The Communal Award was opposed by Mahatma Gandhi and many other leaders of the Indian National Congress, who believed that it would divide Indian society along communal lines and weaken the nationalist movement. However, the proposal was supported by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and other Dalit leaders, who saw it as a means of ensuring political representation and a voice for their community.
Poona Pact
The Communal Award eventually led Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to sign the Poona Pact. Ambedkar abandoned the idea of separate electorates for Dalits and instead provided reserved seats for them in provincial and national assemblies.
Terms of the Communal Award 16 August 1932
The Communal Award of 16 August 1932 was a proposal made by the British Government for a new system of representation in India. The resolution was proposed by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and the Secretary of State for India, Samuel Hoare, in response to the Indian Round Table Conference held in London.
- The principal terms of the Communal Award were:
- Introduction of separate electorates for Dalits (earlier known as “untouchables”), Muslims, Sikhs, and other minority communities.
- Reservation of seats in provincial and national assemblies for these communities on the basis of their population.
- Creation of a Federal Court to deal with disputes between the central government and the provinces.
- Seven seats were reserved for the Marathas in the general constituencies of Bombay Province.
- In special constituencies, a dual system was made for the voters of the Dalit caste. They were given the right to vote in both general constituencies and special constituencies.
- The right to elect Dalit castes in general constituencies remained.
- This system of special elections for the Dalit castes was done for twenty years.
- Dalits were recognized as a minority.
- Why did Poona Pact happen?
The Poona Pact was the result of a long-standing political struggle between upper-caste Hindus and Dalits (formerly known as “untouchables”) over the issue of separate electorates. The British government had proposed separate electorates for Dalits in the Communal Award of 1932, which was opposed by Mahatma Gandhi and other upper-caste Hindu leaders. Gandhi believed that separate electorates would further divide the Hindu community and perpetuate the caste system.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a prominent Dalit leader, supported separate electorates for Dalits as he believed it would give them political representation and a voice in government. The conflict between the two groups was causing unrest and protests in the country, and Gandhi went on a fast unto death against separate electorates.
Negotiations between Gandhi and Ambedkar led to the signing of the Poona Pact, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for Dalits and provided reserved seats for them in provincial and national assemblies. The Poona Pact thus helped resolve the political conflict and provided greater political representation for Dalits in the government.
What is the Poona Pact?
The Poona Pact was a significant agreement signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on September 24, 1932. The Pact resolved a long-standing political conflict between the upper-caste Hindus and the Dalits over the issue of separate electorates.
When was the Poona Pact?
The Poona Pact was signed on September 24, 1932, in Yerwada Jail. This pact was an agreement between Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi and Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Ambedkar resolved a long-standing political conflict between upper-caste Hindus and Dalits (formerly known as “untouchables”) over the issue of separate electorates. The Poona Pact abandoned the idea of separate electorates for Dalits and instead provided reserved seats for them in provincial and national assemblies.
Who signed the Poona Pact?
The Poona Pact was signed by two prominent Indian leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, on September 24, 1932. The accord settled a long-standing political conflict between upper-caste Hindus and Dalits (formerly known as “untouchables”) over the issue of separate electorates. The Poona Pact abandoned the idea of separate electorates for Dalits and instead provided reserved seats for them in provincial and national assemblies.
Between whom was the Poona Pact
The Poona Pact was signed by two prominent Indian leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, on September 24, 1932. The accord settled a long-standing political conflict between upper-caste Hindus and Dalits (formerly known as “untouchables”) over the issue of separate electorates. The Poona Pact abandoned the idea of separate electorates for Dalits and instead provided reserved seats for them in provincial and national assemblies.
What were the terms of the Poona Pact?
Poona Pact Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. An important agreement was signed between Ambedkar. Ambedkar on September 24, 1932. The Pact settled a long-standing political conflict between upper-caste Hindus and Dalits over the issue of separate electorates. The British government had proposed separate electorates for Dalits in the Communal Award of 1932, which was opposed by Mahatma Gandhi and other upper-caste Hindu leaders. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a prominent Dalit leader, supported separate electorates for Dalits as he believed it would give them political representation and a voice in government.
The terms of the Poona Pact can be summarized as follows:
- Abandonment of the idea of separate electorates for Dalits.
- Reservation of seats for Dalits in provincial and national legislatures.
- Reservation of a certain percentage in government jobs and educational institutions for Dalits.
- Establishment of a system of the joint electorate, where all communities including Dalits would vote together.
- Guaranteeing adequate representation of Dalits in all elected bodies and public services.
- Provision for removal of social and economic disabilities faced by Dalits.
The Poona Pact was an important step towards resolving the political conflict between upper-caste Hindus and Dalits and providing greater political representation and social justice for Dalits in India.
What were the terms of the Poona Pact?
The terms of the Poona Pact included the abandonment of the idea of separate electorates for the Dalits, reservation of seats for the Dalits in the provincial and national legislatures, reservation of a certain percentage of government jobs and educational institutions for the Dalits, establishment of a system of joint electorates, guarantee of adequate representation for the Dalits in all elected bodies and public services, and provision for the removal of social and economic disabilities faced by the Dalits.
Why was the Poona Pact necessary?
The Poona Pact was necessary to resolve a long-standing political conflict between the upper-caste Hindus and the Dalits over the issue of separate electorates. The British government had proposed separate electorates for the Dalits in the Communal Award of 1932, which was opposed by Mahatma Gandhi and other upper-caste Hindu leaders. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a prominent Dalit leader, supported separate electorates for the Dalits as he believed it would give them political representation and a voice in the government.
What was the impact of the Poona Pact?
The Poona Pact helped resolve the political conflict between the upper-caste Hindus and the Dalits and provided for greater political representation for the Dalits in the government. However, the effectiveness of the Poona Pact in addressing the deep-rooted discrimination faced by Dalits in India has been debated over time.
How did the Poona Pact impact the Indian Constitution?
The Poona Pact had a significant impact on the framing of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution provided for reservations for the Scheduled Castes (the term used for Dalits in the Constitution) and Scheduled Tribes in education and government jobs, as well as reserved seats for them in the legislature. The provisions for reservations were based on the principles agreed upon in the Poona Pact
What is the truth of the Poona Pact?
Poona Pact was an important agreement that Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar signed. Ambedkar in 1932. The Pact resolved a long-standing political conflict between upper-caste Hindus and Dalits over the issue of separate electorates. The British government had proposed separate electorates for Dalits in the Communal Award of 1932, which was opposed by Mahatma Gandhi and other upper-caste Hindu leaders. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a prominent Dalit leader, supported separate electorates for Dalits as he believed it would give them political representation and a voice in government.
Negotiations between Gandhi and Ambedkar led to the signing of the Poona Pact, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for Dalits and provided reserved seats for them in provincial and national assemblies. The Poona Pact thus helped resolve the political conflict and provided greater political representation for Dalits in the government.
However, there have been debates and discussions regarding the impact and effectiveness of the Poona Pact. Though it provided reserved seats for Dalits, the implementation of reservation was not effective initially. It took years for Dalit representatives to fill the reserved seats, and they faced discrimination and hostility from other members of legislative bodies.
Additionally, some critics argue that the Poona Pact did not do enough to address the systemic discrimination faced by Dalits in India. The caste system remained a dominant force in Indian society, and Dalits faced discrimination in various aspects of life, including education, employment, and access to basic resources.
In short, the Poona Pact was an important agreement that helped resolve a political conflict between the two dominant groups in India, but its effectiveness in addressing the deep discrimination faced by Dalits has been debated over time.