Purposeful Indian Balkanization

I know this is pretty ASB but what would India need to do to piss of the UK enough so that when India is granted independence it will be in the form of many independent states pretty much tailor made for ethnic and religious strife?
 
If Bhagat Singh was a bit more popular and successful then there is a chance of extreme violence with many British casualties. Such an action could lead to the British balkanizing India. Mainly out of interest more than spite.
 
Yeah Muslim state with a majority Hindu population.

Other than that, the British Raj breaks up into Princely states.

the vast majority of which would most likely undergo popular revolutions or coups within months. As I understand it, the Princes were really unpopular and viewed mostly as British collaborators. I guess it depends how many viable ethnic states there are in India, and what happens to the remainder.
 
the vast majority of which would most likely undergo popular revolutions or coups within months. As I understand it, the Princes were really unpopular and viewed mostly as British collaborators. I guess it depends how many viable ethnic states there are in India, and what happens to the remainder.
Yeah but Indian balkanization is pretty hard to do with a post 1900 POD.
 
Yeah but Indian balkanization is pretty hard to do with a post 1900 POD.
Yes I know, this is for an ASB timeline I am thinking about. I just want to know what the Indians will have to do to the British for the British to try to set things up so post independence India is as screwed up as possible.

Idea #1 was a major Indian revolt during an Anglo-German (Nazi) war, WWII will be getting butterflied away in this TL
 

Maur

Banned
Yes I know, this is for an ASB timeline I am thinking about. I just want to know what the Indians will have to do to the British for the British to try to set things up so post independence India is as screwed up as possible.

Idea #1 was a major Indian revolt during an Anglo-German (Nazi) war, WWII will be getting butterflied away in this TL
Indians have to want independence from Britain. AKA OTL :D (after all, that's what the Stafford Cripps mission was all about)
 

Maur

Banned
Yes but what would India have to do to piss of Britain enough to screw India to OTL Africa levels?
It's sort of wrong question. The correct one would be "what would have to happen to Britain to try to forcibly retain India or/and keep intervening to propo up (for example) princely states/clients". There was too much unitary sentiment in India for lasting multi-partition, without, for example, British military fighting against popular uprising/military invasions aimed at unification.

So you need to have different Britain, not different situation in India, i think.

Or, perhaps, you could elaborate on the "OTL Africa" part.

Revolt during both world war?
And what would British do they didn't do IOTL? They were already machinegunning protesters from the airplanes on occassions. And planned to let the princely states, which were empty shells, to continue after their (UK) withdrawal.

They could, for example, allow Hyderabad into Commonwealth, but that would require their military to support it. And this, i think, requires change in Britain which militiant India isn't going to make.
 
POD is 1933 major ASB incident not going to cover here, Britain is going to fight Nazi Germany in at least 2, possibly 3 wars, there is not going to be a second world war and Britain will not really want to hold on to India, it is just circumstances will delay Indian Independence

Basically I want India as screwed up as most of OTL Africa until at least 2000, long enough for the POD to leave India in permanent minor power status
 

Maur

Banned
POD is 1933 major ASB incident not going to cover here, Britain is going to fight Nazi Germany in at least 2, possibly 3 wars, there is not going to be a second world war and Britain will not really want to hold on to India, it is just circumstances will delay Indian Independence

Basically I want India as screwed up as most of OTL Africa until at least 2000, long enough for the POD to leave India in permanent minor power status
Well, there is no permanency in history, and you got India underperforming IOTL for long time...

What do you mean as OTL Africa? I'm asking because i'm not sure what's the difference you want to make.
 
Well, there is no permanency in history, and you got India underperforming IOTL for long time...

What do you mean as OTL Africa? I'm asking because i'm not sure what's the difference you want to make.
Famine, Civil war, ethnic violence, massive levels of corruption no funding available for large scale projects

If need be I'll just have the place hit with WMD's, just want the country to be a non factor until 2000, after 2000 India has lost its chance and will be forgotten by history
 
I think the differences between Africa and India are many, but one of which is that there were many quite sophisticated, complex and organised entities in India before and after the British arrived. Now while Africa had many as well, they were not on the scale of India.

So I guess you'd need something that would neuter the traditional organisatising elites in order to totally knock back India. Perhaps a much more vicious or racist British occupation that seeks to destroy the various Indian nations, societies and state entities, not just the latter
 
I think the differences between Africa and India are many, but one of which is that there were many quite sophisticated, complex and organised entities in India before and after the British arrived. Now while Africa had many as well, they were not on the scale of India.

So I guess you'd need something that would neuter the traditional organisatising elites in order to totally knock back India. Perhaps a much more vicious or racist British occupation that seeks to destroy the various Indian nations, societies and state entities, not just the latter
Divergence point is too late for that, even with an ASB involved Britain is not going to change policies like that in 1933

Oh well guess India is getting pasted with WMDs after all
 

Maur

Banned
Famine, Civil war, ethnic violence, massive levels of corruption no funding available for large scale projects

If need be I'll just have the place hit with WMD's, just want the country to be a non factor until 2000, after 2000 India has lost its chance and will be forgotten by history
Well, in OTL India wasn't much of a factor until recently, and look how it surged forward.

To make sure it stays non-important permanently, you have to get rid of it's potential - geography and population. Which amounts to massive genocide not seen in history, because political disunity and intra-subcontinental strife can always end.

That said, interesting. India, while having lots of problems, remained relatively stable, so having bloody internal conflicts there would indeed make it more of a pariah, and famine, corruption and such would follow.

I don't really know, sadly, but perhaps if you would make British more violent, and kill Gandhi and leadership of the Congress instead of imprisoning them... you could have more violent struggle for independence, especially if there is an escalation. And it could develop into internal conflicts all the while removing the powerful advocates of unity (let's put aside it was popular sentiment... perhaps somehow it could change). You still need to maintain some sort of strife after British withdrawal. Maybe British withdraw gradually, effectively relying on collaboration government in later stages, and arming people and using opportunist to keep Indians down? Then for some years India could, perhaps, end in China-like warlordism, and that would stunt it for long time.

That's the best i could come up with. Doesn't sound too good, so perhaps someone else will do better.
 

Maur

Banned
Divergence point is too late for that, even with an ASB involved Britain is not going to change policies like that in 1933

Oh well guess India is getting pasted with WMDs after all
Well, that's always the option. I mean, the nuclear one.

By who and in what circumstances, btw? Because it's hard to pull out, IMO...
 
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