How did the Dalit leaders respond to the Civil Disobedience Movement? Were they politically empowered after the signing of the Poona Pact in September 1932?
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
. Initially, Congress had ignored the dalits for fear of offending the sanatanis, the conservative high-caste Hindus.
. But Mahatma Gandhi believed that swaraj would not come even after a hundred years if untouchability was not eliminated.
. He called them ‘Harijans’ and he himself cleaned toilets to dignify the work of sweepers.
. But many dalit leaders demanded reserved seats in educational institutions and a separate electorate.
. So dalit participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement was limited.
In that Round Table Conference, he clashed with Mahatma Gandhi by demanding separate electorates for Dalits. (v) He demanded a separate electorate for Dalits. To give them political power he signed Poona Pact. The Poona Pact gave the depressed classes reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils.