loving, and pas-
sionately sincere patriots—soon got a hold on the assembly
and the whole army had unanimously sworn to obey
their orders. So, the voice of Subahdar Tikka Singh was
the voice of the whole army. It was extremely necessary
that such a leader and Nana Sahib should personally meet
and settle important points. Besides, the settled pro-
gramme had become useless on account of the Meerut
rising and the consequent confusion. It was therefore
necessary to alter that programme to suit the changed
circumstances, and for this it was decided that Tikka
Singh and Nana should meet.³ In their first meeting, a
long discussion took place. The Subahdar gave assurances
that both Hindus and Mahomedans were ready to rise
unanimously for Swadharma and Swaraj and were wait-
ing only for Nana's orders. After this, it was settled
that another meeting, more secret and of longer duration,
should be arranged to settle the minor details, and the
Subahdar returned. On the evening of the 1st of June,
Nana Sahib, accompanied by his brother Bala Sahib and
3. Forrest's State Papers and Trevelyan's Cawnpore.
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THE ERUPTION
his minister Azimullah Khan, came down to the banks
of the sacred Ganges. There stood Subahdar Tikka Singh
and the heads of the Secret Society awaiting him. The
whole company then got into a boat. They entered the
waters of the holy Ganges ; everyone there took an oath,
with the holy water of the Ganges in his hands, that he
would participate in the bloody war for his country's
liberty. Then followed a deliberation of two hours in
which the whole of the future programme was definitely
decided upon, and the company returned. Their secrets
were known to the sacred Ganges alone and in her hands
they were safe ! But this much is well known that, on
the following day, Shams-ud-din came to the house of
his beloved Azizan and told her that within two days the
Feringhis would be destroyed and India would be free !
Shams-ud-din did not give this news of freedom to her
as empty bravado ; for, the heart of this beauty yearned
as much for India's freedom as that of her brave lover.
Azizan was a dancing girl very much loved by the Sepoys;
she was not one, however, who sold her love for money
in the ordinary market, but in the field of freedom it was
given as a reward for the love of country. We will soon
show further on how a delightful smile from her beautiful
face encouraged fighting heroes and how a slight frown
from her dark eyebrows hastily sent back to the field
cowards who had come away.
While the plans of the Revolutionaries were thus ripening,
the terror in the English camp was beyond all description!
Sir Wheeler sighed with relief when he got reinforce-
ments from Lucknow and when the treasure and the
arsenal had been put under the charge of Nana Sahib.
But the English population had lost all courage. The
24th of May was the great Id festival of the Mahomedans.
The English in every town apprehended a rising on that
day. But the leaders in 1857 were not such fools as to
rise on such an easily marked day. To keep peace osten-
tatiously on a day when a rising is expected by the enemy
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CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
as certain and to burst forth on a day when the enemy
thinks there is no chance whatever of trouble, is one of
the chief means of carrying a Revolution to success.
Therefore, even in Cawnpore, on the day of the Id festival,
there was not the slightest disorder. The English were so
much frightened that morning that Sir Wheeler telegraph-
ed to Lucknow, "There will be a rising to-day inevitably"!
But when, on the evening of the festival, the Mahomedans
paid and received visits as usual, Sir Wheeler was re-
assured. On the day of the birth of Queen Victoria, the
usual salute of guns was not fired in the apprehension that
the Sepoys would be unnecessarily disturbed by the noise!
Some English officers were heartily grieved that, on the
birth-day of Victoria, a salute dared not be fired in her
honour; but what could the poor fellows do? If we look
at the place erected by the English as a refuge in case of
a rising, as has been said before, we shall at once under-
stand how helpless the condition of the English had
become! Someone would purposely set up a rumour that
the Sepoys had risen, as in the story of the wolf and the
shepherd-boy, and caravans of the English would begin
to run through the streets with all possible speed! An
English officer writes: "Whilst I was there, buggies,
palkies, gharries and vehicles of all sorts drove up and
discharged cargoes of writers, tradesmen, ladies, women
suckling infants, ayahs and children—and officers, too!—
In short, if any insurrection took or takes place, we shall
have no one to thank but ourselves, because we have shown
to the natives how very easily we can be frightened, and
when frightened, utterly helpless!" The cowardice exhi-
bited in this conduct of the English, as this officer says,
was thoroughly understood by the populace. When the
entrenched place was being erected, had not Azimullah
said the same to a Lieutenant in a jocular vein? Azimullah
Khan, in his usual sweet voice, asked the lieutenant, "Well,
Sahib, what are you going to call this new building which
you are constructing here?" The lieutenant replied,
"Really, I have not yet thought about it." The smart
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THE ERUPTION
Azimullah, with a wink in his eye, retorted, " Well, you
can just call it 'the castle of despair.' "
One day towards the evening, a young gallant Englishman,
under the influence of drink, shot a Sepoy. The shot
missed but the Sepoy brought a case against the culprit.
