India (19-canon)

In the Rinnarverse, **India** takes a more active role in dealing with its neighbours. In earlier years, it created its own alliance to defend itself from American and Chinese domination, and over the years it developed a more nationalistic identity until it culminated into the **Hindu Republic of Akhand Bharat**.

## Factfile

* Official names: Republic of India
* National anthems: Jana Mana Gana; later Vande Mataram
* Official motto: Truth Alone Triumphs
* Capital cities: New Delhi; Navanagar Metropolis
* Official languages: English, Hindi
* State religion: N/A
* Government: Federal constitutional republic
* Currency: Rupee

### Akhand Bharat and successors

* Official name: Hindu Republic of Akhand Bharat; Kingdom of Jambudvipa; Second Hindu Republic of Akhand Bharat; Varna Aristocracy; Empire of Bharat; Third Hindu Republic of Akhand Bharat
* National anthems: Hymn to the Great Awakening (Yajurveda 22:22); Svasti Prajabhya ("May There Be Happiness To All"); Satyameva Jayate
* Official motto: United Under Dharma; Jai Sri Ram
* Capital cities: Varanasi; West Kolkata; Satyanagara City; Ayodhya; Maha Indraprasth
* Official languages: Sanskrit, Hindi
* State religion: Hinduism
* Government: Federal constitutional republic; later monarchy, then aristocracy, monarchy, and then military dictatorship; later republic.
* Currency: Rupee; Svarna; Surya

## History

As America, Russia, China, and Arabia compete for global influence in the 21st century; India builds itself with industry and diplomacy to defend its freedom from the Four Powers. While it remained neutral during World War III, it also becomes the leader of its own bloc, protecting its allies from attacks from the Four Powers and several terrorist groups.

India refused to help in the defence of Ukraine against a Russian invasion, as it considered Russia as a more reliable ally while denouncing the West as evil invaders. As a result, the two nations disliked each other. Ukrainians saw Akhand Bharat as an arrogant and selfish sycophant of Russia, its arch-enemy. Akhand Bharat demanded that Ukraine must learn a painful lesson to hate the Western empires and join India as a humble, repentant student.

Before the rise of Akhand Bharat, India already became an advanced society, becoming somewhat like China during the latter end of the 21st century. It became a hub for investors, businesspeople, and other people who wanted to avoid the Four Powers, although it did not allow huge amounts of foreigners like the US, AF, China, parts of Africa, and Mexico did.

When the Nordic State was founded, its leaders sought relations with India, as they admired its government's supposed resistance to Western and Arabian influence. For a while, India traded with the Nordic State, encouraged by politicians who wanted an alliance of non-Abrahamic nations. Eventually, India rejected the Nordic State when it became more cruel, and during its wars against Europe and Africa.

At some points in history, India broke off diplomatic relations with China and the Arabian Empire. Its soldiers supported the Israeli resistance in building their own republic at the Negev as they defended against the Palestinian armies. However, even though the Indians were willing to offer their support to Negev, many people in Negev disliked their Indian allies.

### Akhand Bharat

India was reorganised as the Hindu Republic of Akhand Bharat, while Pakistan was seized by a dictator who formed his own personality cult. During the reign of the Khand clique over Pakistan, India was torn apart by warlords during a civil war, and militants and hooligans from America and Arabia attempted to create their own colonies at the western coast. These warlords were defeated by a Hindu nationalist who was popular among the war-weary locals: but his program of Hindu nationalism has caused thousands of non-Hindus and leftists to flee the country, fearing that his supporters will persecute and kill them for revenge. In spite of this, he also had Christians, Muslims, and atheists (known as "Bramiki") who served his ranks, as they considered him to be the only one who protects them and leads India out of its civil war back to normalcy. The Bramiki had no choice but to accept several new restrictions imposed on them, to ensure they do not usurp the new Hindu rulers, such as a ban on conversion and missionaries and mandatory loyalty to the government.

Akhand Bharat's government also had to prevent various militant groups from killing off more of its people: from the occasional anti-Bramiki mob to two militant armies in the west. The first group, backed by the Arabian Empire, was led by a warlord who wanted to conquer India out of hatred against its resurgent Hindu religion. The second group, supported by the United States, was led by six commanders who sought to establish a Marxist state at Mumbai which would then conquer India as an American vassal. Angered by how these two civilisations treated them in the past, the locals supported Akhand Bharat to defeat the two armies and unify India. The two armies were one of the reasons why the government of Akhand Bharat imposed certain restrictions against the Bramiki, to force them to obey the nation. It also prohibited leftism throughout the whole country by blaming it for the American-backed communist government at Mumbai. In spite of this, they still enjoyed many other religious freedoms, such as being able to worship God or be atheist without being punished by the government. Those religious freedoms were also part of several reforms enacted by the government to avoid repeating the Khand clique's tyranny in India.

