Communal Award and Poona Pact

• The Communal Award, announced by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald in August 1932, introduced a fixed quota of seats for the Untouchables (now referred to as the Scheduled Castes) and granted them the right to vote in separate electorates. This meant that seats would be reserved for the Untouchables, and only individuals belonging to the Untouchable community could vote for these seats. Additionally, individuals from the Untouchable community were also eligible to vote in the general electorates.
• The Communal Award was intended to address the demands of various communities, including the Muslims, by providing separate electorates and representation. However, the provisions of the Communal Award caused distress to Mahatma Gandhi, who saw it as a divisive measure that further fragmented Indian society along communal lines.
• In protest against the Communal Award, Gandhi undertook a fast unto death while in Yervada Jail. His fast garnered significant attention and led to discussions among prominent leaders, including Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Rajendra Prasad, and C. Rajagopalachari. These leaders expressed their anxiety to save Gandhi's life and find a resolution to the issue.
• Apart from the provisions related to separate electorates, the Communal Award also included the reservation of seats for women in all states, except for the North West Frontier Province.
• Overall, the Communal Award was a significant development in the political landscape of India, as it attempted to address the demands and aspirations of different communities. However, it also contributed to communal tensions and drew strong reactions from various leaders, particularly Mahatma Gandhi.

Poona Pact

• The Poona Pact, signed in September 1932, was an agreement reached between two groups of Hindus to address the issue of separate electorates for the Depressed Classes (now known as Scheduled Castes) in India. The pact aimed to find a middle ground between the demands of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, a prominent leader representing the Depressed Classes, and the concerns of Mahatma Gandhi and other Hindu leaders.

The key points of the Poona Pact were as follows:

• Joint Electorate: It was agreed that there would be a joint electorate for all Hindus, including the Depressed Classes. This meant that members of the Depressed Classes would be part of the general electorate and could vote alongside other Hindus.
• Reserved Seats: The number of reserved seats for the Depressed Classes in the Provincial Legislature was increased from the allocation under the Communal Award. The Communal Award had initially assigned 78 seats to the Depressed Classes, while the Poona Pact increased it to 148 seats.
• Representation in Local Bodies: Adequate representation for the Depressed Classes was ensured in local bodies.
• Central Legislature: The Poona Pact recommended the allocation of 18% of seats in the Central Legislature to the Depressed Classes.
• Termination of Reserved Seats: It was agreed that the system of reserved seats and primary elections for the Depressed Classes would be reviewed and terminated after a period of 10 years.
• Dr B.R. Ambedkar ultimately agreed to the terms of the Poona Pact after negotiations. Although the pact increased the number of reserved seats for the Depressed Classes, it also eliminated the provision of double voting rights that had been granted under the Communal Award. The Communal Award had allowed members of the Depressed Classes to vote in separate electorates as well as in the general electorates, giving them dual voting rights.
• The Poona Pact holds significance as it represented a compromise between the demands of different factions within the Hindu community. It aimed to provide political representation to the Depressed Classes while ensuring their integration into the broader Hindu community. The pact amended the Communal Award and prevented the separation of the Depressed Classes from the Hindu fold, as intended by the British government.