According to usual custom, the soldier culprit was declared
not guilty and released, the reason given being that the
gun went off while the accused was intoxicated! This
decision was the customary one, but alas! the times
had changed! ⁴
At this insult, the whole Lashkar began to mutter among
themselves, " Alright, our guns will also soon go off! "
This became an exciting catch-word among the Sepoys.
When they saw each other, they would say, " Well, now
our guns are to go off, aren't they?" The sarcastic greet-
ing became common in the army. However, they decided
to suppress their anger for the time and not to be hastened
into a premature rising as at Meerut.
To add fuel to the fire, the dead bodies of an Englishman
and his wife were carried down the Ganges to Cawnpore.
This testimony of the rising, in a city somewhere up the
river, began to hold a terrible conversation with the city
of Cawnpore. Oh! Ganges, how many more of the impure
loads have you to carry before you send them to their
ocean home! The English had now been so often deceived
by the cry of " The wolf! The wolf!!" that they were
frequently slumbering when the wolf was really to come.
On the 1st of June, Sir Hugh Wheeler wrote to Lord
4. Trevelyan says:—" The Sepoys, familiar as they were with
the brutality of low Europeans and the vagaries of military justice
would at a less critical season have expressed small surprise either
at the outrage or the decision. But, now, their blood was up and
their pride awake, and they were not inclined to overrate the
privileges of an Anglo-Saxon or the sagacity of the military tribu-
nal."—Cawnpore, page 93.
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CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
Canning, “ Unrest and danger are no more. Not only is
Cawnpore safe, but I am soon going to send help to
Lucknow !” And the white troops which had come from
Allahabad actually started for Lucknow ! And that, on
the 3rd of June ! What a wonder that the plot—in which
three thousand Sepoys and the whole city of Cawnpore,
not excluding the dancing-girls, participated—should be
kept sealed from the English and their auxiliary dogs like
Nanak Chand !
The seal was finally broken on the night of the 4th of June.
According to the general programme, by dead of night,
three shots were fired and the buildings already agreed
upon were set fire to ! This was the sign that the time for
bloodshed, destruction, and death had begun. In the
beginning, Tikka Singh’s horse leapt forth and, immediate-
ly, thousands of horses started galloping at a smart pace.
Some started to burn English houses and stables, some
ran to fetch other regiments, and some went to capture
the military flags and banners. When the old Indian
Subahdar-Major, in whose charge the flags were, began
to dispute with the Revolutionaries, a blow of the sword
on his head sent his corpse rolling on the ground.
“ Subahdar Tikka Singh’s Salaams to the Subahdar of
the 1st infantry regiment. He asks the reason why the
infantry is delaying when the cavalry had already risen
against the Feringhis ?” Two galloping cavalrymen gave
this message, and the whole of the 1st regiment came out
with the cries of Victory ! and Country !—Din ! and Desh!
At this, their officer, Colonel Ewart, said, “ Oh ! my
children (Babalôg), what is this ? This disgraces your
loyal character ! Wait, children, wait !” But the Sepoys
did not waste their time in listening to him. In a moment,
the whole regiment marched in military order to join the
cavalry, and then the whole army together marched to the
music of war-songs to the Nana’s camp at Nabobganj !
Nana’s Sepoys were ready at the Nabobganj treasury.
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THE ERUPTION
They embraced their comrades and, at once, the enormous
treasure and the great arsenal fell into the hands of the
Revolutionaries ! While this was going on at Nabobganj,
there were still two regiments left behind at Cawnpore.
The English immediately called them on parade in order
to keep them in their hands. As the English had the
artillery in their hands, the two regiments together with
their officers stood in arms on the parade ground all night.