In the early years of Akhand Bharat's establishment, President Pradyuta Samarth closed off relations with Arabia and the Western world, cursing and condemning them for attacks against his people; in turn, many Indians from other countries migrated to India as Westerners and Arabians attacked them over the President's furious remarks. During his campaign of reconstruction, he also ordered his nation to become more autonomous, developing its own resources instead of relying on foreign imports; he also based his policies of tolerance and discipline on the Hindu scriptures. During the thirty years of isolation from the West, India managed to rebuild itself using wealth gained from asteroid mining and manufacturing recycled machines, in spite of sanctions from some Western nations (like the United States) and the Arabian Empire. Because of the rapid reconstruction of the Bharatian economy and its Hindu religion to greatness, future historians referred the first president's era as the Paravritti Era, the Time of Restoration.

When the Khand clique was overthrown, a civil war tore Pakistan apart and plunged most of its people into poverty. Out of kindness, the government of Akhand Bharat sent aid to help the Pakistanis rebuild, and sent observers to ensure that the Pakistanis turn towards democracy instead of dictatorship: however, this program was denounced as "treason" by certain mobs, who rioted against the government. The government then had to fight both extremists within Pakistan (by helping the new Pakistani government turn its people away from militarism) and within its own borders.

### After Paravritti

Thirty years after the establishment of Akhand Bharat, the sixth president of Akhand Bharat forgave the West and Arabia. In spite of initial condemnation from Western countries and the Arabian Empire, they reluctantly reopened diplomatic relations, although the US distanced itself from Akhand Bharat for its condemnation of leftism and its strict society, and Arabia still disliked India for its opposition to Islam. At first, Visegrad and Russia helped Akhand Bharat rebuild from its civil war, but then Visegrad distanced itself from Akhand Bharat for the latter's condemnation of Christianity in its state media. Only the Nordic State supported Akhand Bharat, putting aside its supremacy to support what it considered as "its pagan ally". Russia also supported Akhand Bharat as it did with its predecessor, all the way to World War III, to ensure that its rival China will be weakened: for that reason, Russia refused to send Orthodox missionaries to India, and India exempted Russian Christians from its daily condemnations.

During the Visegradian attempts to establish relations with Akhand Bharat, several fascist groups attempted to enter the country. Many of them were rejected and expelled as the locals knew that the fascists wanted to take over Akhand Bharat by replacing its Hindu government with an authoritarian, racialist regime.

Sixty years after the establishment of Akhand Bharat, India received several waves of European immigrants. Most of those immigrants were pagans, worshippers of ancient gods, and they considered Akhand Bharat to be a more welcome refuge as its society was opposed to Christianity and Islam. Although the European pagans were tolerable for being able to quickly adapt to Bharatian society, clashes inevitably ensued between local nationalists and the Western neopagans, especially between racists from both groups.

A century after the establishment of the Hindu Rashtra, India and Bangladesh fought against attempts by the dictator of Myanmar to annex the eastern tribes. The dictator claimed that he wanted to take back the lands lost to the British Empire, to reestablish the Burmese Empire as a Buddhist challenge to the Hindu Rashtra in the west. This war is known as the Yandabo War, after the treaty involving the lands ceded to India and Bangladesh. When that dictator died, another leader (who made himself Dharmaraja/Emperor of Myanmar) took his place, and is then overthrown by another man who ended the war. Years later, Akhand Bharat attempted to mediate peace between Myanmar, itself, and Bangladesh, even though Myanmar retained half of the lands it conquered from its neighbours.

Akhand Bharat was later ruled by a monarch, the Maharaja, and his realm was changed into the Kingdom of Jambudvipa. This time, it became more peaceful, even though the people still disliked Abrahamic religions.

In 2730, several groups in China were caught sending money to the Maharaja and hundreds of supposed descendants of disaster victims in India and Western countries. The groups were attacked by nationalists, who accused them of giving in to a lie that blamed China for various disasters, including the Plague of 2020. Those who evaded arrest fled to Akhand Bharat, where they were welcomed by some politicians who considered their act as "justice served". Other people attacked the activists simply because they were Chinese, so they converted to Hinduism to avoid further harassment. The Maharaja offered diplomatic relations with China, but the Chinese government rejected his offer. Glad that the "compensation" was paid even with a small amount, the Bharatians got into online quarrels with Chinese nationalists, making fun of them for being angry over the payments.

Thirty years later, the Maharaja attempted to reestablish relations with China again. This time, he paid several amounts to the Chinese government, and when his people found out about this the Royal Council of Brahmins impeached him and replaced him with his son.

