The Poona Pact of 1932 was an agreement between B.R. Ambedkar and M.K. Gandhi on the political representation of the Depressed Classes now known as Scheduled Castes (SC). It was signed on 24 September 1932, by 23 people including Madan Mohan Malaviya, on behalf of Hindus and Gandhi, and Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on behalf of The Depressed Classes.
Must read: Gandhi and Ambedkar : common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden
Background of Poona Pact
A little more than a month earlier on 16 August 1932, Ramsay Macdonald, the British Prime Minister, announced the Communal Award that gave Depressed Classes separate electorates for central and provincial legislatures. Gandhi viewed this as a British attempt to divide the Hindus that would de-link untouchables from Hindus. Ambedkar and other leaders of the Depressed Classes welcomed the award.
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On 20th September 1932, while in prison, Gandhi announced a fast unto death till the time separate electorates were removed from the Award. The British had have given the assurance that it would make changes to the Award if these changes were the result of an agreement between the communities concerned.
Indian political leaders realised that the best chance to get Gandhi to terminate his fast was to facilitate an agreement between Gandhi and Ambedkar. Initially, Ambedkar was not fazed by Gandhi’s fast. But later, he came around and agreed to negotiate.
Must read: Ambedkar vs Gandhi : Caste System and Untouchability
In the end, Gandhi and Ambedkar came to an agreement – the Poona Pact 1932 – that discarded separate electorates. The Poona Pact was accepted by the government as an amendment to the Communal Award.
Features and Provisions of Poona Pact
The major provisions of the Poona Pact are as follows:
֎ There shall be seats reserved for the Depressed Classes out of general electorates. Seats in the Provincial Legislatures shall be as follows- Madras-30; Bombay with Sind 15; Punjab 8; Bihar and Orissa 18; Central Provinces 20; Assam 7; Bengal 30; United Provinces 20 (Total-148).
Election to these seats shall be by joint electorates subject, however, to the following procedure:
All the members of the Depressed Classes, registered in the general electoral roll in a constituency, will form an electoral college which will elect a panel of four candidates belonging to the depressed Classes for each of such reserved seats by the method of the single vote; the four persons getting the highest number of votes in such primary election shall be candidates for election by the general electorate.
֎ Representation of the Depressed Classes in the Central Legislature shall likewise be on the principle of joint electorates and reserved seats by the method of primary election in the manner provided for their representation in Provincial Legislatures.
In the Central legislature eighteen per cent of the seats allotted to the general electorate for British India in the said legislature shall be reserved for the Depressed Classes.
֎ In every province, a portion of the educational grant was earmarked to provide adequate educational facilities specifically for members of the Depressed Classes.
Poona Pact : a story of clash and convergence between two contrasting views
The Poona Pact represented a clash between two contrasting views: Gandhi’s emphasis on caste reform through social and spiritual means and Ambedkar’s insistence on addressing caste as a political issue. Ambedkar argued that political democracy would be meaningless without the equal participation of the depressed classes.
Significance of Poona Pact
֎ The Poona Pact was an acceptance by upper-class Hindus that the depressed classes constituted the most discriminated sections of Hindu society. It was also conceded that something concrete had to be done to give them a political voice and to lift them from a backwardness they could not otherwise overcome.
֎ The concessions agreed to in the Poona Pact were precursors to the world’s largest affirmative programme launched much later in independent India.
֎ The Pact solidified Ambedkar’s leadership of the depressed classes and made them a formidable political force.
Legacy of Poona Pact
The legacy of the Poona Pact endures in India’s political landscape. The reserved seats in Parliament and assemblies, allocated based on the population of SCs, aim to provide political representation. However, the current system has faced criticism for diluting the influence of Dalit MPs, as they often represent constituencies where Dalits are a minority.
Did Poona Pact really achieved the desired goal of emancipation of the depressed classes?
The Poona Pact, despite giving certain political rights to the depressed classes, could not achieve the desired goal of emancipation of the depressed class. It enabled the same old Hindu social order to continue and gave birth to many problems.
● The Pact made the depressed classes political tools which could be used by the majoritarian caste Hindu organisations.
● It made the depressed classes leaderless as the true representatives of the classes were unable to win against the stooges who were chosen and supported by the caste Hindu organisations.
● This led to the depressed classes to submit to the status quo in political, ideological, and cultural fields and not being able to develop independent and genuine leadership to fight the Brahminical order.
● It subordinated the depressed classes into being part of the Hindu social order by denying them a separate and distinct existence.
● The Poona Pact perhaps put obstructions in the way of an ideal society based on equality, liberty, fraternity, and justice.
● By denying to recognise the Dalits as a separate and distinct element in the national life, it pre-empted the rights and safeguards for the Dalits in the Constitution of independent India.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES . Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of ‘Harijans’ in his political and social programme? UPSC PRELIMS 2025
(a) The Poona Pact
(b)The Gandhi-Irwin (Delhi Pact) Agreement
(c) Arrest of Congress leadership at the time of the Quit India Movement
(d) Promulgation of the Government of India Act, 1935
Answer – (a)
QUES . Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932, mainly because UPSC PRELIMS 2012
(a) Round Table Conference failed to satisfy Indian political aspirations
(b) Congress and Muslim League had differences of opinion
(c) Ramsay Macdonald announced the Communal Award
(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context
Answer – (c)
