Anandamath

Chapter IV

North Bengal became free from the grip of the Mohammedans; but none of the Mussulmans admitted it, they deluded themselves and gave out, publicly, “A few dacoits are creating mischief there, we are punishing them.” None could say how long this state of things would have continued. But just then by the grace of Providence Warren Hastings became the Governor-General in Calcutta. He was not a man to hood-wink himself and remain satisfied; had he that trait in his character where would British Empire in India be today? So without delay a new military leader Major Edwards came with a new army to conquer the bands of Santans.

Edwards understood quite well, that, this was not a war in the European sense. The enemies had no regular army, no city or capital of their own, no particular fort, yet everything was virtually under them. Wherever the British regiment encamped for the day, that part of the country came under their sway for that day. Directly the force struck their tents and marched away, “Hail Mother” began to be sung everywhere. The Sahib could not find out, wherefrom like swarms of ants the Santans came out, burnt down the village which had submitted to the British or cut down small parties of the British force wherever they met them. From continued enquiry he found out, that, these people had built a fort in the village of Padachinha and were now guarding their treasury and arsenal there. So he thought it expedient to occupy this fort.

He began to collect information about the exact number of Santans living at Padachinha. After the information he received he did not consider it wise to attack the fort. He matured a fine strategy for the purpose.

The full-moon festival of the month of Magh was near at hand. There was a fair to be held near his encampment on the river side. This year particularly the fair will be on a grander scale. Usually lacs of men gather here on this occasion. As this year the Vaishnavas had become the ruler of the land they decided to join the fair in force in order to show off their pride. So there is just a possibility that all the Santans will gather in that fair on full-moon day. Major Edwards thought that guards entrusted with the defence of Padachinha also may visit the fair. He would then march on Padachinha and occupy it.

Deciding thus the Major gave out that he would attack the fair; he would get all the Vaishnavas gathered at one place and in this way he would wipe out all his enemies, he would not allow the fair to be held.

This news was allowed to spread from village to village. Anybody who belonged to the Santan sect anywhere took up arms and rushed to defend the fair. All the Santans assembled on the riverside on the full-moon day in the month of Magh. Whatever the Major had thought out materialised. Fortunately for the British Mohendra also stepped into this trap. Keeping a handful of men to guard Padachinha Mohendra started for the fair taking the bulk of the fighters under him.

Before all this happened Santi and Jivananda had gone out of Padachinha. There was no talk of fighting then, there heart was not in it They had decided to expiate for the sin of breaking their vows by drowning themselves on the sacred full-moon day of the month of Magh at a very auspicious moment. On the way they heard that there would be a big battle between the British and the Santans assembled in the Fair. Jivananda said, “Let us then die in battle, come on quick.”

They proceeded fast. The road passed over a mound at one Particular place. Climbing the mound the heroic couple found the British tamped at some distance below them. Santi said, “Don’t talk about dying now, shout, — “Hail Mother!”