Nine years later, the second Maharaja was overthrown, and the Second Hindu Republic of Akhand Bharat was established.

### World War III and beyond

Within the centuries between its founding and World War III, India lapsed between democracy and dictatorship. Occasionally, India was ruled either by a monarchy for two times, or either by an aristocracy heavily based on the Manusmriti known as the Varna Aristocracy. But on the years before World War III, a despotic faction overthrew the aristocrats of Akhand Bharat, seeking to create an empire to rival America and Arabia.

Akhand Bharat supported the kingdom of Gotaland in its revolt against the Nordic State, mainly because its president considered Gotaland to be "a good example of an independent state, unmarred by cruelty". As a result, both nations had close relations as "brothers". Both countries referred each other as "Paitriki", followers of their ancestors, as a replacement for "pagan" to include Hinduism without insulting it.

As time went on, the founder's faction was usurped by more radical factions, who accused them of being "cowards who bow down to monotheists". They restricted rights towards the monotheists, sending out mobs to assault them and frighten them into obedience or conversion. Their condition barely improved under the second monarchy, but once it was overthrown by the Varna Aristocracy, many of them were forced to leave India due to violent mobs.

Under the Varna Aristocracy, the dictator implemented more restrictions to divide the people into social classes, with harsh punishments against the working classes. The Varna Aristocracy directed the Hindu state from being a benevolent guardian to a vengeful punisher, seeking to bring down the whole world to punish a long list of nations for every Hinduphobic offense throughout history. The Varnaists nearly isolated India as they condemned almost the whole world for their crimes against their country: however, the dictator (who was himself a Kshatriya) fought against a Brahmin rival who wanted to take over the government, and both of them were overthrown by a general.

The group punishments of Christians led to the militant easterners supporting the Myanmarese Empire, and in the west many Muslims were forced to go to Pakistan. In Pakistan, these arrivals later fought for social reform against another dictator who made his country a colony of the Arabian Empire. The Varna Aristocracy also defended itself against more attacks by the dictator of Pakistan and several guerilla groups. Upset by violence under the Varna Aristocracy, the southern provinces revolted and formed their own republic of Chola. Chola was supported by ASEAN and America as a refuge for people who fled persecution, and the presence of the Americans made the Indians fight the breakaway state.

By the time World War III broke out, India became more militaristic, seizing control of nearby lands: the only nations that resisted were the remnants of Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Republic of Chola, and the Burmese Empire. The leaders of India and China fought a war to dominate the Himalayas, as the leaders of both nations sought to conquer each other's resources. After repelling Chinese attempts to annex northern and eastern India, the president of India waged a war in an attempt to annex the Himalayas, taking advantage of the warlords tearing China apart. Meanwhile, the other leaders of India fought against a combined Pakistani-Arabian invasion, and it and Bangladesh fortified itself against the escalating armies of the Burmese Empire. They managed to successfully take over southern Afghanistan, where they rebuilt long-lost temples.

Meanwhile, at the south, an American warlord established a communist enclave at northern Kerala, seeking to overthrow the Hindu nationalist government to create a Marxist state in Indian soil as the headquarters of a proposed world government. The Cholans defended their country from being conquered by the American communist enclave.

The Vetarbroitar were among those who supplied India during World War III: to them, India was one of three nations that stood for freedom against the Four Powers, so they supported India in its wars against China. They especially admired Akhand Bharat because it was a civilisation independent against Western influence, so they wanted to make Akhand Bharat into a powerful empire to defeat the Four Powers. Nonetheless, a growing number of Bharatians objected to Akhand Bharat's transformation into a warring empire. These dissidents knew that the Vetarbroitar were not here to help them defend Akhand Bharat, but to slaughter Earthlings, so they protested against the dictator of their nation to reject the Vetarbroitar and focus on defending their homeland from the Four Powers.

### Unionite Era

Akhand Bharat was not spared from the ruin that ravaged the rest of Earth in the aftermath of World War III. The surviving peoples of south Asia rallied under a new government that reestablished Akhand Bharat as a democracy. Among the founders of the postwar Akhand Bharat were the surviving dissidents who rejected the militarism of the Indian Empire. They sought to restore Akhand Bharat to Hindu values: although they used the idealistic early days of its founding as their role model, they were more accepting of Bramiki, who were invited to rebuild India. The Third Hindu Republic grew mostly by war-weary inhabitants who sought to rebuild their homes, with a few conquests to add more settlements to Bharatian control. It outgrew its predecessor as far as southern Afghanistan, and it fought a war against the communist American rump state at Kerala. The communist state at Kerala was sustained by an influx of American migrants, who sought to use India as the new headquarters after their homeland was conquered by the Earth Union.

