A short note on Poona Pact

Poona Pact is one of the essential pacts that was signed. The depressed classes were proceeding to a climax which made an excellent beginning for the entire Dalits. The benefits coordinated in the Poona Pact were forerunners to the world’s most vast affirmative agenda established much later in independent India. Numerous steps were initiated later to the upliftment of depressed classes. The Poona Pact had various positive outcomes, which had undoubtedly paved the way for the leadership of the depressed classes across India. The Poona pact made the depressed classes a challenging political power for the first time.

Background of the Poona Pact

The background of the Poona Pact was the Communal Award. It was started by the British prime minister Ramsay MacDonald and announced after the Round Table Conference (1930–32). The reason behind introducing the Communal Award was to resolve India’s issues. However, some of them believed that it was fetched by the British to begin a divide among the Hindus. Gandhi worried that would deteriorate Hindu society.

Nevertheless, it was encouraged by many minority communities, especially. 

Dr.Ambedkar. According to Dr.Ambedkar, Gandhiji was willing to grant separate electorates to Sikhs and Muslims. However, Gandhi was hesitant to offer separate electorates to the depressed classes. Due to separately scheduled caste reservations, he feared that it would divide Hindu society and Congress. Nevertheless, Ambedkar insisted on a separate electorate for the Scheduled Caste.

Poona Pact

The Poona Pact was signed in 1932, dated 24th September in India at Yerwada Central Jail of Poona. The Poona Pact was signed between Dr.Ambedkar and Gandhiji, representing the lower-caste Dalits and the Hindu leaders respectively. The depressed classes received the reservation in the legislation in 1932 before independence. The Pact empowered the Depressed Classes by giving social democracy such as Equality, Liberty, and Fraternity in the Indian Society.

MacDonald offered to provide separate electorates to depressed classes to elect members of provincial legislative assemblies in British India. Gandhiji understood their political movement. Hence in jail, Gandhi was protesting against the judgement created by MacDonald. He signed it on behalf of Hindus and Dr Ambedkar on behalf of the depressed classes. Finally, the depressed classes were provided with 148 seats. This reservation was twice when compared to the offer given by MacDonald’s.

Dr Ambedkar referred to the Depressed Classes as Dalits, while Gandhiji referred to them as Harijan, thus officially Scheduled Caste, also known as Dalit. They also considered untouchability a sin. 

The Poona Pact is a concise composition documented in a quasi-legal manner. It comprises nine pinpoints, seven of which laid out the way for the Depressed Classes at the central and regional legislatures.

The Pact amalgamated two approaches to achieve a common goal of uplifting one of the most deprived sectors of Indian society.

Agreement / Poona Pact

1. To represent the Depressed Classes, the following 148 seats are reserved out of general electorate seats in the legislatures:

• Assam – 7
• Bengal – 30
• Bihar and Orissa – 18
• Bombay with Sind – 15
• Central Provinces – 20
• Madras – 30
• Punjab – 8
• United Provinces – 20

2. A joint electorate includes the Dalit members who should register in the constituency’s electoral, which forms the electoral college.

The candidates are selected through the single vote method. The four persons obtaining the most votes in primary elections are the candidates for an election conducted by the electorate.

3. The Central level legislature provides clauses for the regional legislatures based on the seats reserved and the joint electorates.

4. 18 % seats shall be reserved for the Depressed Classes in the Central legislature.

5. Under clause six below, the primary election system will conclude behind the first ten years or be terminated by a common agreement.

6. The method of presentation of the Depressed Classes under-seat reservation in the Central and Provincial Legislatures as furnished for clauses (4) and (1) will continue until specified otherwise by common agreement between the communities involved.

7. The Provincial and Central Franchise should be as shown in the Lothian Committee Report.

8. There should be no complaint; every work shall ensure a fair indication of the Depressed Classes (election, education, public services). Until 1960 the reservation for Dalits was provided based on population.

9. Apart from the educational background, few seats were reserved for the Depressed Classes in the education field.

Conclusion

The agreement was a historical change in the Indian Political history and constitution. The life of Dalits was changed all over the country. It sought out the dispute between the Hindus and the Dalits. However, the caste system remains in Indian society. To a further extent, the Pact implemented and expanded the claim that the interest of the political minority would not be neglected while making up the constitution for future India. Therefore, Gandhiji’s Philosophy and Ambedkar’s vision of Social Democracy are more suitable for establishing a good society. Hence we should remember that all are equal in this world. We should treat everyone equally and respect their culture and custom.