At daybreak, the English officers satisfied themselves that
these regiments at least were not rebellious. They were
permitted to go back to their lines and the officers also
began to leave. Now, the Sepoys saw a good chance.
A couple of officers whispered something from a corner,
and suddenly, one of them rushed forward and shouted,
“ God is on the side of Truth ! Brethren, come arise ! ”
At this order, swords began to flash on all sides, and,
seeing the crisis coming, the English artillery opened fire.
But the Sepoys had already gone beyond its range! It was
quite possible for the Sepoys to have killed their officers
at the time, but, without doing so, they went away to
join their comrades at the first opportunity. Thus, three
thousand Sepoys encamped near Nana Sahib at Nabob-
ganj, on the 5th of June. Sir Wheeler had one satisfaction
—that not a single Englishman was killed. He thought
that the Sepoys would, as usual, march towards Delhi,
and the danger to Cawnpore would be over.
And if there had been a lack of able leaders in Cawnpore
as there was in other places, the Sepoys, would, indeed,
have gone to Delhi as Sir Wheeler surmised. But, at
Nabobganj, at the time, there was no such lack of bold
and able leaders. Nana Sahib was there ; his brothers,
Bala Sahib, Baba Sahib, and his nephew Rao Sahib were
there ; Tatia Topé was there ; and Azimullah Khan too
was there. When such brilliant and intellectual leaders
were there, what need had the Sepoys to go to Delhi to
seek one ? The best interests would not be served by
shutting up all the available forces in Delhi alone. The
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CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
successful plan would be to harass the English in various
places. Above all, as Cawnpore to a great extent com-
manded the line of communications between the Panjab,
Delhi, and Calcutta, it was necessary to strike a blow at
Cawnpore and capture it. When the Subahdar’s and
Nana’s men had explained all this to the Sepoys, it was
unanimously decided to turn back towards Cawnpore.
The three thousand Sepoys elected Nana Sahib their King
and expressed an ardent desire to see him. When he
appeared, he was hailed with tremendous enthusiasm and
they saluted him with all royal honours. When the elec-
tion of the King was over, with his consent, the Sepoys
proceeded to elect their officers; Subahdar Tikka Singh,
the very life of the Revolutionary centre at Cawnpore, was
elected the chief commander of the cavalry and was given
the title of “General.” New army regulations were issued.
Jamadar Dalganjan Singh was made the colonel of the
53rd regiment, and Subahdar Ganga Din of the 56th regi-
ment. Then, there was a grand procession of the flag of
freedom on the back of an elephant, and on the same day
it was proclaimed by beat of drum that Nana Sahib had
commenced to reign.
After these elections, Nana Sahib did not waste even a
second. When the English received the information that
the Sepoys did not go to Delhi but had stopped on the
way, they entrenched themselves in the new fort and had
their artillery ready. Their number was about one thou-
sand, men, women, and children all told. It was of the
first importance to capture this fortified place, and Nana
Sahib ordered the whole army to march thither. The Eng-
lish were not certain that the Revolutionaries would attack
them; but, early on the morning of the 6th, Sir Wheeler
received a note. It was from Nana Sahib and was
couched in the following terms :—“ We are going to begin
the attack. We want to warn you, and therefore send this
previous notice to you.” When he received this invitation
to fight, Sir Wheeler got ready all his officers and soldiers
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and artillery men, and made all necessary preparations
for the fight.
The fact that, before beginning the battle, Nana Sahib
gave a previous written notice to the English when it was
in no way called for, is of the greatest importance. The
English would certainly not have shown this generosity
had they been in Nana’s place. Those, who always try
to pour foul disgrace on Nana Sahib’s name, should bend
their heads with shame at this act of natural gallantry !
If we remember these two facts, the saving of the lives of
all English officers at the time of the rising and the twelve
hours’ previous written notice given by Nana Sahib, and
then read the final scenes, we will appreciate better the
real situation at Cawnpore.
Soon after sending the notice of battle to the English
Subahdar (now General) Tikka Sigh went towards the
arsenal and was busy, all the morning, arranging the arms
etc. and sending them to the place of attack. Guns were
pointed against the English fort from the side of the river
as well as from land. The plan of the attack was formed
with true military skill. At the same time, the Cawnpore
town was also in a tumult ! Spinners, sword-smiths, and
people from the bazaar, Mussalmans, and the influential
silver-merchants—everybody took anything that came to
hand and were looking for Englishmen. Offices, courts,
and all English records, old and new, were burnt, and
those Englishmen that forgot to betake themselves to the
fort were killed. It was now mid-day. At about one the
English fort began to be besieged, and, about evening,
the guns began to boom and the attack commenced.
