What could bring about Indian independence one or two years earlier?

[raharris1973]

What forces could have brought about Indian independence one or two years earlier, by August 1946, or alternatively by October 1945, a few weeks after the end of the war with Japan?

Would the best path for this have been any promises extracted pre war, or during the war? Or more violent disturbances during the Quit India campaign? Or a genuine consultative process between Chamberlain, Viceroy, and INC on terms of India’s participation in war in advance of an Indian DoW on Germany in 1939?

 

[GuildedAgeNostalgia]

earlier assassination of Ghandi (but by a British guy instead of a Hindu nationalist)?

 

[raharris1973]

earlier assassination of Ghandi (but by a British guy instead of a Hindu nationalist)?

While reasonably effective, this seems a little too easy and on the nose, but thanks.

 

[raharris1973]

Anybody got any other ideas. Would think this would be interesting and impactful.

 

[Aincrad]

Anybody got any other ideas. Would think this would be interesting and impactful.

I don’t think it is that interesting and impactful because that’s what we got OTL, a rush job with Mountbatten leaving as fast as he can.

 

[Tresckow]

Might be a bit too extreme but Britain getting a white peace with Nazi Germany may accelerate Indian independence.

 

[Sekhmet_D]

Japan invades India in early 1943.

 

[GarethC]

The usual suspects for a trouncing of the Axis - sickle is blunted, or the Méchelen crash causes the deaths of the German flyers and Jodl goes with a hurry-up offence to invade Belgium on 13 January that finds that snow is a bigger problem than the French. Italy never declares war, Germany is defeated before ever launching an ur-Barbarossa, which means that when Japan decides to roll the dice anyway in some form - maybe striking Pearl with KB and invading FIC because they never did in 1940 - Britain, France, the Netherlands, Republican China and the US grind down the IJN with massive numerical superiority, more experienced veterans, and better technology for a white peace in probably 1943 that means an awful lot fewer casualties all round (as there won't be firebombings or atomic weapons use against Japan).
And with no Indian Ocean Raid, Bengal Famine, or indeed IJA campaigns at all in Singapore, Malaya, Burma, or India, you could certainly write an earlier and more peaceful transition to independence across British India.

 

[TuberAlloy]

India was poised to be independent by August 1946 in the latest (i.e 1 year after the end of WW2), but independence was postponed due to the partition and complications arising due to it. For a post-WW2 POD, kill Jinnah right after Japan surrenders (not difficult considering his health issues) and without him the entire Pakistan movement fizzles out allowing the British to leave on schedule.