Sirjee, you are bang on target. If we do not understand geopolitics of late nineteenth century and great game, understanding the history of the subcontinent would always be incomplete. Russian expansionism right from the age of Tsar Paul to Lenin towards south east and British movement towards North West came to a stalemate in Afghanistan. During Second World War, when the British realized that they have to leave the political seat in the Indian subcontinent completely, they were already getting ready for the next clash, the great game. And guess what, Gandhiji was lecturing Linlithgow about non violence means to resist the Nazis. Nehru became a hard core socialist and preaching communism right from the 30's which grew the suspicion about Indians more in the British political circle that India might fall in the Soviet hands after the war.So securing the main artery to Central Asia became their primary challenge.
This is my personal opinion that, Bose's formation of INA had the least effect on the British policy those days. The fate of the region was already decided before he escaped to Germany.
Absolutely. India's position through out the conflict has been consistent. India's official stand is whenever there was a conflict between the ruler and the people on the issue of accession, people's mandate will have the final words. India supported Sheikh Abdullah who was a leader unchallenged in Kashmir but not recognized by Pakistan before partition. And India unilaterally announced that people of Kashmir will decide their own fate once peace, law and order get restored.
