Fatal Wit
Banned
In our timeline, the division of British India(into India and Pakistan, from which Bangladesh later splintered) was done largely along religious lines- with the exception of territories under the rule of monarchs, where the monarch was given the choice of whether to be part of Pakistan or India. That is why, for example, India has a claim to Kashmir(conversely, Junagadh, a state were a Muslim ruled over a majority Hindu population, opted to join Pakistan but was maneuvered into India by Indian "diplomacy"
).
Which leaves some interesting possibilities for alternate divisions of India. What if, for example, Kashmir had been assigned to Pakistan/India based on the majority religion rather then the ruler's desire? Similarly, might Junagadh have become What if some monarchic Indian states formed independant nations(Sikkim, Junagadh, or Kashmir might be a candidate).
Besides that, might India have been granted independance as a single state rather then partitioned based upon religion? I would assume such a state would have to be relatively weaker in terms of central authority, and would have a high likelihood of fracturing however...given that the hostility between India and Pakistan, is a major reason both states have been able to avoid splintering into multiple states. The hostility between both states results in unity in both.
Which leaves some interestin possibilities... what potential fracture lines, apart from religion, exist in India? Monarchy for one, I would think- potential for a monarchy like Mysore or Hyderbrad to secede, perhaps?
Which leaves some interesting possibilities for alternate divisions of India. What if, for example, Kashmir had been assigned to Pakistan/India based on the majority religion rather then the ruler's desire? Similarly, might Junagadh have become What if some monarchic Indian states formed independant nations(Sikkim, Junagadh, or Kashmir might be a candidate).
Besides that, might India have been granted independance as a single state rather then partitioned based upon religion? I would assume such a state would have to be relatively weaker in terms of central authority, and would have a high likelihood of fracturing however...given that the hostility between India and Pakistan, is a major reason both states have been able to avoid splintering into multiple states. The hostility between both states results in unity in both.
Which leaves some interestin possibilities... what potential fracture lines, apart from religion, exist in India? Monarchy for one, I would think- potential for a monarchy like Mysore or Hyderbrad to secede, perhaps?