The English had about eight cannon and plenty of ammu-
nition which they had already kept buried in the fort. The
Revolutionaries, also, had captured the arsenal and the
big guns and they too were not hard up for ammunition.
General Tikka Singh had from the first kept the artillery
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in excellent condition. Nana Sahib’s guns played great
havoc on the English buildings within the fort. When, on
the 7th of June, the artillery of the Revolutionaries began
to do its terrible work, English women and children, who
had never been in such a plight before, began to run about
here and there crying frantically. But habit took away
the terror even of death, and balls flying over the heads
created no greater surprise than birds flying in the air.
Two days after the attack was commenced, the supply of
water in the fort began to fall short. There was only one
well within the fort which was of any use but the Revolu-
tionaries had a keener eye on it than the English soldiers
themselves. The heat of the sun was so strong that the
soldiers would die of sunstroke. All hearts became hard-
ened like stone. The difference between the sexes, and
modesty, vanished. Children died for want of milk and
sorrow killed the mothers. Let alone burying the dead,
but it even became impossible to inquire who was dead
and who was alive. For even while making a list of the
living, some name would have to be scored off. To draw
a true picture of such situations, the best way is to describe
the events of a typical hour. Captain Thomas, relating
his experiences, says : “While Armstrong was lying wound-
ed, Lieutenant Prole came to see him. Just as he uttered
a few words of consolation, a bullet from the Sepoys struck
him in the thigh and he fell down. With his hand on
my shoulder and mine round his waist, I began to lift him
to take him to the sergeant. Before I had gone many steps,
there was a buzzing noise and a bullet entered my shoulder.
I and Prole both fell dying on the floor. Seeing this,
Gilbert Bucks came running towards us. But the enemy’s
bullet came after him, pierced his body through, and he
fell at once in the jaws of Death.” This account of one
hour gives a good idea of the history of those twenty-one
days ! When Sir Wheeler’s son was wounded, his two
sisters and his mother were giving him medical assistance
in a room. But, before he could take the medicine, there
was a fearful explosion and a cannon ball carried away
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THE ERUPTION
the young man's head. While Magistrate Hillersden was
talking to his wife in the verandah, a twenty pound can-
non ball burst on his head and he was blown to pieces.
A few days later, the wall on which the widow was lean-
ing collapsed and she met her death. There were seven
women in a ditch near the fort. A bomb exploded and
not only killed them all, but it also killed the English
soldier who, before the rising, had shot the Sepoy and had
been acquitted as not guilty. So at last the guns of the
Sepoys also went off ! And, when they did go off, it was
in such a manner that succeeding English soldiers will
remember it for ever, even when under the influence
of drink !
In this terrible siege, there were, also, some foolish Indians
who thought it their duty to be faithful to the English.
They were there, in the jaws of death, simply for the sake
of "loyalty" ! An Indian nurse in the employ of the
English lost both her arms by a bomb explosion. Butlers
running about here and there to give hot food to their
masters also fell dead frequently by shells. Indian bhishtis
often risked their lives to give water to the English.
Water was so scarce that children would suck the leather
bags containing water ! Cholera, dysentery, and typhoid
also did not fail to take their revenge on the English.
Sir George Parker, Colonel Williams, and Lieutenant
Rooney died through illness. Those that did not succumb
to shells or sickness went insane from the terrific fright
of the ghastly living cemetery. Such was the pandemo-
nium there. So, in return for the cruel wrongs of a century,
Revenge incarnate was crushing everyone she found in her
terrific jaws for twenty-one days, and was dancing with
a ghastly smile !
While such was the state within the fort, the English guns
placed outside did great service in the fight. Chief officers
of the artillery, Ashe, Captain Moore, Captain Thomson,
and other brave soldiers fought with a splendid valour.
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CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
The English had great hopes of speedy succour from Luck-
now or Allahabad. On account of the strict scouting of
the Revolutionaries, it had become impossible to carry on
correspondence. Still, an Indian messenger had carried
as far as Lucknow a letter by Sir Wheeler, partly in Latin,
partly in French, and partly in English, and packed in
the quill of a bird. It said only, "Help! Help!! Help!!!
