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IMMORTAL FIGHTER OF 1857
NANA SAHEB PESHWA
Harikrishna Devsare
Translated from Hindi by
Viren Verma
PUBLICATIONS DIVISION
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
© Author
V37 Tfm : 978-81-230-1690-0
gjj HIS-ENG-TR-015-2011-12
Price: ^ 75.00
Published by Additional Director General (Incharge), Publications Division,
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Soochna
Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003
http://www.publicationsdivision.nic.in
Editor: Maneesh Smghal
Cover Design: Asha Saxena
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PREFACE
The great freedom struggle of Eighteen Hundred Fifty Seven
is a glorious ballad of Indian History in which such amazing
attempt to win freedom for the country and to root out the foreign
rule was made that British rulers themselves were taken aback.
It was only their good fortune that the revolution planned against
the British rule was flared up by women of Meerut before time
and the British not only became alert but in order to crush the
revolution whereas they threw in all their might, they also initiated
measures to consolidate British rule in India. Even British historians
have recognised the Meerut incident to be advantageous for them.
The name of the man who had prepared ground for the year
Fifty Seven revolution and its secret organisation with his colleagues
Ajimullah Khan, Tatya Tope, Jwala Prasad etc. in Bithur, was
Nana Dhundhupant Peshwa. He was an adopted son of Peshwa
Bajirao. Nana Saheb had planned such a revolution in Indian
history that had it flared up according to his plan, in the entire
country on the pre-determined date 31 st May 1857, then, as admitted
by British historians themselves, it was impossible for them to
stay on in India for what to say of a day but an hour more. But
it could not be so.
What an irony it is that pro-British Indian historians have
confined Nana Saheb’s plan of revolution, whose organisational
strength has been admired by even British historians, to the
description of ‘soldiers' rebellion’ by saying that Nana Saheb’s
opposition and revolt was due only to the fact that British
Government had stopped his paternal pension. But why do we
forget that due to mutual discord all indigenous rulers of India
were scattered at that time and were not only playing into the
hands of British but in having India into the clutches of chains
of servitude they were helping them too. In the circumstances,
Nana Saheb’s plan of revolution was extraordinary. Besides, we
should not forget also that this was not merely an expression of
his personal pain but the pain of people of the whole country, who
had suffered in the hands of British for a hundred years, was also
involved in it.
The organisation that Nana Saheb had raised for the revolution
was so secret and amazing that Britishers had no inkling about
it. Even British historians have commended implementation of his
plan. The efficiency with which Nana Saheb had spread his
organisation throughout the country for the struggle, the way he
had sent abroad and to every comer of the country his propagandists,
despite lack of means of communication, is indicative of his
amazing organising ability and talent.
Once the revolution flared up before the due date, to make it
wait till the due date was beyond anyone and so Nana Saheb
assumed the responsibility to take it forward to the goal of success.
The spirit that he had roused among freedom lovers of the country
had shaken the British rule. But with Britishers getting time to
crush the revolution, Indian Army itself attacking Indians, refusal
of many kings to cooperate with revolutionaries and instead giving
support to the British, the 1857 revolution failed. However, to
make it a success Nana, with associated heroes of revolution,
Tatya Tope, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Maulvi Ahmedshah etc. fought
till the last breath.
In this book, those aspects of Nana Saheb’s personality and
actions are highlighted that prove that he was the main oeprator
of 1857 revolution. Contrary to pro-British historians’ account, in
this book the character of Nana Saheb has been presented as an
amazing visionary of revolution and a patriot that he truly deserved.
It is hoped that readers will find this glorious ballad stimulating.
Applauds to Government of India's Publications Division for
implementing the scheme of publishing books on the great heroes
of 1857 revolution.
Harikrishna Devsare
“In this great holy fire of freedom
Many brave men sacrificed their lives
Nana Dhundhupant, Tatya, clever Ajimullah Khan,
Ahmedshah Maulvi, Thakur Kunwar Singh,
Soldier Abhiram.
Whose names will remain immortal
In the sky of Indian History.
’
- from the famous poem of Subhadra Kumari Chauhan,
‘Jhems i ki Rani’
.
' - .
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CONTENTS
Preface
1. End of Peshwa Tradition 1
2. Period of Humiliation and Injustice 14
3. Plan of Struggle 25
4. Blazing Flame in the Whole Country 34
5. The Revolution Erupts 42
6. Ballad of War 51
7. Flagging Flame of Revolution 70
8. Last Days 81
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