Chapter 30: The Independence Congress
Chapter Thirty: The Independence Congress
"People of India! Unite behind the legitimate government which has been denied you for too long! We must stand together in this, our hour of need, behind your Provisional President Mahendra Pratap..."
-Mahendra Pratap, Provisional President of the Indian Free State

"Why all this division? What benefit is it to the people? Hindus and Muslims, men of arms and men of peace, are we not all Indian? If Mr Pratap will overcome his pride and let us work together we can craft the dream our people have desired for generations..."
-Mohandas Gandhi, calling for unity at the Independence Congress

The Indian revolt was a disjointed affair. Much of the north and east, especially the cities, remained under British control. These regions were rife with rioting and violence, but control was mostly centralised. Nepalese and Bhutanese, not white British, manpower helped to keep the area quiet, and the local princes donated their militias for the same purpose; the hope was that since these people were racially closer to the natives, they’d arouse less ire. Martial law was in full effect, with the military distributing ration books and enforcing curfews; one was likely to be arrested if one couldn’t provide identity cards. No one was happy with the status quo, yet the region remained quiet.

It was in the south and centre where chaos reigned.

The great revolt had started in Hyderabad, and rebels had now wiped that princely state off the map. The youthful nizam had set up a court-in-exile in Calcutta, and a warlord named Guldar Patel (1) ruled most of the territory; pro-nizam loyalists had become bandits with their own little enclaves in the jungle. Bengal remained loyal, and the regime had too many troops present for Calcutta to explode, while Burma was quiet. In Mysore and Madras, the local princes had declared their fealty to London and had firm control over a few blocks in their capital cities- the rest of their realms were divided between bushwhackers and hapless patrols. The same situation played out all across the south, centre, and west of the subcontinent. The key point is that every city, a different leader led every bandit group, every patch of territory in revolt. Aside from their common enemy in the British, these leaders had nothing in common. Modus vivendi were made and promptly discarded as these forces viewed each other as dangerous rivals.

India was sliding into warlordism.

It was all too clear that the British were recovering some of their strength. As the monsoon dried up in September, London got its act together, shipping in 75,000 fresh troops from the homeland and calling on eighty thousand men from Nepal and Bhutan. Added to the quarter million British troops already running around on the subcontinent, and it was clear that the scales of attrition would soon be rebalanced. With the enemy increasing his own strength, a disunited war effort would only bring about slow defeat as Britain snuffed out each revolt one by one. In the best-case scenario, if the Indians were lucky and did manage to gain independence, what would that leave them? A bitterly divided subcontinent where the people would forever be trapped in the middle of petty sectarian fighting. Many were acutely aware of the danger, and now one group stepped to the forefront, determined to unite the subcontinent and save their people’s dream of liberty…

A postage stamp depicting Mahendra Pratap, Provisional President of the Free State of India
mahendrapratap.jpg


The Provisional Government of Free India had been formed in Kabul during the Great War. The Germans had tried with little success to rile up the tribesmen of Afghanistan and have them invade the Raj on Berlin’s behalf. The war had ended before they could fully develop the scheme, but a provisional government for an independent India was ready at this critical hour. Since the cities were crawling with British troops, the members of the Provisional Government travelled through the countryside. The border between Afghanistan and northwest India was long and porous, and with the valuable heartland in open revolt no one noticed a handful of wizened old men crossing the border. The members of the Provisional Government encountered a handful of refugees seeking shelter in Afghanistan, but aside from that they travelled alone. They reached the rebel-held city of Multan on 14 September and asked to speak with the highest-ranking man in town. The Provisional Government explained who they were and requested asylum in Multan. The rebel leader, presumably somewhat confused, agreed, and they set up shop under armed guard. Mahendra Pratap, leader of the group, reconfirmed himself as Provisional President of the Indian Free State (he’d initially proclaimed himself such in 1915), and the other four men did the same with their titles. Their claim to be the “rightful leaders of the free India which the people are striving to achieve” stretched credulity. Mahendra Pratap and his colleagues hadn’t set foot in their native land for years and knew only the basics of why the great revolt had started. He only had a rough blueprint for how he wanted to run India, one which was explicitly populist and would’ve involved great social changes. With the revolt divided between very different groups with diverging plans for the future, there was no guarantee that the men with the guns would confer legitimacy on Pratap’s Provisional Government.

Nonetheless, Pratap hadn’t come all this way to sightsee, and so he had to try.