Send us help or we are dying! If we get help, we will
come and save Lucknow!" But, the vigilance of the
Revolutionaries was usually so good that hardly any such
messenger from the English camp could get back there
safe. The English often sent scouts, empowering them
to promise lakhs of Rupees if they could find any traitors
in the Revolutionary camp. But not one lived to return
and give information! For example, we will give an ac-
count given by one of the scouts himself. "When Mr.
Shepherd lost his wife and daughter, he undertook the
task of getting information from the Revolutionaries' camp
and sowing dissensions in Cawnpore. He set out in the
disguise of an Indian cook. Hardly had he gone a short
distance when he was arrested and brought before Nana
Sahib. When he was asked about the state of the English,
he began to give false and glowing descriptions as agreed
upon. But seeing that two women, captured just before
he was caught, had told the true story of despair, he got
confused. He was first put in a prison and, on the 12th
of July, he was brought before a court and sentenced to
three years' rigorous imprisonment." From this will be
seen the regard for justice which Nana had, even in the
heat of the war. Though English scouts were thus baulk-
ed, the scouts of the Revolutionaries did their work ex-
ceedingly well. One day, a bhishti (water-carrier) stood,
on a high piece of ground near the English fort and cried,
"Even disregarding the fear of death, since I love the
English so much, I have come to convey to you a piece of
joyful news. An English army with guns has come up
on the other bank of the Ganges. It will start to-morrow to
relieve you. This news has created a perfect consternation
225
15

THE ERUPTION
among the rascally rebels and we, all loyalists, have be-
come ready to join the English!" At this news, the
English imagined that their scouts must have successfully
sowed discord among the Revolutionaries and, also, that
the English army from Lucknow must have arrived. On
the next day, the same bhishti came up and cried, "Vic-
tory to the English! The English army was late on
account of floods in the Ganges; but, now, all is accom-
plished and they are coming. Before the end of the day,
my masters will be victorious." That day passed, and so
also the next; but the strained eyes of the English could
see neither the army of succour nor the loyalist bhishti!
Azimullah, now, knew enough of the misery of the English
camp, and it was not again necessary for the bhishti to
risk his life. The English were often taken in by such
resourceful tricks of the Revolutionary scouts.
After giving notice of the siege on the 6th of June to the
English, Nana Sahib had brought his camp close to the
besieging armies and near by the tent of General Tikka
Singh. When Cawnpore became free, the whole province
became flooded by a great wave of Revolution. Every
day, new Zemindars and princes came with their retinues
and joined Nana Sahib's camp. Nana had now about
four thousand troops under him; but, of these, the artil-
lerymen were the most active in their duties. Here in
one quarter Nanhi Nabob took his stand. When the
rising began, his house and property were ordered to be
confiscated for his fanatical Hindu hatred. But soon,
a compromise took place and he joined that war of free-
dom. The artillery in Nana's charge were manned by the
finest marksmen and old pensioners. While the Revolu-
tionaries were making efforts to set fire to the English
buildings within the fort, an amateur artillery man dis-
covered a new explosive. The first experiment was so
successful that the barracks, which were of immense value
to the English and against which it was thrown, were soon
burnt to ashes! There was so much competition amongst
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CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
the people to join in firing the batteries that women help-
ed men, and old men helped young men in the work. One
quotation will show how, in that season of noble ideals
and inspiration, the masses had risen up. A native
Christian says, " While I sat on a mat disguised as a
Mahomedan, I saw men returning to supply waters to
those who were fighting. Suddenly, one of them came up
to me and said, ' While our countrymen are fighting there,
it is a shame that a young Mahomedan like you should sit
here killing flies! Come there to help at the artillery.' He
also told me that the young son of the one-eyed pensioner
Karim Ali had done a great deed that day. He had made
some discovery and set fire to the English buildings. For
this bravery, he was rewarded with ninety rupees and a
shawl." To sit idly, instead of fighting for the country,
was considered a disgrace not only to a young man but
even to woman ; so, the women of Cawnpore had left their
Zenanas and jumped into the battle-field. But all these
young soldiers and heroic women were put to shame by
the ardour of a beauty which was no other than the
dancing girl Azizan, above-mentioned. She had now put
on a heroic garb. With her rosy cheeks and smiling lips,
she was there on horseback, fully armed. And the artillery
Sepoys would forget all their fatigue at the sight of her.
