Crossword Genius

Help Ulster's rise as independent nation (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

india

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'independent nation' is the definition.
'India' can be an answer for 'nation' (India is an example). I am unsure of the 'independent' bit.

'help ulster's rise' is the wordplay.
'help' becomes 'aid' (synonyms).
'ulster' becomes 'NI' (province of Ireland containing Northern Ireland).
'rise' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'aid'+'ni'='aidni'
'aidni' backwards is 'INDIA'.

'as' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for india that I've seen before include "The world's most populous democracy" , "Major sub-continent of Asia" , "In aid, strangely, of the country" , "Country of the Ganges" , "Commonwealth state" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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