On this day, September 24, 1932, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi signed an agreement. It was called the Pune Treaty and through it, Dalits were given many rights. It is said that Bapu went on a hunger strike until death. Baba Saheb Ambedkar was forced to go to jail and talk to Mahatma Gandhi and the two came to an agreement. The agreement is called the Pune Agreement. Know the ins and outs of this Pune contract.
The Government of India Act, 1909, provided for reservations. Thereafter, the British government also began to award public awards to different religions and castes. Under this, Dalits were given dual franchise which Mahatma Gandhi had opposed. Thereafter, Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the Father of the Nation signed an agreement on September 24, 1932 at Yewada Jail. In this context, it is important to understand why Gandhi opposed dual franchise for Dalits.
Bapu opposes announcement of public awards
In 1924, the Macdonald Committee Report was published, which addressed the extremely low representation of the lower classes in Parliament and measures to increase their representation. Later, in 1928, the Simon Commission also agreed that adequate representation should be given to the poorer classes. Thereafter, due to continuous efforts, the British government announced the Public Prize on August 17, 1932. At this point, Dalits gained the political right to vote independently.
With this award, Dalits have the right to elect their own representatives through separate elections to reserved seats and two votes for upper castes in general caste constituencies. That is, the right to elect representatives is obtained through one vote, and the right to elect ordinary representatives is obtained through the second vote. This was described as a major victory for Dalit rights. Gandhi objected to this.
There is a risk of social disintegration
Mahatma Gandhi was unhappy with the treatment of Dalits. He said that by giving separate constituencies and giving them the right of two votes, the Hindu society will be disintegrated and divided. To prevent this, Bapu wrote several letters to the British government, but no hearings were held. Eventually he decided to continue fasting. He fasted in Yerwada jail in Pune and stood by his views.
There is a conflict between the thoughts of Gandhi and Ambedkar
Mahatma Gandhi made his opposition clear through fasting, but Ambedkar said it would lead to an improvement in the status of Dalits. This will be a big decision for their rights and development. Mahatma Gandhi wrote to the then British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald on August 18 to express his protest. ‘I risked my life by opposing this decision,’ he wrote. I am against this separation. The British government was asked to stop it, but it didn’t. On September 9, he wrote again to express his views, but the British side clearly refused to ban it.
Ambedkar had to take a step back
Ambedkar stated that he would not allow a ban on the legitimate demands of Mahatma Gandhi and that he would stand his ground, but due to the continuous fasting in jail, Gandhi’s health began to deteriorate. It is said that this news was conveyed to the people and Ambedkar was the reason for all this. As a result, resentment and anger against Ambedkar began to grow among the people of the country. Eventually Ambedkar had to step back.
The second round table meeting laid the foundation for the Pune Convention.
The story of the Pune Convention begins with the Second Round Table Conference. The second Round Table Conference was held in London at the end of 1931. Gandhi led the Congress in this regard. Gandhi said his party represented all of India. This claim has been questioned by three parties. The Muslim League said it was in the interest of the Muslim minority. Kings and princes claimed that Congress had no rights over the lands under their control. The third challenge comes from thinker BR Ambedkar. He said Gandhi and the Congress did not represent lower castes.
The joint prize was announced after the second roundtable meeting
The joint prize was announced based on the results of the second roundtable discussion. Under this, the Dalit class accepted Bhimrao Ambedkar’s demand for political representation and was given the right to two votes. Dalits will elect their representatives with one vote, while representatives from the general category will be elected with another vote. Therefore, Dalit representatives can be elected only by Dalit votes. In other words, the candidates also belong to the Dalit class and the voters belong only to the Dalit class.
Bapu sitting on fast
On August 16, 1932, British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald announced the implementation of collective arbitration. Of these, 11 communities, including Dalits, were given separate electorates. Gandhi opposed the division of electorates for Dalits. On September 20, 1932, Gandhi began fasting. When Mahatma Gandhi’s health started deteriorating, with the efforts of leaders like Rajendra Prasad, Madan Mohan Malviya, Rajagopalachari, Ghanshyam Das Birla and others, Ambedkar met him in jail on September 24, 1932 and he had to accept His words.
This is where the name Poona Pact comes from
Gandhi and Ambedkar signed the Pune Treaty. Here, both parties agreed to reserve seats for Dalits under the Hindu joint electoral system. This agreement is also known as the Pune Agreement. Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar signed an agreement. After this agreement, Gandhi ended his death strike. This agreement is known as the “Pune Agreement” in history.
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What is stipulated in the agreement
In this agreement, Ambedkar had to give up the right to separate elections given in the communal award and accept a joint electoral system (as it is now). Besides, the number of reserved seats under the Pune Treaty has also been increased to 148 from 71 reserved seats through public awards. That is, in this way, seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (and Scheduled Tribes (ST)) in the Legislature, and it is said that around 19% of the seats are reserved for these classes in the Legislature. Additionally, the education grant for every Dalit has been increased. The province allocated adequate funds and ensured recruitment of Dalit class people in government jobs without any discrimination.
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Major events today
Ms. Bikaji Karma was born on September 24, 1861. She participated in the Indian independence movement and was the first woman to hoist the tricolor flag on foreign soil.
World Maritime Day is celebrated every year on September 24th.
On September 24, 2014, ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) entered Mars orbit.
On September 24, 2009, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched seven satellites including Ocean Sat-2 into orbit.
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