Nanak Chand says, in his diary, " Armed Azizan is flash-
ing everywhere like lightning ; often she stands in the
streets giving milk and sweetmeats to tired and
wounded Sepoys."
Even while the fight was going on in this manner, Nana
Sahib was making all possible arrangements for the civil
administration. Though it is always a difficult task to
introduce order in the revenue and police departments at
a critical time like that of a Revolution, Nana Sahib first
began the work of giving justice and protection to the
inhabitants. The prominent citizens of Cawnpore were
called together and the man elected by the majority of
them, Holas Singh by name, was given the office of chief
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THE ERUPTION
magistrate. Nana Sahib gave strict orders that Holas
Singh should protect the citizens from disorderly Sepoys
or bandit villagers. The work of supplying provisions
to the army was entrusted to a citizen, called Mullah. A
court was appointed to settle civil and criminal disputes.
Jwala Prasad, Azimullah Khan, and others were made
judges and Baba Sahib was made the President. From
the few documents of this court that are extant, it is
abundantly clear that those guilty of oppression or dis-
order were severely punished and that great care was
bestowed on the maintenance of order. A man convicted
of a very heinous theft had his right hand cut off. A
Mahomedan butcher was given the same punishment for
killing a cow. Vagabonds without any profession and peo-
ple convicted of small thefts were publicly disgraced in the
streets on the back of a donkey.⁵ Like the Committee of
Public Safety established during the French Revolution,
this court gradually encroached upon all the other depart-
ments. To supply ammunition in case of shortage, to
supply clothes to the army, to try the arrested English
scouts, to punish rogues who wanted to escape—all these
were done by this court. It also gave rewards to those
who discovered English refugees.
The attack of the Revolutionaries on the English fort took
place on the 12th. Rather than take it by a general
assault, the general plan of the Revolutionaries was to
reduce it by harassing the English on all sides by artillery.
They also directed assaults now and then. After both
sides had lost some men the Revolutionaries would retire.
The vigour and courage of the artillery was not equalled
by the cavalry and the infantry. This fault will also be
prominently noticed in the sieges of Delhi and Lucknow;
but, in the siege of Cawnpore also, more importance was
attached to the artillery than to hand-to-hand fight. Not
that the Sepoys were, at all, afraid of death. The valour
5. Thomson's Cawnpore.
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CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
and bravery the Sepoys displayed in the assault, on
the 18th of June, on the fort were remarkable. On this
day, disregarding the cannon-fire of the enemy, they ran
straight, like arrows, at the enemy's camp, mounted the
walls, took an English gun, and turned its mouth, and it
seemed for a moment that the flag of freedom would never
be set back. Instead of helping such brave Sepoys, some
had, on the other hand, sworn as it were to create disorder
without reason and bring confusion in all the ranks. This
weakness compelled the whole army to return. Like the
brave Sepoys of Oudh, some brave hearts at Cawnpore
did their duty, as heroes always do, without waiting to see
what the others did. One day when the assaulting party
was retiring, one Sepoy lay down there, pretending to be
dead. When Captain Jenkins, renowned for his bravery
and a bold fighter, came up there galloping confidently,
the Sepoy jumped suddenly at his prey and shot him
dead in the neck in an instant !
The 23rd of June came. One hundred years before, on
this day, the English had laid the foundations of their
power on the battle-field of Plassey. On that 23rd of
June, the English got their first decisive victory in Hindu-
sthan. The sting of the insult of that unfortunate day
was burning in the heart of Hindusthan so much that,
even after a hundred years, that evil day and its evil
memory was fresh in the heart of all Indians. The terrible
wound of slavery inflicted on that day had not been healed
even after a hundred years. No balm had yet been
found that could heal it ! What a righteous hatred was
rankling in the heart even of the peaceful and forgiving
India ? In the last breath of every dying generation and
in the first breath of every new one being born, she has
been mixing in the spirit of revenge for Plassey! This went
on for a hundred years, and the morning of the 23rd of
June, 1857, had risen. Astrologers had foretold that at
last on this day the Mother would be avenged. Nana
Sahib ! Though the fulfilment of the prophecy is in the
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THE ERUPTION
hands of God, you are to do your duty towards achieving
the end !