On 29 September 1917, Pratap issued a proclamation to leading Indian nationalists, calling on them to meet in Multan for an “Independence Congress”. Given that the subcontinent was torn by moving troops, shell-holes, monsoon storms, and cities aflame, the mail service wasn’t exactly running at top speed and it took time for the message to get out safely. Pratap’s proclamation was dispatched by couriers disguised as servants, who carried the message in their heads and not on paper for fear British troops might capture them. The task was further complicated because no one quite knew where many leading Indians were at that moment. Many brilliant men had fled the fighting in their hometowns, and it wasn’t as if they registered their move at the tax office first. Mohandas Gandhi and his wife had moved back to South Africa, but they saw what Pratap was trying to do as the culmination of decades of activism, and quietly made their way to Multan under assumed names via the Ottoman Empire. Not everyone was so easy to find- many rightly feared arrest if they associated themselves with the rebels, while others had been killed in the fighting. Since it would be a disaster if the British were to arrest a delegate and extract information from him, they avoided the direct routes to Multan. People came in from Afghanistan, through the deserts of northern India, even across the Himalayas, all with a variety of aliases. Notably absent were any representatives of the Berlin Committee, the Indian nationalist group sponsored by Kaiser Wilhelm II- it was deemed too unsafe to let them travel to Multan and the German Foreign Ministry didn’t want to risk angering the UK. Rebel leaders whose guns made up for their lack of intellectual credentials were invited; it wouldn’t do if the men on the ground laughed off the Congress’ decisions and did as they pleased.

There were fears that the warlord of Multan would try to mount a coup, arresting Pratap, Gandhi, and the rest of the delegates, or that the British would capture them. However, the warlord conveniently suffered a tragic accident a few days into August, after which Pratap declared Multan to be “the first region to come under the direct administration of its legitimate government.” What the people thought of this, we shall never know.

Unofficial flag of the Indian Free State. Notably, Muslim delegates strenuously objected to the presence of the Hindu symbol in the centre for obvious reasons
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At any rate, by 15 October the Congress was as ready as it ever would be. Many important people were still missing, but the longer the rebel leaders congregated in one place, the greater the danger that someone would betray them. Armed troops surrounded the ancient royal citadel where the discussions took place. The Independence Congress had two formal goals: to forge a united strategy for the rebels and to draw up plans for what the subcontinent would look like postwar. There was genuine excitement at the thought that progress was being made in the struggle for Indian freedom, and everyone hoped that- like the Imperial Constitutional Convention in Danubia- the Congress could overcome its differences and create something innovative and useful.

They would do exactly as well as their Danubian counterparts had.

From the very first day, Mohandas Gandhi and Mahendra Pratap were locked in rivalry. Both considered themselves the natural leader of the independence movement and criticised the other’s time abroad and foreign connections. Gandhi implied that Pratap was a Germanophile who would prioritise Berlin’s interests above those of his people, while Pratap savaged Gandhi for having served in the South African military during the Boer War fifteen years previous. Ironically, their ideologies were actually quite similar- both were advocates of religious tolerance and secular society, and social reform designed to minimise the oppressive caste system. Their rivalry was fundamentally about who was the better representative of Indian nationalism, not real policy.

Aside from the Gandhi-Pratap feud, the Congress’ great weakness was that all the different delegates wanted different things. Islamic nationalists enjoyed disproportionate strength because Multan was an Islamic city, and they took this opportunity to push heavily for Muslim interests. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, one of the most prominent Muslim delegates, called for a formal appeal to be made to the sultan in Constantinople for aid. Ferocious debate over whether to request Ottoman support ensued, with the Hindus rejecting it for fear that postwar India would become dominated by Turks and Muslims. Still other Islamic delegates called for an independent Muslim state; Bengali nationalists wanted to make sure their homeland walked away from all this independent of a greater India. The Muslims yelled about being “marginalised” and accused the Hindus of not respecting their interests, while the latter replied that if the revolt’s unity was destroyed by religious disputes, then none of them would get what they wanted. A further spanner was thrown into the works by the fact that the princely states were collaborating with the British, and that those were majority-Hindu but Muslim-ruled. Hindu delegates effectively accused their Muslim counterparts of having a superiority complex and wanting to dominate India- that they were meeting in an Islamic city only added weight to their argument. Both sides were right in that the last thing anybody could afford was bitter feuding between the two faiths. Both sides were wrong in their belief that the other was trying to sabotage their goals. One must consider centuries of Hindu-Muslim tensions in the subcontinent when regarding these debates, and that certainly wasn’t something that started in 1917 or 1857. After four days of pounding on tables and trading barbs in their native tongues, the Congress reached a compromise whereby they agreed to “respect Islamic territorial rights” in Balochistan, Bengal, and the Northwest Frontier Provinces. Perhaps fortunately, Jammu and Kashmir were under tight British control and thus sent no delegates- one can only imagine how the region would’ve divided the subcontinent’s religions! (2).

