Raja's India

Raja’s India Part 1​

Ram Mohan Roy was born in Bengal in 1772. He was born to lead. He learnt Bengali, Hindi, and Sanskrit at a young age. He did much of his early schooling in Calcutta and then spend time in Delhi and Bombay. When he was in Madras, he learnt English. In his travels he has seen the oppression and looting by the East India Company. He had a deep desire to change it. At the same time he also saw the evils in the Indian society like sati, caste system etc. He believed he could change it through education. He noticed the various difference in the culture of different parts of the country. He had both Hindu and Muslim friends. He also got along with some Europeans. He did not hate the British. He just did not agree with their policies.

At the age of 22 he decided to travel abroad. He did not care for the “Kala Pani” superstition. By then he had been convinced that it was his duty to fight for the independence of his country. He travelled to Britain. He saw London and the development Industrialisation caused. He travelled to France and was fascinated by the ideas of liberty and fraternity. But inside his mind he was sure that true liberty cannot be achieved without equality for the different classes and genders. He had learnt a little French there. He loved languages.

Then he travelled to America in 1798. It was a time when America was a fledgling Democracy, but a Democracy nonetheless. He was fascinated by the nuances of a Presidential Democracy. But he was thoroughly repulsed by slavery. He himself was looked down upon due to his coloured skin.

He went back to Bharat in 1800. He saw the situation was unchanged from when he left. He understood the squabbling princes were the reason the British took control so easily. He decided to travel the country and meet the princes and build a reputation. He went all over the country. For him Bharat consisted of the lands bounded by Persia on the west, the Outer Himalayas on the north and Burma on the east. He considered Ceylon to be a part of Bharat.

During his travels around the country he met with everyone, kings, princes, noblemen, soldiers, businessmen, the common people, women, the so called “untouchables” and even children. He talked to them and tried to make them favourable to his idea of India. An independent presidential democracy which bowed her head to no one. Most disagreed with his ideas at first, but when he showed them the looting and oppression by the EIC, they agreed. The kings were of course resistant to give up power.

The British took notice of his campaign against them. They arrested him many a times. But he talked his way out of it. He knew a nonviolent victory against victory against the British would not be possible, so he set about creating an Army. This was hard for him since he was not a king or something like that. But he had the support of the King of Travancore (no 1795 treaty with British) and the King of Nepal. He also had the backing of the Mughal Emperor.

It was 1812. Ram Mohan Roy had been given the title Raja due to his king making acts. He was respected around the country. He had by then evolved his model for the country after Independence. He also acquired the backing of the rulers of Jhansi and the Nizam of Hyderabad. He had supporters working within the East India Company. He also travelled to Persia, China, and Japan to gain recognition and to ask for help.

He then heard a news, America had lost the war against British. It had ceded the territory of New England to the British North America. The American people were angry, they wanted revenge. He thought about how he could use this to his advantage. He travelled to America and met with Mr President James Madison. He proposed his plan. An attack on British in two fronts. Both in the BNA and the EIC. James wanted revenge, he readily agreed.

Raja then travelled to France, to convince them to enter the war. (In this history France does not invade Russia, Napoleon remains strong). Napoleon was not ready for a war with Britain. But France agreed to train and finance the Indian Army. And also they lend some ships to Raja’s Force.

When Raja returned to India he had financing from America and France and also military advisors from both the countries. He waited for 5 years, letting the advisors train his force in modern warfare.

It was 1817. The war began in America. US troops attacked settlements in BNA. Indian forces attempted to rout the EIC forces in India. It also fought the force of Indian Kings loyal to the British. France watched from the side-lines. It was the mother of all wars till then. Russia was confused on which side to support. Britain was not ready for a two front war. Their forces were spread thin as it is.

Napoleon entered the war six months later. He was getting ready for an invasion of Britain itself. Now Britain was in real danger. After six more months of fighting, British forces were eradicated in India. America was gaining on Britain but had gained only the provinces of Halifax and New England.

France was continuously trying to cross the channel and had taken over Kent. Britain saw a lost cause, so it called for a Peace treaty. India was to be free. America gained New England. France gained Sierra Leone and Guiana. Reparations were paid to all three countries. Britain was allowed to keep Maldives as a trading post.

India was free. Raja’s dream had been partially fulfilled. He was appointed the Acting President till Elections. He presided over the Reconstruction of the country. A constitution was written up based loosely on the American Constitution but taking into account the diversities of India. Elections were held and Raja was elected the President.

Continued... The development of Raja’s India Part 2.
 
Yes, he is more revolutionary. Also he has no desire to work with the British, which was present in the actual history.
 
Though, how does this lead to the Americans loseing the War of 1812 so badly that British annexes New England and Napoleon not invading Russia? Also where are the Mughals on this?

Your concept is a good idea, I just think you don't have to take routes into wank ish and side tracking events that could not be affecte by your POD.
 
The thing is I cant imagine, Raja doing this alone without America or France by his side. So let us say Raja's visiting America on 1798 causes butterflies making America to lose in 1812. And Raja talks to Napoleon before he invades Russia convincing him that Britain is a better target.