Other countries in the Milky Way sent more supplies and funds to aid in the reconstruction of Akhand Bharat and its neighbours, seeking to make it a bulwark against the nascent Earth Union's armies. A few Galactic nations funded the reconstruction of Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, using a condition to make the four independent nations observe India: the latter three nonetheless also accepted Bharatian aid. These nations also stationed troops to defend these countries from attempts by the Bharatians to annex them, so they were blacklisted by the Bharatian government.

In the early years of the Earth Union, Akhand Bharat, China, and the Altaic Federation were the strongest nations in eastern Asia, having built up their forces to fend off the Unionites. The Bharatians became very proud after the conquest of southern Tibet and their resurgence from ruin: they expected that it might one day surpass the now-absent United States as the new leader of the world.

Akhand Bharat and its neighbours are also protected from Unionite attacks by the Indian Shield: however, when one president attempted to annex Myanmar into Indian control, the Myanmarese and their Bangladeshi allies successfully repelled his armies, and then that president and his warmongering officials were arrested for treason against the Bharatian constitution. It also sent aid to help the nations in the newly-created continents of Kandamia and Kergelia build themselves, and among the surrounding countries that received Bharatian aid in disasters was its former enemy, Pakistan.

Some Vetarbroitar nations supported Akhand Bharat as their inspiration and their role model, mainly because of its nationalism, its devotion to its native religion, and its resistance to foreign influence. However, occasionally clashes ensued between Bharatian and Vetarbroitar chauvinists who condemned each other's cultures. Akhand Bharat, along with Mexico and Australia, was honoured as one of three nations in Vetarbroitar folklore that resisted the Four Powers to defend the independence of other nations. Over time, as more and more Vetarbroitar joined the Farsiders, they stopped protecting Akhand Bharat and its allies, condemning them as just other Earthlings that deserved punishment.

As it was the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism -- two religions praised in Rinnarit military marches as "bringers of culture" -- India (also known as Akhand Bharat) was listed as one of five sacred nations to the Defender squads that broke away from Ivan York's expeditions sent to aid the Farsider siege of Earth; the other four were Cambodia, Norway, Greece, and Iraq (Rafidain). Most of them did as they had swore, even as they fought other Farsiders to protect India from destruction, or to stop local warlords from usurping the government. However, some Rinnarit regiments attacked neighbouring countries, seeking revenge against historical attacks against India's people: according to Rinnarit belief, any enemy of India is also an enemy of the Rinnarit Republic.

During the time of the Farsiders' invasion of Earth, Akhand Bharat's capital city was the splendid metropolis of Maha Indraprasth. In spite of the Rinnarits' attempts to protect the country, they battled the Farsiders' attempts to bombard India's cities, from Maha Indraprasth to Galajanka (Mumbai), Bengvaluru, Vanarasi, Chandigarh, and Kolikat. The Farsiders also targeted India, Pakistan, and their neighbours to punish these countries for their history of sectarian violence, forcing these nations to defend each other from the Galactic enemy. Like most countries on Earth, India and its neighbours slowly rebuilt their cities after they were ruined by the Farsider bombardment of Earth.

## Government

India in the early Rinnarverse timeline was a secular republic similar to OTL.

In the early years of Akhand Bharat, India was a federal single-party republic, where new presidents were elected from thirty-six candidates representing each province of the republic. The ruling party of Akhand Bharat was known as the True Satya Party. In later times, its government changed between monarchism, dictatorship, and military rule. After World War III, the Third Hindu Republic of Akhand Bharat was established as a democracy.

During the Jambudvipa Kingdom, its two monarchs were elected by the Royal Council of Brahmins. Before them, a council of Brahmins was established to regulate the Hindu religion and erase foreign influences. They became the Council of Brahmins after the establishment of the Second Hindu Republic.

Part of its nationalism was inspired and based on the laws of the nationalist states during the Purge of Europe, and other laws were based on Ussian and Feddian laws used to punish people who fell out of line. As a result, leftism and American culture were banned in Akhand Bharat, as its leaders considered these as "enemies of the Hindu faith"; but due to attacks by fascist guerillas from Europe and the West, fascism (as in the Western versions) is also banned as an "alien" view. The leaders also wanted to cultivate a national culture that became more independent from the Western world.

## Society

### Education

Education is an important aspect within Akhand Bharat -- schooling is compulsory and free, and many strict laws were enacted to force the people of Akhand Bharat to become disciplined, orderly, and clean. Even though many of those laws were based on similar laws used in the United States to punish fascists, the Ussians denounced the presidents' strict laws as "fascism".

As part of the government's implementation of Hinduism as the state religion of Akhand Bharat, every student, including non-Hindus and atheists, is given obligatory education on the Hindu scriptures in morality classes alongside practical skills, such as the Manusmriti, the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Puranas. These are considered additional subjects related to personal morality, meant to be applied by all students regardless of religion or atheism.

