Previous Year Question

Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932, mainly because

Round Table Conference failed to satisfy Indian political aspirations.

Congress and Muslim League had differences of opinion.

Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal Award.

None of the statements A), B) and C) given above is correct in this context.

Correct Answer: C

Detailed Solution

British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal Award on 16 August 1932. It granted separate electorates to the Depressed Classes, in addition to Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.

Mahatma Gandhi was not opposed to the representation of the Depressed Classes in the legislatures or to reserved seats for them. His specific objection was to the separate electorate, which treated the Depressed Classes as a political community separate from the Hindu community. Gandhi believed that this would permanently separate them from Hindu society instead of eliminating untouchability.

Therefore, while imprisoned in Yeravda Jail, Gandhi commenced his fast unto death on 20 September 1932.

Subsequent negotiations involving Gandhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and other leaders produced the Poona Pact, concluded on 24 September 1932. Under the agreement:

Separate electorates for the Depressed Classes were abandoned.

Seats were reserved for them within a joint electorate.

Their reserved seats in the provincial legislatures were increased from 71 under the Communal Award to 148.

Gandhi ended his fast on 26 September 1932 after the agreement was accepted by the British Government.

Thus, Gandhi’s fast was not undertaken because of the general failure of the Round Table Conference or differences between the Congress and the Muslim League. It was directed against the separate electorate granted to the Depressed Classes under the Communal Award.

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