I will think of ways to do this without involving America. After that I will update this. This is my first story so please do help me.

And the Mughals have already lost most of it's powers to the Marathas by the 1800. And Marathas are defeated by the British in the Battle of Panipat. So the only dominant force in the subcontinent is the British. I feel the Mughals would rather think they can manipulate Raja than try to face off the British.
 
Raja's India Part 2

Raja’s India Part 2

December 9, 1819 Shahjahanabad, Delhi

It was a cold, winter morning in Delhi. Dwaraknath Tagore was shivering. He was in his wagon, travelling from Calcutta to Delhi. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly of Independent India. The constitution had been drafted. It was based on the American Constitution but had provisions for the special conditions in India.

It was decided India will be a Presidential Democracy, as per Raja’s wishes. There were two houses of the parliament the Rajya Sabha (Senate) and the Lok Sabha (House of Representatives). A third consultative house called the Samarat Sabha (Council of Kings) was also present. It comprised of the erstwhile princes of India, who were loyal to Raja. The President’s term was 5 years. The Rajya Sabha had a term of 5 years and the Lok Sabha a term of 2 and a half years. The Samarat Sabha was for lifetime. But Raja planned that after 50 years this Sabha will evolve in to a house of intellectuals and not of princes.

A judiciary was to be set up. With courts at all level of government and a separate court of Appeals.

India was to be a Federal country. It was to be divided on the basis of language into different states. The following was proposed.

Raja wanted India to treat everyone Equality. He wanted Universal Suffrage from the beginning. India was to be Secular, as per his wishes. There was to be no untouchability. No castes. No sati. The thrice Damned conservatives were furious. They protested vehemently. They threatened to protest this in the streets. But Raja was not swayed. He had a godlike status among his countrymen. He was called the “Father of the Nation”. He was called the Bhishma Pitamah of Modern India. All he had to do was give a few speeches and the conservatives were left with no supporters.

Sometimes Dwaraknath felt scared of his friend Raja. Will he become a dictator? It does not seem likely he thought, but then again anything is possible. But he had promised long ago that he will support his friend no matter what.

April 3, 1820 Shahjahanabad, Delhi

The streets were filled with celebrations. Raja had won the elections. He was to be the First President of Independent India.

In his quarters Raja was solemn. He was taking on a great responsibility. His first act as President was to announce the construction of the New Capital. It was to be constructed in Delhi. It was named Rajdhani. It was to be constructed by architects from India, America and France. He played significant role in the planning.

His next order of business was to do something about India’s tattered finances. The reparations from the British were welcome but not enough. He invited all the Great Powers to set up trade missions in India. Even the British were invited. Of course these missions were not allowed to own land or hire guards or in any way influence politics.

He introduced a variable land taxation system, which was to be revised every 5 years. He followed this up with construction of roads and encouraging capitalists in India. He had to take loans from banks in America to finance this. He disbanded almost half of the war time military but kept the remaining half. An army school and a navy school was constructed. He ordered the construction of new ships.

He decided India needed industrialisation to survive so cotton mills were opened in Bombay and Ahmedabad. The idea of interchangeable parts was brought from America. Steam generators were built in India.

Education and healthcare was something he paid special attention to. Public schools and hospitals were set up. And people were encouraged to make full use of them. He encouraged the learning of local languages and also some universities were allowed to teach foreign languages like English and French. He thought that this would enable India to develop in equal footing with the global powers.

In 15 years India was in a reasonably good position.

September 23, 1835 London, United Kingdom

Raja was in Britain discussing treaties with the Monarch. He had heard about the railways, but when he saw it in action, he was amazed. He wondered the effect this could have on India. He asked the Monarch to let him have a few engineers of railways. He also took back with him two locomotives.

After returning to India, He ordered the construction of two rail lines, Delhi to Faridabad, and Bombay to Thane. He thus unleashed the age of Railways in India.

Continued to Part 3.

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I think the map closely resembles the map of India after reorganisation of states on language basis. If India had become independent in the first half of the nineteenth century the states or provinces would have been similar to the subas of Mughal era. There wouldn't be a Junagarh, but the area would be Gujarat, not only the present name but also a very old one. There wouldn't be Arunachal or Nagapradesh as they are modern names. The whole area would be Assam. Maharashtra is also a modern name, it could be Marathadesh or something similar. Cholaprastha is an unlikely name. Cholamandalam or Cholanadu has greater chance. Some other changes are also likely, if you look into the names of Mughal provinces or subas.
 
I think it's too much too fast. Where is Roy's support coming from? He hasn't built up any, and I doubt the Maharajas and zamindars would be happy about this. I think that it would more likely for him to write about the subject in detail, using his travel experience to cultivate his philosophies with future generations actually implementing them. For instance, recruiting an army will attract a lot of attention, especially when its really just one man doing it, but if he manages to cultivate his image over time, and that manages to reach many Indians over time, it may just work. Just my two cents. I do like this timeline, however.
 
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