Many households instead send their children to private schools to focus their children promoting their own beliefs, such as Muslim, Christian, and atheist schools, but they were also required by law never to condemn Hinduism in any form. Some provinces forbade religious schools and secular classes for non-Hindus, requiring all classes within their jurisdiction to teach Hindu laws.

### Media

Under Bharatian rule, Bollywood is demolished and replaced with six government-built studios all over the republic. The resulting movies tend to consist only of:

* Dramatic renditions of classical literature, from the Ramayana to the Mahabharata
* Moralistic movies (no longer any form of "thriller" or anything that insults Hinduism like before)
* Historical movies
* Documentaries
* The occasional comedy (which has everything vulgar removed, making it "stale" to Western audiences)

### Society

As ordered by the first president, Akhand Bharat promoted the local cultures of its regions, such as Meitei mythology, Dravidian and Gondi folklore, Punjabi art, and Tibetan art. Even though certain extremists called for the conversion of the whole nation to a uniform Hindustani standard, the government rejected and refused their demands.

To assist the medical services and construction companies, volunteers known as *karsevaks* work under government programmes. While many of them did so out of duty, some *karsevak* companies paid income to their workers. Since the Abhishek Incident of 2675, many *karsevak* groups were converted to cooperatives to ensure that its workers have more autonomy. It also became an avenue for "Bramiki" and social outcasts to improve their reputation in Bharatian society so they can earn respect from the community.

It is mandatory for all citizens to always obey their parents, no matter how painful or unpleasing their commands are. The government of Akhand Bharat mentioned that the Hindu scriptures tell that all parents, especially mothers, had taken so much sacrifices to raise their children, so those sacrifices must be returned with total, unquestioning obedience. As the Founder suffered under abusive parents, he made an additional clause that allowed children to report abusive parents to the authorities. However, people who constantly condemned their own parents were seen as evil and selfish, and they were forced to repent and apologise unless they could prove that their parents were abusive. Even then, they must not hate their own parents no matter how corrupt or evil the latter are.

## Relations with the world

The people of Akhand Bharat are very proud of their civilisation and their religion. They sometimes criticise and condemn their own leaders for falling out of line or condemning their Hindu faith, but they do not tolerate any ill comment against their nation. This put them at odds against the Ussians, who constantly criticised their own society and expected every nation to follow their standard.

While the peoples of the Four Powers expected the whole world to bow to them, most Indians view themselves as "resisters" who stand up to the empires of the world. They prefer their country to preserve the ways of the Gods and be a role model for the world, as Vishvaguru Bharat. Some Indians instead want revenge on the Four Powers, and to build an empire to rival their might. These two beliefs were shaped by its faith in the Gods and its desire for justice against every enemy that harmed its people.

Nonetheless, the main focus for India before Akhand Bharat was "national interests": this was why it started the Samudravarman Project to defend its allies across the Indian Ocean, while it was unable to help distant Ukraine during the Russian invasion. It was not rich and powerful enough to actually challenge the Four Powers, or it would had been isolated by any of the Four and crushed by Pakistan and/or China.

But when it became the mighty Akhand Bharat, its goal was shifted into seeking justice against its past enemies. As it became more fanatical, it sought vengeance against a supposedly hateful world that sought the destruction of Hinduism. And as Vishvaguru Bharat, it sought to become the leader of a new world where everyone else is not a slave, but a repentant student of its Great Way to cleanse themselves from the misdeeds of history.

### Allies

The greatest allies of Akhand Bharat were Gotaland, the Nordic State, and Russia. The former two supported India as a fellow resister against Abrahamic domination, while Russia was a constant ally and supporter of India against its rivals of Arabia and China.

Encouraged by its Hindu nationalism and its opposition to the West, Arabia, and China, India became a beacon for some neopagans and nationalists around the world.

The Vetarbroitar, a rebellious race of clones who broke away from the Nordic State, were Akhand Bharat's greatest defenders. In World War III, they aided India's expansion northwards into Tibet and westward to Pakistan, and their desire for vengeance against Earth's civilisations was influenced by the Varna Aristocracy's desire to punish all offenders. That obsession ended horrifically as even the Vetarbroitar were so influenced by their hatred, that they even attacked Indians simply for being Earthlings, and some obsessed fleets also targeted India. Future historians interpreted the Vetarbroitar attacks on Akhand Bharat as the result of their own obsession with vengeance becoming their own undoing.

### Enemies

The Four Powers were rightfully disliked by Akhand Bharat, both for their attempts to dominate the world and their warmongering. However, Russia, the fourth of the Four Powers, was the sole exception, because it was a historical ally of modern India, a possible co-leader of a new world order after the enemies of India would be punished.

