Communal Award and Poona Act

On 16 August 1932, British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald made announcement which is known as Communal award. It provided separate electorates not only for Muslims but also for depressed class (Dalits). The Muslims, Sikh, Christian, Anglo Indians and Europeans were provided separate electorates at the provincial level. Special Constituency's with reserved seats were to be constituted for women in all provinces except in North West Frontier Province. Seven seats were to be reserved for Marathas in Bombay.

Gandhi opposed communal award and he started fast unto death in the Yaarvadaa jail in the protesst against separate electorate for depressed class (Dalit).

Gandhi ended his fast following Poona pact between Gandhi and Ambedkar by the efforts of M.M Malviya, C. Rajagopalchari, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and P.K. Tandon.

According to Poona Act, 148 seats were reserved for the depressed class in different provincial legislature and 46 seats were reserved in central legislature.

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