POONA PACT

The Poona Pact, signed on September 24, 1932, by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, marked a crucial moment in India's struggle for the rights of the Depressed Classes. This agreement, reached in Pune's Yerwada Central Jail, was designed to provide political representation to these marginalized groups without creating separate electorates, which Gandhi opposed as divisive. Instead, it introduced reserved seats within the general electorate, based on the Depressed Classes' population in each province. This compromise between Ambedkar's demand for separate electorates and Gandhi's vision for a united Hindu community prevented the division of Indian society along caste lines and was a step towards inclusive representation. The Poona Pact also laid the groundwork for future affirmative action policies in India, acknowledging the need for political and social upliftment of the most disadvantaged sections of Hindu society.

The Poona Pact was a significant event in Indian history, taking place on September 24, 1932. It occurred after the British Prime Minister, Ramsay Macdonald, introduced the Communal Award, granting separate voting rights to the Depressed Classes for the first time. This decision was met with mixed reactions; while leaders like Ambedkar welcomed it for empowering oppressed communities, Gandhi viewed it as harmful, believing it would divide Hindus and Untouchables. To oppose this, Gandhi started a hunger strike while in jail, demanding the elimination of separate electorates. The British government indicated they would reconsider the Award if all parties involved could agree on a solution. This situation led to negotiations between Gandhi and Ambedkar, culminating in the Poona Pact. This agreement ended the proposal for separate electorates, marking a pivotal moment in the fight for the rights of the Depressed Classes within a united Hindu community.

The Poona Pact of 1932 was signed by 23 signatories including Dr. BR Ambedkar for the depressed classes, now known as the Scheduled Castes. Notably, Gandhi was not a signatory while Madan Mohan Malviya signed on behalf of caste hindus. Dr. Ambedkar agreed to reserved seats for the Depressed Classes in the provincial legislatures, but through a joint electorate system, not a separate one.

• Gandhi's Opposition: Gandhi was against the British Government's Communal Award in August 1932 proposed separate electorates for various communities including Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, and the depressed classes. It allocated 71 seats for the depressed classes in the central legislature for the Depressed Classes because he believed it would divide Hindu society. He went on a fast in jail to protest against the British Prime Minister's decision to grant communal awards.
• Ambedkar's Stance: Ambedkar advocated for separate electorates for depressed classes, arguing that only their own leaders could adequately represent them. This demand was presented at the First Round Table Conference.
• The Pact: The compromise reached in the Poona Pact increased the seats for depressed classes in legislative assemblies to 148 from the 71 proposed by the Communal Award, without creating separate electorates.
• Location and Significance: Signed at Yerwada Central Jail in Poona.

• Electoral Seats: The final settlement included 147 seats for the depressed classes in provincial legislatures, nearly double the number offered by the British Communal Award.
• Electoral System: The pact introduced a single electorate for Hindus, including the depressed classes, but with reserved seats for the latter, modifying the electoral process for both provincial and central legislatures.
• Impact on Society: Beyond political representation, the pact had broader social implications, including efforts towards the eradication of untouchability and promoting social harmony within Hindu society.

The Poona Pact made specific provisions for the allocation of reserved seats for the Depressed Classes in the Provincial Legislatures, distributed as follows:

• Madras: 30 seats
• Bombay with Sindh: 25 seats
• Punjab: 8 seats
• Bihar and Orissa: 18 seats
• Central Provinces: 20 seats
• Assam: 7 seats
• Bengal: 30 seats
• United Provinces: 20 seats

These allocations were determined based on the total strength of each Provincial Council as outlined in the original proposal by Ramsay MacDonald

• Mechanism: The elections for the reserved seats were to be held through joint electorates, with an innovative approach for selecting candidates. All members of the Depressed Classes within a constituency's general electoral roll were to form an electoral college, which would then nominate four candidates for each reserved seat using a single vote system. The top four from these primary elections would be presented as candidates to the general electorate.
• Central Legislature Representation: The same joint electorate system with primary elections was applied to the representation of the Depressed Classes in the Central Legislature, where 18% of the seats allotted to the general electorate were reserved for the Depressed Classes.

• Negotiation Points: A key negotiation aspect was the duration of the primary election system and the reserved seats. Ambedkar initially proposed that this system should be reviewed after ten years and subject to a referendum after fifteen years, while Gandhi favored a shorter timeline of five years for a referendum.
• Outcome: The agreement concluded that the system of primary elections would be evaluated after the first ten years, with the possibility of termination by mutual consent before this period

• Franchise Alignment: The franchise for the Depressed Classes in both Central and Provincial Legislatures was to follow the recommendations of the Lothian Committee Report.
• Equality in Public Sphere: The pact emphasized that no discrimination would be faced by the members of the Depressed Classes in elections to local bodies or in appointments to public services. It aimed for fair representation of the Depressed Classes in these areas, taking into account their educational qualifications.

• The Poona Pact included provisions to improve the educational status of the Depressed Classes. A specific portion of the educational grant in every province was dedicated to ensuring that members of the Depressed Classes had access to adequate educational facilities. This commitment aimed to uplift the community by providing them with the tools necessary for socio-economic advancement.

• The agreement outlined that the system of reserved seats and primary elections would continue until a mutual decision was reached to amend or terminate it. This clause allowed for adaptability, acknowledging that future circumstances or improved relations between communities could necessitate changes to the system initially put in place by the Pact.

• Contrasting Views: The Pact underscored the divergent approaches of Gandhi and Ambedkar towards caste reform. Gandhi viewed caste discrimination as a moral and social issue that needed to be eradicated through spiritual and social reform, while Ambedkar emphasized the political dimensions of caste, advocating for the rights and representation of the Depressed Classes within the political framework.
• Political Legacy: The legacy of the Poona Pact is visible in India's continued practice of reserving seats in Parliament and state assemblies for Scheduled Castes, based on their population. This system aims to ensure political representation for historically marginalized communities.
• Criticisms: Critics argue that the current system dilutes the influence of Dalit Members of Parliament (MPs) and legislators, as they often represent constituencies with a minority Dalit population, potentially limiting their effectiveness in advocating for Dalit rights.

• Coercion Debate: The negotiations leading to the Pact have been subject to scrutiny, with some scholars suggesting Gandhi pressurized Ambedkar into agreeing to the terms. Figures like Perry Anderson and Arundhati Roy have analyzed the power dynamics of the negotiations, suggesting that Gandhi's fast unto death placed undue pressure on Ambedkar.
• Ambedkar's Leadership: Despite controversies, the Poona Pact is acknowledged for cementing Ambedkar's position as the foremost leader of the Depressed Classes, granting them significant political leverage. The agreement marked the Depressed Classes as a key political constituency, recognizing their importance in the fabric of Indian society.

The Poona Pact of 1932 was a landmark agreement between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and representatives of Hindu castes. It addressed the issue of political representation for the Depressed Classes, now known as Scheduled Castes. While Gandhi opposed separate electorates, the Pact ultimately increased reserved seats for the Depressed Classes and established a system of joint electorates with primary elections. This agreement had a lasting impact on Indian politics, ensuring Scheduled Castes have a voice in the political system, but also sparked debates about representation, coercion, and the legacy of caste reform approaches.It represents the complexities of achieving social justice in the Indian independence movement for dalits. And also the challenges they face in striving for equality and representation in free India even today.