Two members were to be elected from the constituency, including one from the scheduled castes. Ram Manohar Lohia decided to back Ambedkar. And who won? Not Ambedkar. He lost by almost 15, votes. The defeat led to possibly one of the first election petitions in independent India, with Ambedkar moving the election tribunal, challenge the results on the charge that winner had indulged in corrupt practice to secure victory. Ambedkar lost.
Interestingly, S. Dange, founder-member of the Communist Party of the India was arrayed as the main respondent in the election petition by Ambedkar. India needs free, fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism even more as it faces multiple crises. But the news media is in a crisis of its own. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism is shrinking, yielding to crude prime-time spectacle. ThePrint has the finest young reporters, columnists and editors working for it.
Sustaining journalism of this quality needs smart and thinking people like you to pay for it. Whether you live in India or overseas, you can do it here. Support Our Journalism. Babasaheb Ambedkar was far ahed than his contemporary political eminant figures like Congress mentor Gandhiji , Nehru ,Rabindranath Tagore, and others. The Caste System and Religious factors Alwyas draw back to India and patronised to the Priesthood which lead to the Indians towards superstation.
It is the main cause of great and vide differences between Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Congress. His logic for opposition was extremely puzzling.
He claimed Dalits should not fight for their rights because the upper-caste committed the sin, so upper-caste need to end untouchability. The logic was extremely perplexing from a man waging a civil disobedience campaign against the British.
Gandhi did not only obstruct Dalit advancement, but he also discouraged non-Hindus, including Sikhs, from helping Dalits. Ambedkar refers to Sikhs as militant and protestant Hindus. He did not see them as fundamentally different from Hindus. An agreement took place in the first Round Table Conference based on a recommendation of the Simon Commission to create a separate electorate for Dalits. Similar agreements to disproportionate representation were extended to Muslims and Sikhs.
Gandhi then began to collude with Muslims against Dalits. He offered the Muslims weightage in the new Parliament. Weightage having more votes than their percent of the population. In exchange, the Muslims would oppose Dalit claims to a separate electorate. Ambedkar and his faction wanted a separate electorate with reserved seats for Depressed Classes. Depressed Classes are defined as not only untouchables but scheduled caste, scheduled tribes, and other backward castes.
Gandhi and his contention wanted only a general electorate. The compromise, called the Communal Award, reserved 78 seats for Depressed Classes in a general electorate. Most Indians that suffered from untouchability were not happy with the agreement. Those of marginalized groups that did not suffer from untouchability felt it was acceptable. Even though Ambedkar was not entirely satisfied, he could also accept the compromise.
Gandhi felt that Dalits having their own electorate would weaken Hinduism. He felt untouchability and other forms of oppression were moral and religious in origin. A redistribution of political power would not improve the condition of Depressed Classes and destroy Hinduism. Gandhi decides to write a letter to the British Government while in jail informing them he would fast to the death to prevent Depressed Classed from having their own electorate.
His fast began on September 20, He reasoned the Sikhs, and Muslims were more organized and politically aware. Dalits were less so due to current and historical oppression. The oppression was rooted in Hindus seeing Dalits as different.
Therefore, labeling Dalits in a separate electorate would perpetuate the stigma and make things worse. Ambedkar rebutted this argument by explaining labeling in and of itself is neither good or bad. It is the motivation behind the labeling that makes it good or bad. When Dalits are labeled to be excluded and disadvantaged in society, it is, of course, detrimental.
However, to repair the accrued disadvantage, Dalits separate to build their community. The separation will not only help Dalits but the entirety of India. A separate electorate would empower Dalits and be a first step to rebuilding their community. He could not give away the political power the British granted the Dalits.
The death of Gandhi could result in the assault of the same Depressed Classes in retribution. Ambedkar decided compromise would be the best solution. The Poona Pact was signed on September 24, , was the result. The terms of the Poona Pact were that there would be reserved seats for Depressed Classes in the Central and Provincial governments.
The reserved seats will be competed from candidates in a separate Depressed Class primary to elevate four candidates. Once the four candidates won the primary, a general electorate would pick the one that wins the reserved seat. Ambedkar assessed the results of the Poona Pact as less than optimal. The Depressed Class candidates always had to appeal to a majority Caste Hindu electorates. The Indian Nation Congress was, in fact, revolutionary in their civil disobedience campaigns against the British Government.
However, they were not radical in they wanted to change the power dynamics in India. Ambedkar wanted a radical party. Only a radical party can secure Dalit rights and a future for India.
The day after the Poona Pact was signed, Gandhi held a public meeting to explain his plan to help people suffering from untouchability. He pledges to start an organization later that month. Post Pagination Next Post Next. Ambedkar , Hypocrisy , Mahatma Gandhi. Connect with:. Facebook Google Twitter. Remember me. Forgot password? Don't have an account? Choose A Format. Personality quiz. Series of questions that intends to reveal something about the personality.
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