As a result, one bitter rival of Akhand Bharat was Ukraine, a victim of Russian attacks, who saw Akhand Bharat as arrogant and uncaring after it was offended by its leaders claiming that Ukraine's suffering was a lesson never to trust the West or have anything to do with Pakistan or China. When Ukrainians online cried for help, Indian netizens mocked them, telling them "Where were you when you funded our enemies, *kholkhol?*", resulting in great contempt between both countries. It also led to problems with Ukrainian Rodnovers and other pagans who moved to India, who were treated with less respect over what their country had done.

Only before World War III did the two countries manage to apologise and reconcile, after the president of Ukraine made an apology to Akhand Bharat and closed off relations with Pakistan and China, a move condemned by other Visegradian members as appeasement. In turn, the president of Akhand Bharat also did his own apology, leading to protests in parts of the north and accusations of humiliating the country's lofty status as a new superpower.

The greatest enemies of Akhand Bharat were China and Pakistan, worsened as the latter two became more militaristic. China sought to build its own empire to challenge and defeat America, while Pakistan was corrupted by militaristic and extremist factions who sought to make it a new empire by the destruction of India. Later on, more enemies were added as India sought to challenge the world: Britain for the colonisation, wars against Hinduism, and Bengal famine; the United States' two successors over Christian and communist extremists; and Arabia for attempting to use Pakistan as its easternmost province and to fulfill the dreaded Ghazwa-e-Hind, the extermination of an entire land.

### Punishing the world

Under its nationalistic pride, Akhand Bharat wanted to see its enemies brought to their knees, to apologise and pay for every evil deed committed against the Hindu faith. They believed that everyone who committed offenses against Hinduism and its people - even down to having any relations with India's enemies, to harming one Hindu or insulting the Gods - will bring about doom and destruction that the offender must embrace and never escape. Every sin committed against the Dharma forms an aggregate trauma, a collective pain suffered by all Hindus that devours every offender, that will never be lifted or forgiven until the offender dies a brutal death.

Akhand Bharat was not alone in its furious desire to see the world punished: other powers of the world used their own grievances as their reasons to dominate Earth as its new master. It fell to its enemies' corruption as it sought to punish all of them, becoming just like its enemies. The Paravritti Dream - which sought a renewed Akhand Bharat faithful to the Gods - died, as it sank with the whole world as Earth descended into a hellhole.

The Vetarbroitar were corrupted by the same desire for vengeance, that they eventually lashed out at their former ally in their desire to destroy all of Earth. The leaders of Akhand Bharat thought that the Vetarbroitar would aid them in destroying the enemies of the Dharma for good: but they did not expect that their obsession with revenge had created a monster. The very same monster that also targeted their mentors, accusing them of the same sins as every Terran warmonger and evildoer had done throughout history!

Another wave of Hindu revivalists sought to turn Akhand Bharat to defend itself from the coming doom of the world, but their pleas were rejected as revenge consumed Akhand Bharat. They - the survivors of the Vetarbroitar Bombardment, who also fought back against their corrupted allies - became those who rebuilt Akhand Bharat and brought its people back to the correct practice of the Hindu Dharma. They only punished perpetrators, and even turned any repentant enemies to their own side.

## Religion

In earlier years, India's government remained secular, as it believed that being secular prevented its minorities from being dominated by the Hindu majority. In later years, India became more religious, and Hinduism began to influence the government until officials began enacting policies influenced by Hinduism instead of secularism. Threats and attacks by extremists and enemy leaders drove many Indian people closer to religious nationalism. It culminated into Akhand Bharat, which made Hinduism the state religion.

Like Myanmar, foreign missionaries are banned, but only Hindus and related religions may convert other people and each other. Although it is technically legal for a Hindu to convert to another religion or become atheist by their own will, such an act would be denounced by society in Akhand Bharat. The government also sends Hindu missionaries to other countries, seeking to replace "Western tyranny" and "anti-Hinduism" with Hindu beliefs.

At times, religious and political leaders and celebrities were arrested and jailed, as accusations of corruption or misrule by citizens will cause the government to condemn these people for "defiling the public image of Hinduism".

### Divisions of religious people

In Akhand Bharat, almost every citizen is classified by their religious beliefs, in spite of its high degree of religious tolerance. Every citizen is either a "Dharmiki", a "Bramiki", or an "Advaitavi": a member of the Dharmic religions; an Abrahamic or an atheist; or a more-acceptable monotheist. The "three paths" system was established during the war against the Arabian and American armies to force certain citizens to become more obedient to the government.

