Instead of experiencing partition but otherwise remaining one big unified country, could India have instead avoided partition but become an EU-like confederation after independence? I'm trying to figure out a way to keep India united without oppressing anyone and this seems like the best way to do it. Essentially make all states in British India independent countries--and possibly restructure them along linguistic or religio-linguistic lines--while having all or at least most of them form an EU-like confederation. This confederation wouldn't actually have to be limited to British India--it could also extend to Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Indochina, the Philippines, Afghanistan (it can be won over by giving it the Pashtun-majority parts of British India in exchange for it agreeing to join this EU-like South Asian confederation), Iran, et cetera. In other words, have it be a giant South Asian + Southeast Asian equivalent of the European Union.. Punjab and/or Bengal might or might not still get partitioned in this scenario, but either way, they will form their own separate countries--either one country or several countries--in this scenario.

Anyway, what do you think about this idea? Did it have a lot of potential or not? I mean had history gone a bit differently--for instance, no World Wars at all.