Political differences were also important- some delegates wanted to retain the princely state system, arguing that it gave representation to the diverse peoples of India. “But” their opponents cried, “those were in league with the British and we can’t let them go unpunished!” One man who suggested that the princely states survive as autonomous republics was laughed at (3); he was later shown the door for using “unprofessional language” in his retort. Most of the delegates were wealthy intellectuals, and many were of a conservative bend: such people didn’t believe they should see the ancient building-blocks of India abolished so that Pratap could rule with absolute power from a mansion in Calcutta. Republican government was seen as a Western innovation as compared to the Indian tradition of rule by princes. When a federalist structure was proposed as a compromise, the military warlords spoke up, demanding that they have whatever territorial gains made recognised as autonomous fiefdoms. Since many had overlapping claims with one another- indeed the armies of some were openly fighting each other- and since their possessions usually bore little relation to historic or cultural divides, this caused considerable controversy. However, the warlords had been invited to the Congress because they had the guns, and taking away their legitimacy wouldn’t be a smart move. After several members had walked out in exasperation, they reached a tenuous compromise; the warlords would be allowed to keep all troops under their personal command and couldn’t be forced to do anything with them they didn’t want to, but once the conflict was done, they would relinquish all claims to the land. Not everyone accepted this and several men “went rogue”. Furthermore, this was virtually guaranteeing a civil war somewhere down the line. The hope was that some military men would exhaust themselves against the British and against one another, thus reducing their power in postwar India. At any rate, it was a temporary, expedient compromise that gave the revolutionaries some much-needed unity.

By this point, October was dragging into November and the tide of the war was turning against the rebels. Military men wanted to get back to their units, while others didn’t feel especially safe in Multan. There was the constant risk of assasination or simply something going wrong with the many troops in town, and people like Gandhi and Pratep wanted to move to a safer location. Worse than that, though, the British were finally getting things done. After months of unrest had failed to evict the whites from major cities, the people were starting to lose steam. The north and east were growing ever-more secure, while MI5 was delivering intelligence reports that something important was happening in Multan and plans were being made for an advance to the city.

It was time to get out.

Congress was adjourned on 24 October, with every delegate taking an oath to respect Mahendra Pratep’s supremacy. Naturally, Gandhi and his partisans were loath to do this, but it got done regardless. On that note, everyone slipped away- Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his colleagues to Kuwait, Gandhi to rural Hyderabad, and the Provisional Government to the Gujarati capital of Ahmedabad.

For all their hopes, the Independence Congress had had too many problems to overcome and failed to coordinate a pan-Indian strategy… and the British were preparing for a counteroffensive…

Comments?

  1. Fictitious
  2. Round and round and round we spin
  3. Which is a pity, as I think it’s actually a pretty good idea.
 
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Good update. So the Indians fall apart . If Britain is smart they will recognize some of the last hostile with a Napal like independence and fear the Indian Alliance apart for good. They can clean house with the rest, and maybe have a peaceful peace afterwards.
 
Executing 20 innocent civilians for every British soldier or officer killed? Lol I don't see anyway that this could possibly backfire on the British...

So the first Indian congress was a dud? Hardly surprising considering the chaotic circumstances. Maybe the hypothetical second session might be more successful in the future.
 
Good update. So the Indians fall apart . If Britain is smart they will recognize some of the last hostile with a Napal like independence and fear the Indian Alliance apart for good. They can clean house with the rest, and maybe have a peaceful peace afterwards.
That would be the smartest move. One way or another the status quo will change... it's up to the British to craft a peaceful solution (at a cost in pride, naturally).
Executing 20 innocent civilians for every British soldier or officer killed? Lol I don't see anyway that this could possibly backfire on the British...

So the first Indian congress was a dud? Hardly surprising considering the chaotic circumstances. Maybe the hypothetical second session might be more successful in the future.
Yeah, the hostage-taking thing will make them so loved.
Thanks, I wanted to show how there's really no unity in the Indian revolt to foreshadow future problems...
 
The collapse of the Congress was unsurprising, given IOTL it took decades to hash out a proper compromise plan for Indian independence and governance, and it still took multiple wars after for things to settle into a stable setup.
 
That went about as well as expected. The concept of a united India is a fairly modern one, and not even a completely successful one at that. Contrast that to China, where the concept of being one nation and culture goes back thousands of years. India, though, has never really been a single nation until the modern era. Even the idea of a single, homogenous, or at least semi-homogenous Indian culture comes off as...problematic (?).
 
