Question

Describe the whole situation behind Poona Pact?

Answer 1

Poona Pact, (Sept. 24, 1932), agreement between Hindu leaders in India granting new rights to untouchables (low-caste Hindu groups). The pact, signed at Poona (now Pune, Maharashtra), resulted from the communal award of Aug. 4, 1932, made by the British government on the failure of the India parties to agree, which allotted seats in the various legislatures of India to the different communities. Mahatma Gandhi objected to the provision of separate electorates for the Scheduled (formerly “untouchable”) Castes, which in his view separated them from the whole Hindu community. Though in prison, Gandhi announced a fast unto death, which he began on September 18.

The Poona Pact refers to an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar on behalf of depressed classes and upper caste Hindu leaders on the reservation of electoral seats for the depressed classes in the legislature of British India government in 1930. ... They finally agreed upon 147 electoral seats.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the untouchable leader, who felt that his group’s special interests might be advanced by the government’s system, resisted concessions until Gandhi was near death. He and the Hindu leaders then agreed to the pact, which withdrew separate electorates but gave increased representation to the Scheduled Castes for a 10-year period. Ambedkar complained of blackmail, but the pact marked the start of movement against untouchability within the Indian nationalist movement

Answer 2

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the leader of the dalits, formed in association in 1930 called the Depressed Classes Association.

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar demanded reserved seats in educational institutions and a separate electorate that would choose dalit members for legislative councils.

• British government accepted this demand but Gandhiji opposed it and began fast unto death as he believe that this would slow down the process of integration of the country.

• Finally, the Poona pact of September 1932 was signed which gave the depressed classes reserved seats in provincial and Central legislative council but they were to be voted by the General Electorate.

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