AH Challenge: a Subhas Chandra Bose-Wank

Interesting Enough Person. But how can we have him do the best could have done?

He had supported "socialist modernization" under authoritarian lines, and quite friendly to the Germans and very much opposed to the "West". He is also remembered from managing to escape from India and slip un-noticed all the way to Russia and then Germany, and then was ferried by two submarines to Japan


I am envisioning a Bose-wank scenario would be one in which he became successful enough to take over India and good enough to actually improve India, elevating him to somewhat of a legend.


Something like him taking control of India after WWII with near-dictatorial powers and a massive cult of personality, preventing its OTL split. He'd probably ally with the Soviet Union before OTL, and modernize India with Soviet Aid. He might also give refuge to former Nazis and Japanese war criminals-- with India becoming what South America was in OTL. After securing India and making steps towards its Industrialization, he'd try to set India as a liberator of the colonial world from Western Imperialism, and a supporter of Nationalist anti-Western parties throughout the world, a supporter of Arab and Muslim powers against Israel, and an ally of nations like Vietnam who also successfully fought off the French. To put this into action, he might take forcibly over Goa and declare war with the Portuguese in sync with revolts in Portuguese Africa. Indian troops might actually be sent to the African colonies, to knock out the Portuguese, further boosting India's anti-colonial image. This ATL India might also help the Iranian Revolution (if it still happens) and Isolated Iran in its war with Iraq, and might bring Nepal, Burma and Sri-Lanka into its fold either as annexation or as puppets. Instead of a Marxist government in the late 70s, Afghanistan might have an Indian-Inspired "Authoritarian Nationalist-Socialist" regime. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Revisionism in China and considerable modernization of India-- India will be looked as the anti-Western power of Choice in the 2000s as reaction against the West grows.


The biggest problem of course, is having Bose take power in the first place. How can it be done?

One idea is to assassinate Gandhi and blame it on the British-- making Indians see the futility of non-violence. Bose will then have to win the upcoming civil war and sufficiently eliminate opposition.
 
Interesting Enough Person. But how can we have him do the best could have done?

He had supported "socialist modernization" under authoritarian lines, and quite friendly to the Germans and very much opposed to the "West". He is also remembered from managing to escape from India and slip un-noticed all the way to Russia and then Germany, and then was ferried by two submarines to Japan


I am envisioning a Bose-wank scenario would be one in which he became successful enough to take over India and good enough to actually improve India, elevating him to somewhat of a legend.


Something like him taking control of India after WWII with near-dictatorial powers and a massive cult of personality, preventing its OTL split. He'd probably ally with the Soviet Union before OTL, and modernize India with Soviet Aid. He might also give refuge to former Nazis and Japanese war criminals-- with India becoming what South America was in OTL. After securing India and making steps towards its Industrialization, he'd try to set India as a liberator of the colonial world from Western Imperialism, and a supporter of Nationalist anti-Western parties throughout the world, a supporter of Arab and Muslim powers against Israel, and an ally of nations like Vietnam who also successfully fought off the French. To put this into action, he might take forcibly over Goa and declare war with the Portuguese in sync with revolts in Portuguese Africa. Indian troops might actually be sent to the African colonies, to knock out the Portuguese, further boosting India's anti-colonial image. This ATL India might also help the Iranian Revolution (if it still happens) and Isolated Iran in its war with Iraq, and might bring Nepal, Burma and Sri-Lanka into its fold either as annexation or as puppets. Instead of a Marxist government in the late 70s, Afghanistan might have an Indian-Inspired "Authoritarian Nationalist-Socialist" regime. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Revisionism in China and considerable modernization of India-- India will be looked as the anti-Western power of Choice in the 2000s as reaction against the West grows.


The biggest problem of course, is having Bose take power in the first place. How can it be done?

One idea is to assassinate Gandhi and blame it on the British-- making Indians see the futility of non-violence. Bose will then have to win the upcoming civil war and sufficiently eliminate opposition.

No need to assasinate Gandhi or have civil wars. Bose was a skillfull politician and rousing speaker. Just have Gandhi die in a hunger strike or from illness. Bose takes over as head of the independence movement and the Congress Party, and continues along a fairly non-violent path - mass protests, boycotts, strikes, and the like. Although anti-British riots, assasinations, and bombings will increase significantly.

Eventually Britain grants independence with Bose taking a firm (non-negotiable) stand against Jinnah and the Muslim League, preventing Partition and the creation of Pakistan. Bose becomes India's first PM and uses the new Indian Army to brutally crush any Muslim separatists and communal riots (he was fairly ruthless and deeply committed to a united secular India). Over time Nepal and (maybe) Bhutan will be annexed, and Sri Lanka, Burma and Afghanistan will be drawn into India's orbit.
 
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Guys

OK, if things got that nasty Britain probably wouldn't be able to prevent him seizing power. However would either American or Russia be happy with what was a thinly disguised fascist gaining power in India, especially if he starts giving access to renegade Nazis and generally launching bloodbaths? Not talking about invasion but a lot could be done to weaken such a dictator if not depose him. He would probably play the racist card as heavily as possible but given what he's doing to large numbers of 'Indians' he's likely to be pretty unpopular.

Also, while Congress treated its war veterans disgracefully there were far more soldiers who served in the imperial army than are likely to serve in his band of thugs. Their not likely to accept someone like him seizing power Especially since the main results of him sparking civil war in India is likely to be his Japanese allies occupying at least part of the country. That will take a hell of a lot of covering up.

Steve
 
Guys
However would either American or Russia be happy with what was a thinly disguised fascist gaining power
Steve

don't know about Russia, there-- after all Bose was as friendly to the Soviet Union as he was to Nazi Germany. I'm not supporting Bose or saying he was morally wholesome, but he wasn't a Fascist in the western sense of the word-- his army was probably more religiously and ethnically diverse than the Indian army now, and was the first professional army in Asia to use female volunteers. His "fascism" was just his desire to strengthen India by "any means necessary", which is nothing worse than Soviet Union under Lenin, or any number of Asian Authoritarian states in the 60s.

As for America--I think they'd be more interested in going after Castro than Bose.
 
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