Gandhi and Ambedkar Controversy on Untouchability



Gandhi and Ambedkar looked at the problem of untouchability from two very different perspectives. Gandhi had a very keen sense of justice and human dignity, but it was conditioned by his religious convictions. Ambedkar's views were shaped by personal experience of the inequities of the caste system; he had personally suffered the humiliations and insults meted out to an untouchable by a caste ridden society.

Gandhi's point of view was that the problem of untouchability was a problem of the self, in this case the collective Hindu self. It is a social problem that is very personal to Hindu, it is not a political issue. Ambedkar has defined the problem in terms of building an independent political identity for Dalits in the structures of social, economic, and political powers

Gandhi, Ambedkar - 1932 Poona Pact

The 1931 Poona Pact shaped India’s Dalit political representation, and its implications are felt even in today’s parliamentary elections. 

Context 

British after getting help from India to fight first world war introduced Government of India Act, 1919 on Dec 1919. This act resulted  into dual form of governance i.e. some of the portfolios like health,education etc were under Indian ministers reported to provincial council. Where as important ministries like defense, foreign affairs etc were controlled by Viceroy. They promised to review this act after 10 years. And that is why infamous Simon commision arrived India (1928) to review the act. Simon published 2 volumes in 1930. More over this is published as "Not final" version resulting into a dead lock.To free the constitution of this deadlock, three sessions of a Round Table Conference were held in 1930, 1931 and 1932 respectively. The conference was also attended by representatives of several Indian communities

What exactly is this pact about?

One of the recommendations that came out of this conference (Simon recommendations) with Indian communities is to have separate  electorates for India’s vast population of “depressed classes” or “untouchables”, who are called scheduled castes (SC) today and this was supported by Ambedkar. Under the system, only members from these communities would be eligible to vote to elect a representative to legislative assemblies; caste Hindus would not be eligible to vote in these elections. 

Gandhi's View


Gandhi is strictly against this concept. He saw this as a plot from British to divide Hindu community over caste and rule. Mahatma Gandhi went on a hunger strike and objected to the provision of separate electorates for the Dalits. Gandhi opposed the British since he felt that their policies would divide the Hindu society. 

What did Gandhi do ?

This made Gandhi to go on fast. On 20th September 1932, while in prison, Gandhi announced a fast unto death till the time separate electorates were removed from the Award. 

What is the reaction to Gandhi's Act ?

The British had have given the assurance that it would make changes to the Award if these changes were the result of an agreement between the communities concerned. Indian political leaders realized that the best chance to get Gandhi to terminate his fast was to facilitate an agreement between Gandhi and Ambedkar. Initially, Ambedkar was not fazed by Gandhi’s fast. Ambedkar said he would not “sacrifice a rightful demand” for Gandhi’s sake, especially when no alternative proposal had been tabled. But because of gandhi's health. Newspapers ran daily bulletins on his health and news of Gandhi’s health dominated public discussion. Congress leaders implored Ambedkar to compromise.

 Finally, Ambedkar finally relented after his friend and Tamil leader, MC Rajah, pointed out that Dalits would battle insurmountable prejudice if they were seen as not having compromised for Gandhi’s life. Ambedkar came around and agreed to negotiate. In the end, Gandhi and Ambedkar came to an agreement - the Poona Pact 1932 - that discarded separate electorates.


References


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