Gandhi-Ambedkar Debate on Separate Electorate

Syllabus: GS1/ History, GS2/ Polity

Context

• In September 1932, at the Yerawada Central Jail in Pune, Mahatma Gandhi began fasting unto death against the award of separate electorates to the Scheduled Castes.

Background

• At the 1931 Round Table Conference in London, Gandhi and Ambedkar had a disagreement  regarding the representation of the Untouchables. 
• Gandhi accepted separate electorates for Muslims and Sikhs but felt the Untouchables could be integrated into Hindu society without needing a separate electorate.

The Poona pact

• The origins of the Poona Pact are tied to the Communal Award of August 1932, which sought to allocate separate electorates for various minority groups, including Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, and the Depressed Classes.
  • As part of this Award, 71 seats in the central legislature were reserved specifically for the Depressed Classes.
• Gandhi, in Yerawada Jail, opposed separate electorates for the Depressed Classes, and began a fast unto death in protest. 
• On September 24, 1932, Ambedkar met Gandhi in jail, and they signed the Poona Pact. 
• Instead of separate electorates, the Untouchables would have reserved seats in general constituencies, with the number of seats in provincial legislatures increasing from 78 to 148.

Gandhi vs Ambedkar on caste

• Mahatma Gandhi views on caste system;
  • He opposed untouchability, calling Untouchables “Harijans” (Children of God). Despite this, Gandhi never fully rejected the caste system itself. 
  • He believed that caste could be reformed from within, by eliminating untouchability and fostering social harmony, while still preserving the traditional varna (caste) system. 
  • Gandhi saw caste as a social organization that had a place in Hinduism and thought reforms within it could help uplift marginalized groups.
• Ambedkar views on caste system;
  • He completely rejected the caste system as a whole, believing that it was inherently oppressive and divisive. 
  • Ambedkar argued that caste discrimination was rooted in Hindu religious scriptures (Shastras), which gave it divine legitimacy and believed no reform could effectively dismantle this deeply entrenched discrimination.
  • He advocated for separate electorates for the Depressed Classes to ensure political representation and power for marginalized communities.

Concluding remarks

• Gandhi sought to reform the caste system by eliminating untouchability and preserving social harmony, Ambedkar called for the complete rejection of the caste system, seeing it as inherently unjust and rooted in religious authority.
• Gandhi’s approach was towards reform within society opposed to the radical approach followed by Ambedkar.

Source: IE