Could a Dominion of India Survivied?

[Spitfiremk1]

Simple questain. If somehow, India attained self government as a Dominion on equel terms with the Other Dominions in the British Empire/Commanwelath during the interwar years, could it have survived, or would it have succumed internal or external pressures?

Disscus.

(BTW, i am aware that India and Pakistan were Dominions of sorts during the late 40's, but then the circumstances were very differant, during the interwar years, most Indians including Ghandi were simply pushing for dominion status.)

 

[lounge60]

Without Gandhi and Neruh....maybe.

 

[Flocculencio]

Depends how Dominion status is reached. By the 20s or 30s Dominion status would really be too little, too late- the nationalist cause was dedicated to full and total severance of links with Britain.

If movement is made earlier than this, then it might be possible.

 

[lounge60]

O.T.
Why in this forum the mayority is pessimistic about an "British Imperial confederation" or at least at one more politically tight Commonwealth ?

 

[perfectgeneral]

You would have to get rid of the racists and give India a better chance to grow industrially and diplomatically.

Personally I think Dominions based on the Presidencies would put a curb on the nationalism of Gandhi and Nehru.
If you don't keep Oudh independent you are heading for trouble.
Click to enlarge

Provinces at independence, 1947

At Independence in 1947, British India had seventeen provinces:

• Ajmer-Merwara-Kekri
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Assam
• Baluchistan
• Bengal Province
• Bihar
• Bombay Province
• Central Provinces and Berar
• Coorg
• Delhi Province
• Madras Province
• North-West Frontier Province
• Panth-Piploda
• Orissa
• Punjab
• Sindh
• United Provinces of Agra and Oudh

Upon the Partition of India into Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan, twelve provinces (Ajmer-Merwara-Kekri, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Bombay, Central Provinces and Berar, Coorg, Delhi, Madras, Panth-Piploda, Orissa, and the United Provinces) became provinces within India, three (Baluchistan, North-West Frontier, and Sindh) within Pakistan, and two (Bengal and Punjab) were partitioned between India and Pakistan.
In 1950, after the new Indian Constitution was adopted, the provinces in India were replaced by redrawn states and union territories. Pakistan, however, retained its five provinces, one of which, East Bengal, was renamed East Pakistan in 1956 and became the independent nation of Bangladesh in 1971.

 

[ninebucks]

O.T.
Why in this forum the mayority is pessimistic about an "British Imperial confederation" or at least at one more politically tight Commonwealth ?

Erm. It isn't.

Posters on the board are often willing to throw plausibility to the wind to give the British Empire extra chances to survive.

 

[Faeelin]

O.T.
Why in this forum the mayority is pessimistic about an "British Imperial confederation" or at least at one more politically tight Commonwealth ?

Because the Indians didn't want to be part of a Commonwealth. Even the moderates in the Indian National Congress supported full blow independence after 1928.

Besides, why would they want to be part of a state which had after all conquered and ruled them by military force?

 

[Mikey]

The thing is, once Dominion status is granted, what power does Britain really have to prevent India from declaring independence?

 

[Faeelin]

The thing is, once Dominion status is granted, what power does Britain really have to prevent India from declaring independence?

Well, the 1935 Government of India Act envisaged a Federation hamstrung by the princes and minorities; Congress would only be able to gain 100 out of 300 seats.

This sounds, of course, incredibly unstable.