Even though after Independence, India decided to remain a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, it did not in any way compromise her position or imply any dominion of her status as a sovereign nation or as a Republic. In fact, it was the Commonwealth which was transformed. From the British Commonwealth of Nations which was to be free association of equal and fully sovereign States with the Crown being accepted only as a symbol of the free association. The Commonwealth specifically recognised India's status as a sovereign independent Republic. The New Commonwealth in the words of Nehru was "an agreement by free will" which could be "terminated by free will" at any time. It did not therefore, affect the sovereign, democratic or republican nature of the State.
Extract from Our Constitution by Subhash C. Kashyap.
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