The colonial experience basically pointed to this flaw -- that India has to be at military and economic level be a Union. Will India in future fragment, possibly.
But the history from 323 BC till today is the same -- fragmented states and weaker prince seeking bargain with foreign force.
India is imperfect will remain choatic -- top down design of making something out of it will make Syria and Holocaust look like picnic. Be careful what you wish for.
Correct me if I'm wrong on this... but from what I recall the Indian subcontinent was never a Union except as a British territory. Even the Mughals never managed to conquer all of southern India.
Note that edicts mentioned in the above wikis were found outside modern India as a current country.
Second:
It's not just the size that matters always, it's about unifying culture. In India, some kings worked in cooperative manner and did not enter wars. For example, in Southern India history, Hari Hara Bukka Raaya (of Karnataka region) did not face trouble with Tiruvankur Empire in cooperative model. At the same time, we had a continuous war between Cholas and Pandyas.
As recently as 800 years ago, Adi Shankara established four mutts in four corners of India. It would not have been possible if people/kingdoms were not united.
Just to give you another perspective, how easy it is to transfer the culture, rituals for generations in entire sub continent if it were not united in minds.
Most unfortunate issue with India is, history is convoluted on both sides. Extreme hinduists expanded original Mahabharatha to double its size, British sympathizers have masked the co-opearative India.
I also keep hearing that it's because of British that we have industry concept. India was the one of the best ship building industry, one of the best clothing industry before British or Europe even can imagine.
Please read Indian history by non-British and their company.
Another unfortunate thing about history is, Cholas and Pandyas empires are not covered much. They spread outside subcontinent, not saying it's great, but it's just the history to be knonwn.
The colonial experience basically pointed to this flaw -- that India has to be at military and economic level be a Union. Will India in future fragment, possibly.
But the history from 323 BC till today is the same -- fragmented states and weaker prince seeking bargain with foreign force.
India is imperfect will remain choatic -- top down design of making something out of it will make Syria and Holocaust look like picnic. Be careful what you wish for.