And not to lose the chance of that auspicious day, the
23rd of June saw the whole of Nana Sahib’s camp in a
terrible commotion. All the divisions, if not every man
of the army, had got ready to direct an assault as had
never been directed before. The artillery, the cavalry,
and the infantry—all, inspired by the memory of that
historical day, came down into the battle-field. The
bravest of them assembled together and took oaths—the
Hindus with Ganges water and the Mahomedans on the
Koran—that, on that day, they would either acquire free-
dom or die fighting ! The cavalry rushed forward and
came up to the walls without heeding the enemy’s artillery.
The infantry, under cover of big bags of cotton which
they pushed along, showered bullets on the fort, from the
other sides. People from the neighbouring villages had also
come to join the Revolutionaries. From within the fort,
the English also kept up an incessant fire. Though they
could not check the forward movement of the Revolu-
tionists, they prevented them from breaking into the fort
that day.
Nevertheless this last attack at Cawnpore did not go in
vain. After that day’s fight the English lost all hope.
They were full of despair and saw clearly that it was
thenceforth impossible to hold the fort against Nana
Sahib. Though not on the 23rd, yet on the 25th of June,
they hoisted on their wall the flag of truce ! On seeing
this flag, Nana Sahib ordered the fighting to stop⁶ and
sent to General Wheeler a letter by the hand of a captive
English woman. The note ran : “To the subjects of
Queen Victoria. Those who have had no connection with
Dalhousie’s policy and those who are ready to lay down
6. Tatia Tope, in his statement, says :—“ The English general
raised the flag of peace and the fighting ceased.”
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CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
arms and surrender will be safely conveyed to Allahabad."
This note was written by Azimullah Khan at the order
of Nana Sahib.
When General Wheeler received the note, he gave authori-
ty to Captains Moore and Whiting to consider it and the
two officers resolved upon a surrender to Nana Sahib.
The next morning, on the 26th Jwala Prasad and Azimul-
lah Khan, on behalf of Nana Sahib, and Moore, Whiting,
and Roche, on behalf of the English, met near the walls.
First, the conversation began in English, but soon Jwala
and Azim forced them to carry on the conversation in
Hindusthani—the language of the nation. The terms
settled were that the English should hand over all the
artillery, arms and ammunition, and the treasure to Nana
Sahib, and Nana Sahib should give provisions to and con-
vey the party to Allahabad.⁷ The agreement was drawn up
on paper and Azimullah Khan and others returned to get
Nana Sahib's signature. In the afternoon, there was
some difference as to whether the English should start
the same night or the next morning. However, a compro-
mise was arrived at, and it was agreed that Nana Sahib
should take charge of everything that night and the English
should leave early the next morning. Mr. Todd (formerly
English reader at Nana's palace) came to Nana Sahib
with a copy of the treaty agreed upon by both parties.
Nana showed great hospitality towards him and inquired
as to his health, etc. The same evening, the English laid
down their arms ; the guns were handed over to Nana
Sahib ; and Brigadier Jwala Prasad, with two companions,
came and took his quarters within the fort. The same
night Holas Singh, the magistrate at Cawnpore, and Tatia
Topé ordered boatmen to keep forty boats ready. The
English officers who came on elephants to see them com-
plained that the boats were rude and uncomfortable. So,
a hundred labourers were employed immediately ; bamboo
7. Red Pamphlet.
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THE ERUPTION
coverings and canopies were erected, good seats were made,
and corn and other provisions were also loaded on
the boats.
The English now prepared to go out of Cawnpore. But,
we must also see who were now coming in there. Unless
we take an account of the incomings as well as the out-
goings, we shall not be able to understand later events.
When the news spread everywhere that Nana had raised
the flag of freedom at Cawnpore, a constant flood of
heroes was pouring in thither. Young national volunteers
from every place were repairing towards Cawnpore. A
town, which could not send men, sent money. But, alas !
it was not only these volunteers that were now crowding
into Cawnpore. Day and night helpless people, who had
been unsuccessful in their efforts and who were tired of
English slavery, also came to the camp in large numbers.
Thousands of Sepoys from Allahabad and Kashi had
come to Cawnpore in the preceding week with the news
of the cruel vengeance which the English had taken on
their comrades and their wives and children. Hundreds
of young Indian sons, whose fathers had been hanged in
shapes of the figures—" 8 " and " 9 "', also had come there.
