Poona Pact and Its Impact on Dalits
Modern History › Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences · Topic 20.12
The Poona Pact was signed on 24 September 1932 by B.R. Ambedkar for the depressed classes, ending Gandhi's fast. It dropped separate electorates for the depressed classes but raised their reserved seats from 71 to 147 in the provincial legislatures and to 18 per cent of the Central Legislature, and the government accepted it as an amendment to the Communal Award.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences
At a Glance
- Signed 24 September 1932, by Ambedkar for the depressed classes
- Gave up Separate electorates for the depressed classes
- Seats Reserved seats raised from 71 to 147 in provinces; 18 per cent at the Centre
- Status Accepted by the government as an amendment to the Communal Award
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences
Where Does It Fit?
This is the twelfth topic of the category on the Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences. The previous topic covered the Communal Award. This topic covers the Poona Pact and criticisms of it. The next topic covers Gandhi’s Harijan campaign. Previous topic: Communal Award, 1932.
How Was the Poona Pact Reached?
Gandhi began an indefinite fast on 20 September 1932 against the separate electorate for the depressed classes. Leaders of various persuasions, including B.R. Ambedkar, M.C. Rajah and Madan Mohan Malaviya, then met to work out a compromise, which is contained in the Poona Pact. It was signed on 24 September 1932 by Ambedkar on behalf of the depressed classes. The Award it modified is in Communal Award, 1932.
What Were the Terms?
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Electorates | The idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes was abandoned |
| Provincial seats | Reserved seats for the depressed classes increased from 71 to 147 in the provincial legislatures |
| Central seats | 18 per cent of the total in the Central Legislature |
| Status | The government accepted the Pact as an amendment to the Communal Award |
Accounts give 78 reserved seats for the depressed classes under the Communal Award but 71 as the number the Pact raised to 147; the two figures differ and are not reconciled here.
What Were the Criticisms of the Pact?
The Pact, despite giving certain political rights to the depressed classes, is argued by critics not to have achieved the emancipation of the depressed classes. They argue that it let the old Hindu social order continue and led to many problems.
| Criticism | Detail |
|---|---|
| Political tools | It made the depressed classes political tools that could be used by majoritarian caste Hindu organisations |
| Leaderless | True representatives could not win against candidates chosen and supported by caste Hindu organisations |
| Status quo | It led the depressed classes to submit to the status quo in political, ideological and cultural fields, without developing independent leadership to fight the Brahminical order |
| Subordination | It placed them in the Hindu social order by denying them a separate and distinct existence |
| Ideal society | It may have obstructed a society based on equality, liberty, fraternity and justice |
| Constitution | By not recognising Dalits as a separate element in national life, it is argued to have pre-empted rights and safeguards for Dalits in the Constitution |
What Did the Scheduled Caste Federation Say?
The Working Committee of the All India Scheduled Caste Federation alleged that in the elections held under the Government of India Act, 1935, joint electorates deprived scheduled castes of the right to send true and effective representatives to the legislatures. It said that joint electorates gave the Hindu majority a virtual right to nominate scheduled caste members willing to be its tools, and it demanded the restoration of separate electorates and the nullification of joint electorates and reserved seats. Even after signing the Pact, Ambedkar continued to denounce it until 1947.
As an analytical point, the Pact is the subject of two opposite readings. For its defenders it saved the unity of the Hindu community’s political life while increasing seats for the depressed classes at once, and for its critics it traded the stronger protection of separate electorates for a larger number of seats chosen in a joint electorate. Both readings agree on the facts of the settlement and differ on whether the trade was a good one. The fuller debate on the differences between the leaders is in Gandhi and Ambedkar: Ideological Differences and Similarities, and Gandhi’s own campaign afterwards in Gandhi’s Harijan Campaign and Thoughts on Caste.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Terms of the Pact Seat numbers and the date are stock Prelims facts
- Joint versus separate electorates A frequent Mains debate
- Ambedkar’s continued opposition Shows the contested legacy of the Pact
What Came Next?
The next topic describes Gandhi’s Harijan campaign and his views on caste. Next topic: Gandhi’s Harijan Campaign and Thoughts on Caste.
Key People and Terms
- Poona Pact The agreement of 24 September 1932 between caste Hindu and depressed class leaders
- M.C. Rajah Depressed class leader who helped work out the compromise
- Joint electorate A common electorate with reserved seats
- Scheduled Caste Federation Ambedkar’s organisation that criticised the joint electorates
- Reserved seats Seats for depressed classes in the legislatures
- Brahminical order The caste hierarchy criticised by Dalit leaders
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Signed 24 September 1932 by Ambedkar; fast began 20 September.
- Reserved seats: 71 to 147 in provinces; 18 per cent at the Centre.
- Separate electorates abandoned.
- Accepted as an amendment to the Communal Award.
- Ambedkar denounced the Pact until 1947.
Do Not Confuse With
- Poona Pact and Communal Award The Pact replaced separate electorates with reserved seats in joint electorates
- Gandhi’s demand and the Pact Gandhi wanted joint electorates and was fine with more seats
- Ambedkar’s 1932 signature and later criticism He signed it but kept denouncing it
Memory Hook
Fast on the twentieth, pact on the twenty-fourth, seats doubled, electorates joined.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the terms of the Pact and its impact. These points add depth.
- Terms More seats in joint electorates
- Gains Larger representation
- Criticism Weak independent leadership
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the provisions of the Poona Pact and critically examine its impact on the political rights of Dalits.”
How to Answer
- Background The Award and Gandhi’s fast.
- Terms Seats and electorates.
- Critique Dependence on caste Hindu organisations.
- Conclude A contested settlement.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Poona Pact?
The Poona Pact was an agreement signed on 24 September 1932 by B.R. Ambedkar for the depressed classes after Gandhi's fast against separate electorates. It abandoned separate electorates but increased the reserved seats for the depressed classes, and the government accepted it as an amendment to the Communal Award.
What seats did the Poona Pact give the depressed classes?
It raised the seats reserved for the depressed classes from 71 to 147 in the provincial legislatures and fixed them at 18 per cent of the total in the Central Legislature, replacing separate electorates with joint electorates and reserved seats.
Who negotiated the Poona Pact?
Leaders of various persuasions, including B.R. Ambedkar, M.C. Rajah and Madan Mohan Malaviya, met to work out a compromise after Gandhi began his fast on 20 September 1932. Ambedkar signed it on behalf of the depressed classes.
Why is the Poona Pact criticised?
Critics argue it made the depressed classes political tools of caste Hindu organisations, left them without independent leaders, made them accept the status quo and denied them a separate existence in the Hindu order, and may have pre-empted special safeguards in the later Constitution.
What did the Scheduled Caste Federation say about joint electorates?
It alleged that in the 1935 Act elections joint electorates stopped scheduled castes from sending true representatives and let the Hindu majority nominate pliable members. It demanded a return to separate electorates, and Ambedkar kept denouncing the Pact until 1947.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Poona Pact was signed on 24 September 1932.
Ambedkar signed for the depressed classes.
2 The Poona Pact retained separate electorates for the depressed classes.
It abandoned them in favour of more reserved seats.
3 The Poona Pact raised reserved seats for the depressed classes in provincial legislatures from 71 to 147.
It also set 18 per cent in the Central Legislature.
4 The government treated the Poona Pact as an amendment to the Communal Award.
It accepted it.
5 Gandhi began his fast on 24 September 1932.
He began it on 20 September 1932.
Related Topics
Browse the full Modern History index