Contrast

America and India were both colonies of English. America threw out the English after defeating them in a war. India saw the English out after a prolonged not-so-non-violent struggle (you can't shut your eyes to Jallianwalabagh or Partition and its aftermath). America won its freedom when the English were at their zenith. India became independent when the sun was already setting on the British empire. Yet another difference, America became free whereas India merely became independent. The irony is that all Indians, especially some princely states, those opposing of Gandhiji and Congress and certain communal elements did not support the freedom movement, though as a race, they were also different from the white ruler. America, whose predominent population consisted of pioneering migrants from England, were united in their resolve to throw out the English.

Americans think, act and show that they are different. Right from the form of government to day to day life, they showcase their difference in a telling manner.Their switches work the other-way, down means off and up means on, traffic moves on the right and vehicles are left hand drive. Even the way toilets flush is opposite of the British practice.

India chose not to do away with the vesteges of colonial rule, whether it is the form of state structure or Civil Service or Rules and Procedures or the spoils system of ruling the Nation.

I fail to understand why our Founding Fathers did not opt to follow the American model but chose for the status quo. One reason could be that all the intellectuals of India (honorable exception being JP) had their education in England. See Thinkers like Nirad C Choudhury were proud to acknowledge they were more English than English.

Could this be the reason why self interests rather than national pride takes preference? Could people like Deve Gouda, Chandrasekhar, Charan Singh, Gujral become the Heads of Government in a Presidential form of Government? Could Nehru go on and on even after 1962 if popular contest was there one-to-one?

I think that is why we preferred Independence to Freedom.

...ponder