1.the marathas lost the battle of panipat in 1761 against afghans and
they disintegrated into many smaller kingdoms,
which become a easy prey for the british who already established
firmly in bengal and south.
what if marathas win at panipat in 1761 and occupy all the indo-
gangetic plains in a shorter time.
2.with nearly 50% of India under their control, there is a couple of
wars with british, who eventually give up bengal and other areas in
return for trade treaties, may br the marathas ally with french and
drove away the british, so that by late 1700s and early 1800s all of
india comes under their rule.
3.may be british take indonesia and philipines in 1790s and establish
supremcay in indian ocean by passing india,
so by 1800 british has south africa, madagaskar,many isalnds in indian
oceana and all of malaya and indonesia.
they also make burma,thailand and indo-china come under their control
directly or indirectly.
4.meanwhile india is united under a powerful conglomerate of kingdoms
and with no war with burma or afghanistan is on equal footing with
european power, they eastablish a treaty of amity and coperation with
british in 1820s and british also overtake india's foreign trade, just
like arabs did in medeival times.
5.india in 1825-1850 is strong militarily but may not br rich, but
peace prevails in core areas, meanwhile british control all of south
east asia and even get much greater influence in china than in OTL.may
be even they colonise china in 1850 by controlling all of coastal
areas.
6.british take wholeslae contract of building rilways and other
administartive machinery in india and it starins indian economy very
well, so by 1900s india is strong powerful but not rich, its like what
latin american countries in 1990s, a rich aristrocracy and poor
farmers who are forming 80% of population.
7.in late 1800s many european powers compete with british in the
foreign trade of india with USA also coming into picture after
building of suez canal.india is well connected with europe
economically and intelelctually although technologically only decades
behind.
8.the marathas unite india lingisutically by adopting a common tongue
as lingua franca and also other administartive machinery built by
british at a huge cost helps india stay united.
9.so first world war comes, with india's foriegn trade occupied by 50%
british, 15% germans and rest by french and USA, india is unable to
take sides with anyone.also with the level of contact with europe
sows the see in the minds of indian elite the ideas of democracy and
related ideas which takes into a shape of a mass movement against
the empire.
10.so by 1914 world war 1 starts, what will happen in the rest of
timeline ?
if a economically somewhat better india with milliomns of soldiers
trained in european ways,
a)alligns with british and this helps in overwhelming win for the
allies without american help.
b)alligns with germany as the genearl ahtred for british who ruined
the country's economy and with germany helping technologically, india
takes over all of indian ocean territories of british and by 1930s is
as strong as imperial japan.
c)doesnt join either side with british &co winning the war on their
own or with the american help.