After World War III, Akhand Bharat returned to religious tolerance, as a faction of Dharmic revivalists sought to implement the teachings of the Hindu scriptures to rebuild and reorganise their ruined homeland. The postwar government of a revived Akhand Bharat was more forgiving, inviting the peoples of India to rebuild the subcontinent.

#### Dharmiki and Paitriki (Hinduism, Dharmic religions, indigenous beliefs, and neopagan religions)

"Dharmiki" consist of the Hindu majority, along with other Indian religions like Buddhism, Jainism, and Ayyavazhi. It also included indigenous religions, like Sanamahism, Kirat Mundhum, Sarnaism, and Bon.

Buddhists from East and Southeast Asia -- even Chinese immigrants -- were fully accepted as fellow Dharmiki because of their closer connection with Akhand Bharat.

When Asatru-majority Gotaland invited Akhand Bharat as an ally, they wanted to create a new term for all non-Abrahamics to support neopagan movements throughout the world to resist the Four Powers. The leaders of Akhand Bharat suggested "Dharmic", but the Gotalanders and their polytheist allies rejected that term as suggesting "Indian dominance". They instead used the term "Trothwise", which the Bharatian government translated as "Paitriki", which means "one who follows their ancestors". Eventually, "Paitriki" became a friendly term to include Akhand Bharat's polytheist allies, replacing "pagan", which was associated with British tyranny.

Because of Akhand Bharat's dislike of Abrahamic religions and Western influence, it also attracted neopagans from Europe, especially from religions considered closer to Hinduism like Rodnovers from Russia and Romuvans from Lithuania. Although the European neopagans were allowed to be citizens of Akhand Bharat, they sometimes faced hostility from angry locals, especially due to incidents between the European racists (who looked down on the Indians) and the locals (who accused the Europeans of being "imperialists").

Ukrainian Rodnovers and Hindus were treated with harassment because of their country's rivalry with India, but they were not to be tortured or murdered, only treated as people to sit aside from the rest as a collective punishment. The Hindu revivalists, the future saviours of Akhand Bharat, sought to protect them.

Some Paitrikis or neopagans are disliked in Akhand Bharat because they attempted to impose a Nazi or White supremacist government in India. These are known as the Hakenkroti, and many of them hated their Bharatian benefactors simply for not being European. Their appellation was from the German word "hakenkreuz" (hooked cross), the local name for a swastika, used in Akhand Bharat as a term for Nazis and fascists.

Before World War III, a faction of Hindus emerged to the north of Varanasi, as they sought to bring their nation back to the wisdom of the Paravritti Era. This faction of revivalists referred themselves as the Satya Sanatani, the True Followers of the Eternal Way. It was they who opposed the militaristic corruption of their homeland, protected many survivors, and helped them rebuild Akhand Bharat.

#### Bramiki (Abrahamic religions)

Although Christians, Muslims, and atheists were tolerated in Akhand Bharat and permitted to live like other citizens, they were considered "Abrahamics" or "Bramiki", and were regarded as second-class citizens. Some provinces did not allow them to vote to ensure that the next leaders will be chosen only by Hindus. Like China, the Bramiki were ordered to adopt Indian customs, specifically under Hindustani influences.

Even though people from these groups were permitted to practice their beliefs, official works tend to condemn Christianity, Islam, and Western atheism as "enemies of the Hindu religion". Islam was especially disliked by the leaders of Akhand Bharat, as it was viewed as "oppressive" and "destructive" over historical conquests and persecutions. This led to favourable relations with Visegrad and its nationalist allies, the American Federation, and the Nordic State. Visegrad and the American Federation wanted it to join an alliance of anti-Muslim states, but they later rejected Akhand Bharat because of its condemnation of Christianity: centuries later, that alliance fell apart as Visegrad refused to support the AF's wars. The Nordic State supported Akhand Bharat as a "fellow resister", supplying it with technology and weaponry.

In schools, Bramiki students were shown the worst deeds of their fellow believers, from missionaries erasing indigenous cultures to militant groups' attacks, to make them become more obedient to Akhand Bharat. Atheist students were shown scenes from the United States and communist regimes and militants. When a few schools attempted to show militants to their Hindu students as part of an anti-extremism exercise, they were reported to the authorities and their teachers were jailed. Although those "exposure" lessons were supposed to convince Bramiki students to turn away from the enemies of Akhand Bharat, many students felt more ashamed of being monotheist or atheist. A few instead turned to extremism and sedition against the government, refusing any help from their fellow citizens until they were convinced that the Bharatian government would stop condemning their beliefs.

