Explain Poona Pact.
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The Poona Pact, signed on September 24, 1932, was a historic agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, representing the Dalit community, during the Round Table Conference in Pune. The pact aimed to address the issue of political representation for the depressed classes, particularly the Untouchables (Scheduled Castes), in the legislative bodies of British India.
The key provisions of the Poona Pact were:
Reserved Seats: The pact accepted the principle of reserved seats for the depressed classes in provincial legislatures, ensuring a guaranteed political representation for them. The number of reserved seats was increased from the initial proposal made by the British under the Communal Award.
Separate Electorates Abandoned: In a significant departure from the Communal Award, the Poona Pact abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes. Instead, they would vote in the general electorate along with the rest of the population, thus fostering a sense of political integration.
Weighted Representation: The agreement introduced the concept of "weightage" in representation. This meant that in the general electorate, the depressed classes would have additional reserved seats, providing a form of over-representation to ensure their political voice.
Reservations in Jobs: While not a part of the Poona Pact itself, there was an understanding that reservations in government jobs and educational institutions would also be provided for the depressed classes. This became a crucial aspect of affirmative action to address social and economic inequalities.
The Poona Pact marked a significant compromise between Gandhi and Ambedkar, averting the implementation of separate electorates that would have further divided Indian society along caste lines. It aimed to strike a balance between ensuring political representation for the depressed classes and maintaining the unity of the larger Indian electorate. The pact had far-reaching consequences, influencing the structure of reserved seats and affirmative action policies for marginalized communities in independent India.