Q. The Poona Pact which was signed between the British Government and Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 provided for
(a) the creation of dominion status for India
(b) separate electorates for the Muslims
(c) separate electorate for the Harijans
(d) joint electorate with reservation for Harijans
Ans: (d) joint electorate with reservation for Harijans
Explanation: The correct answer is (d) joint electorate with reservation for Harijans.
The Poona Pact, signed between the British Government and Mahatma Gandhi in 1932, provided for a joint electorate with reserved seats for the Harijans, also known as the Scheduled Castes or Dalits. The Poona Pact was a result of negotiations between Gandhi and British officials following the fast-unto-death undertaken by Gandhi in protest against the Communal Award.
The Communal Award, announced by the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, had proposed separate electorates for the Dalits, which Gandhi opposed as he believed in the principle of a united and integrated society. Through the Poona Pact, it was agreed that there would be a joint electorate where Dalits would have reserved seats, ensuring their representation in legislative bodies.
The Poona Pact was a significant development in the history of Dalit rights and political representation in India. It marked a compromise between Gandhi’s vision of a united India and the need to address the social and political challenges faced by the Dalit community.
