The British Government and the Poona Pact of 1932

Introduction – What is The Poona Pact of 1932?

The Poona Pact of 1932 was a pact/agreement signed on September 24, 1932, at the Yerawada Central Prison in Poona (now Pune) by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya signed it on Gandhiji’s behalf, as Gandhiji was imprisoned even before starting the second phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement. This pact was primarily signed on behalf of Dalits, the depressed classes, and minorities to ensure that they were treated fairly in the legislature of the British Government and all other aspects.

A total of 147 seats in the legislature of the British Government were set aside for the depressed classes in the Poona Pact. It also ensured that a portion of the educational grants was set aside for them to benefit from. It also made sure that they were fairly represented in the public sector.

What led to The Poona Pact?

Choosing separate electorates by different communities under the British government was common in the 1920s and 1930s. With an example, the meaning of a separate electorate can be understood.

With the growing trend of separate electorates for all communities, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar saw the need for separate electorates for the poor and minorities, believing that the current situation was unjust to them. Dr Ambedkar himself belonged to the minority class and had faced discrimination right from his childhood. Thus, he knew the demands of the Dalits and what was best for them.

Dr Ambedkar approached the Simon Commission with his demands for the depressed classes. The British government partially met his demands in the Communal Awards of August 1932, which included, among other things, the reservation of 71 seats in the central legislature for minorities.

Gandhiji, on the other hand, was opposed to it because he believed the Communal Awards divided Hindus into minorities and majorities and that it was a British attempt to divide Hindus and lessen the effect of nationalism. As a protest, he began a death-defying fast to reclaim it.

As a result of the protests from Gandhiji’s followers, Dr Ambedkar was forced to reach an agreement with Gandhiji by negotiating the terms, resulting in the Poona Pact of 1932.

Main Features of Poona Pact

The main features and terms of the Poona Pact are:

• The number of seats reserved for the minority class out of general electorate seats in the provincial legislatures was 148. The bifurcation being

• These seats will be elected through a joint electoral process. Joint electoral means that, in a Muslim-led province, only a Muslim candidate can run for office, but votes can be cast by anyone from any community living in the province
• The depressed class will be represented in the Central legislature with 18% of the seats allotted to the general electorate
• The election method specified in the pact will expire after the first ten years, or sooner if both parties agree
• Every province is required to set aside a portion of the educational grant for the provision of educational facilities to minorities
• The depressed class should be treated fairly in all aspects of life.

Differences Between the Poona Pact and Communal Awards

In some ways, the Communal Awards and the Poona Pact were similar. However, there were some differences, such as

• The British Government’s Communal Awards allocated 71 seats in the central legislature to the minority community. The Poona Pact, on the other hand, increased the number of seats to 148, more than doubling the original number
• The Communal Awards mandated separate electoral systems for seat elections. In contrast, the Poona Pact mandated a joint electoral system.

Positive Outcomes of the Poona Pact,

The Poona Pact had some positive impacts on the Dalit community, such as

• It specifically mentioned the fair representation of the minority class, giving them an identity and making them stand out
• The number of seats reserved for the depressed class was done to make sure that their political voice does not go unheard and that even their opinions matter
• The pact ensured that the entire country was responsible for the upliftment of the Dalits, and they were even accepted by the high-class Hindus. All this came in after the minorities had been suppressed for a very long time, facing all sorts of discrimination.

Impact of the Poona Pact, Today  

The Poona Pact, which was signed around 90 years ago, is still relevant today. In almost every government sector, there are reservations for SC/STs and other backward classes. The Indian Government provides so many special schemes for the upliftment of the minority classes regularly. The depressed classes are favoured in almost all sectors. All these things can be considered a result of the Poona Pact of 1932.

Conclusion

The Poona Pact of 1932 was one of the most significant historical events that transformed the depressed class’s image in the Indian constitution and throughout India, making them a more acceptable social class.