Poona pact

30 Sep 2023 3 mins Download PDF

Poona pact

1. The pact was a historic compromise between Gandhi and Ambedkar over the rights of Dalits, or "untouchables", in 1932.
2. It was an agreement on political representation of the Depressed Classes.
3. A communal award giving separate electorates for the scheduled castes in central and provincial legislatures was given by Ramsay Macdonald, the then British Prime Minister.
4. Ambedkar and other leaders of the Depressed Classes welcomed the award.
5. But Gandhi feared that it would de-link untouchables from Hindus, and announced a fast unto death on 20th September 1932, till the time separate electorates were removed.
6. Finally, Gandhi and Ambedkar came to an agreement, the Poona Pact 1932 that discarded separate electorates.
7. Though the pact decried separate electorates, it accepted a system of the joint electorates with reserved seats (78 more seats than proposed in the award) for the Scheduled castes.
8. Other important provisions of the agreement:
   1. Non-discrimination and fair representation of Depressed Classes in public services
   2. Earmark a portion of state’s educational grant for Depressed Classes
9. The pact influenced Govt. of India Act, 1935 where separate electorates were given to Muslims, Sikhs and others, but not to the Depressed Classes.