Husbands whose wives and infant sons in the cradle had
been burnt by Neill also came. Fathers whose daughters
had their hair and clothes set fire to by English soldiers
amid shouts of applause, also crowded the place. Men
whose properties were burnt to ashes, men whose religion
was trampled under foot, men whose nation had been
enslaved, such men created a tumult round the banner of
freedom with shouts of " Revenge ! Revenge ! ! " And,
when the day of victory had arrived, Nana Sahib's pro-
mise to convey the English to Allahabad dispelled all the
hopes of the Sepoys and the people, and they began to
grumble aloud. The English officers who came to look
after the preparation of boats distinctly heard whispers
of " Massacre " (Katal) among the Sepoy's lounging about
on the banks of the Ganges ! It is also said that a palace
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CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
Pundit had explained to the Sepoys how, in the eyes of
religion, there was no sin in beheading men who had
broken faith with a nation and had enslaved it ! ⁸
On the 27th of June, the sun rose on this disturbed atmos-
phere. The English were to be seen off from the Sati
Chowda Ghat. The cavalry and the infantry stood round
the Ghat and the artillery was also in position. Thou-
sands of the citizens of Cawnpore had also assembled at
the Ghat, since the morning, to witness the scene on the
banks of the Ganges, each with his own mental picture
of it. Azimullah Khan, Bala Sahib, and the Commander
Tatia Topé, also stood on the terrace of a temple near the
Ghat. The name of the temple too was fitting to the
occasion. Inside was the image of " Har Dev " and it
appeared as if the lordship of the whole region was vested
for the time being solely in the hands of Shiva, the Terri-
ble ! Nana Sahib had sent the best conveyances to
take the English from the fort to the Ganges bank. For
Sir Wheeler, a beautifully decorated elephant, with Nana
Sahib's own mahut, came and stood at the gate of the
fort. Sir Wheeler did not like the idea of being taken
in such a melancholy procession on an elephant ; so, he
seated his family on it and betook himself to a palanquin.
The English women had also palkees allotted to them.
The procession started. The English flag at the fort was
hauled down and the flag of freedom and religion flew
in its stead ! Instead of having heart-burnings at this
insult to English prestige, the prisoners expressed joy at
being released from the jaws of death. In the flush of
joy of a renewed life, they left the fort and proceeded
hastily—but whither ?
However, it is useless to discuss that question at this
stage. The Ganges Ghat is still a mile and a half afar.
When this procession, after going through the mile and a
8. Trevelyan's Cawnpore.
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THE ERUPTION
half, got down on the sands, the Sepoy lines closed from
behind and guarded the way. While embarking on the
boats from the palkees and elephants, no Indian came
forth that day to help the English. Yes ; but there were
exceptions. In one or two cases, they did get help when
they were getting down but, then, the Sepoys offered
their swords, not their hands. The wounded Colonel
Ewart had been put in a doli. A Sepoy stopped his doli
and said : “ Well, Colonel, how do you like this parade ?
How are the regimental uniforms ? ” With these words,
he dragged him down from the palkee and cut him to
pieces. His wife was near by. Some said to her : “ You
are a woman and your life will be spared ! ” But,
one frightful young man rushed forward, shouting,
“ Get away ! A woman ? Yes. But she is a Feringhi !
Cut her to pieces ! ” Before he finished the sentence, the
thing was done !
The English committee itself has admitted after enquiry
that all the boats on the river contained ample provisions
on board. The English waded through the water and took
their seats in them. Everywhere there was a dead silence
and calm. The boats were almost crowded. The boat-
men were ready with their oars. At last, Tatia Topé
waved his hand backward and forward in the air as the
sign for the boats to start. Suddenly, in one corner, some
one blew a bugle to break the terrible silence. As soon as
the shrill sound of the bugle was heard, a crashing noise
started—the noise of guns, rifles, swords, kukris, and
bayonets. The boatmen jumped from the boats and came
to the bank, and the Sepoys rushed into the water
with a jump ! No other sound was heard but “ Mâro
Feringhiko ! ”
Soon all the boats caught fire, and men and women and
children all jumped hastily into the Ganges. Some began
to swim, some were drowned, some were burnt and most
succumbed to bullets sooner or later ! Lumps of flesh,
234