Great update
Thank you very much; glad you liked it!
That went about as well as expected. The concept of a united India is a fairly modern one, and not even a completely successful one at that. Contrast that to China, where the concept of being one nation and culture goes back thousands of years. India, though, has never really been a single nation until the modern era. Even the idea of a single, homogenous, or at least semi-homogenous Indian culture comes off as...problematic (?).
Yup. United India isn't an inevitability, nor is Balkanised India... but I think the different circumstances on the continent naturally lead to more divisions. We'll have to see though- my plans could well change.
Also, on the subject of China: any ideas as to what may happen? :D

The collapse of the Congress was unsurprising, given IOTL it took decades to hash out a proper compromise plan for Indian independence and governance, and it still took multiple wars after for things to settle into a stable setup.
None of that here, I'm afraid. India will have a much more militarised, less pleasant path to independence in this world... note the fact that Gandhi is playing second fiddle to Pratap...
 

Rivercat893

Banned
Thank you very much; glad you liked it!

Yup. United India isn't an inevitability, nor is Balkanised India... but I think the different circumstances on the continent naturally lead to more divisions. We'll have to see though- my plans could well change.
Also, on the subject of China: any ideas as to what may happen? :D


None of that here, I'm afraid. India will have a much more militarised, less pleasant path to independence in this world... note the fact that Gandhi is playing second fiddle to Pratap...
We're not even out of the 20s yet and this is a very extensive timeline with good writing and a well-done POD.
 
Not all the Princely States were majority Hindu but Muslim ruled. Many of them (a majority actually) were Hindu and Sikh ruled, and one of the most important Princely States - Kashmir - was majority Muslim but Hindu ruled.

Given the emergency situation caused by the rebellion, the Princely States would be providing many thousand of troops to the British cause, which is significant. Many units and soldiers of the British Indian Army (Indian, not white, troops) and the Raj’s Police would remain loyal to the British, so that gives them a lot more armed manpower to clamp down on the rebellion. I don’t think the British would be that strapped for manpower in India for these reasons and these thousands of loyal Indian soldiers and police should be noted. Although racism and fear of the rebellion may cause the British to disarm and/or demobilise these loyal collaborators of their’s, which would further hurt their war effort to regain control of India.

Looking forward to more!
 
Look like it's time to bash some heads and make India cry uncle. I wonder if the British are going to use any forbidden weapons to crush the revolt.

Sidenote, I surprise these people didn't try to kill each at the meeting. Or MI5 didn't find out sooner and sent in some agents to take them out.
 
Not all the Princely States were majority Hindu but Muslim ruled. Many of them (a majority actually) were Hindu and Sikh ruled, and one of the most important Princely States - Kashmir - was majority Muslim but Hindu ruled.

Given the emergency situation caused by the rebellion, the Princely States would be providing many thousand of troops to the British cause, which is significant. Many units and soldiers of the British Indian Army (Indian, not white, troops) and the Raj’s Police would remain loyal to the British, so that gives them a lot more armed manpower to clamp down on the rebellion. I don’t think the British would be that strapped for manpower in India for these reasons and these thousands of loyal Indian soldiers and police should be noted. Although racism and fear of the rebellion may cause the British to disarm and/or demobilise these loyal collaborators of their’s, which would further hurt their war effort to regain control of India.
Looking forward to more!
Oh, the Princely States are cooperating to an extent, don't worry. I phrased that very badly in the text. Many Princely troops are fighting in their home countries; however they're hampered by British mistrust and racism.
Look like it's time to bash some heads and make India cry uncle. I wonder if the British are going to use any forbidden weapons to crush the revolt.

Sidenote, I surprise these people didn't try to kill each at the meeting. Or MI5 didn't find out sooner and sent in some agents to take them out.
It won't be pretty!
The British refrained from using chemical weapons at least in part because the torrential rain created by the monsoon makes such a thing impractical. With the weather drying out... who knows?
Tensions at the Congress were high but no one came to blows. MI5 came bloody close; fear of detection was one reason they adjourned.
 
Even if Britain wins, the damage has likely already been done. While the Congress was a failure, the bloodshed from both martial law and the actual combat is just going to put an even greater wedge between the British and Indians (perhaps even more so than OTL) that even if Britain regains its grip on the subcontinent, it's going to be a grip doused in acid, slippery and painful to the touch
 
Even if Britain wins, the damage has likely already been done. The Congress might have been a failure, the bloodshed from both martial law and the actual combat is just going to put an even greater wedge between the British and Indians (perhaps even more so than OTL) that even if Britain regains its grip on the subcontinent, it's going to be a grip doused in acid, slippery and painful to the touch
I really couldn't have put it any better myself. Britain can't afford NOT to hold on but at the same time the cost of doing so will be immense... everyone will suffer
 
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