In some provinces and districts, Bramikis are not allowed to enter into Hindu temples, especially in areas inhabited by very extreme nationalists. The reasons for the ban include possible desecration by Bramikis (such as destroying idols and vandalism), similar bans in neighbouring Pakistan against non-Muslims for entering mosques, and a condition to Bramikis to allow non-believers to pray in churches and mosques. In a few temples, this ban has been extended to all non-Hindus, even including Dharmikis.

Later Akhand Bharat gave in to the radicals, who wanted revenge against the monotheists and Westerners. They imposed many restrictions to punish them for their historical crimes, and during the Varna Aristocracy they added more restrictions against the working class to force them to obey a distorted, elitist interpretation of the Manusmriti. The Bramikis formed militant groups in rebellion against the government, supported by America and Arabia, and it brought Akhand Bharat closer to militarism. It also split Bharatian society between those who wanted to practice the Dharma, and those who wanted revenge.

After World War III, the new government of Akhand Bharat invited the Bramiki to help in the reconstruction of India, removing many restrictions. There was still resentment between the Hindu majority and the Bramiki, which occasionally resulted in violence.

#### Advaitavi (other monotheists)

Although they are officially known as "monotheists", some monotheist groups already enjoy equal rights and protection within Bharatian society, such as certain Hindu sects, Jews, the Sikhs, and the Parsi Zoroastrians, because they were more compliant with the rest of Bharatian society or they were assimilated. Likewise, the St. Thomas Christians are not considered "Bramiki" in spite of their Christian religion, because they are also considered assimilated into the nation and for their obedience to the government. These groups are known as "Advaitavis", or "Monotheists", in censuses and official documents.

#### Vengeance

Within Akhand Bharat, any attacks against the Hindu religion or its believers (known as "Hinduphobia") is considered treason. Simply insulting the religion and any of its gods, or talking against anyone who is Hindu, will lead to a jail sentence or a hefty fine. More serious crimes, such as supporting enemy countries, desecrating a temple, or promoting "hostile religions", are punishable by exile. Foreigners and non-Hindus who committed Hinduphobia in Akhand Bharat fared worse - their entire country would be denounced and cursed, especially by denizens who used boycotts and threats to force the offender to apologise.

Although some people in Akhand Bharat called for harsher punishments to avenge the persecution of their people, the leaders of their republic refused to enact them, as they claimed that those measures went against the holy scriptures. In the years leading to World War III, a faction of fanatics prevailed as they sought to challenge the other powers of Earth: at times, they also attacked the three groups over historical crimes.

Another faction of Hindu revivalists opposed the fanatics, seeking to save their homeland from the Vetarbroitar threat. Although they failed to turn the leaders from their doom, they survived to rebuild Akhand Bharat under the proper practice of the Hindu Dharma.

## Trivia

* "Akhand Bharat" is a term referring to "Undivided India". It is used mostly by Hindu nationalists who want all of South Asia united under a Hindu government. Some advocates instead suggest that Akhand Bharat should also include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Tibet, and Southeast Asia, as these countries used to practice Indianised cultures long ago.
	+ The fact that some advocates called for Myanmar to be annexed into India was the basis for the Bharat-Myanmar conflict in the Rinnarverse.
* This India is based on Hindutva posts on Twitter and Quora, especially those that complained about "anti-Hindu" attacks in the form of insults, offensive statements, and violence against Hindu people. It is also based on news articles condemning Western reports of pyres during the Covid-19 crisis and the Modi administration as "anti-Hindu" or "anti-national", and quarrels on Twitter about websites like Facebook and Twitter complying with Indian law.
	+ To counter everything that is considered "anti-Hindu", the author decided to use the opposite: a powerful Hindu nation devoted to the Gods, triumphant against its weaknesses as a mighty nation to counter the dominance of its enemies (religious extremists, Western media, etc.), never accepting any criticism of itself or its Hindu faith (but allowing criticism of individuals nonetheless), and seeking vengeance against everyone who wronged it.
	+ The bitter rivalry between India and Ukraine in the Rinnarverse's backstory was based on online comments supporting Russia and condemning Ukraine for supporting India's enemies, Pakistan and China.
	+ The belief in harsh punishments towards any Hinduphobe was also based on online comments.
* The mobs and extremists that became the supporters and opponents of Akhand Bharat's government were based on the more extreme and violent posts by certain people on the Internet. The other enemies of Akhand Bharat -- Arabian and American-backed militants -- were based on other extremist groups in India (Islamist militants and the Naxalites).
* The author preferred to depict leaders who believed that they were following the holy scriptures as their basis for governing Indian society. He also decided to have Christians, Muslims, and atheists within this India because he thought that if the nationalist India would completely expel or destroy them, India would have become crueler.
	+ The author converted to Hinduism on December 2020. He intended the depiction of Akhand Bharat to represent an ideal Hindu state that succumbed to the growing violence and fanaticism across the world.