Communal Award
Encyclopedia
The Communal Award was announced by the British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald
on 4 August 1932 to grant separate electorate
s to minority communities in India
, including Muslims, Sikhs, and Dalit
(then known as the Depressed Classes or Untouchables) in India.
In August 1932, the then Prime Minister of Britain, Ramsay Macdonald
gave his 'award' known as the Communal Award
. According to it, separate representation was to be provided for the Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans, etc. The depressed classes were assigned a number of seats to be filled by election from special constituencies in which voters belonging to the depressed classes only could vote.
The Award was highly controversial and opposed by Mahatma Gandhi
, who fasted in protest against it. Communal Award
was supported by many among the Minority Communities, most notably the dalit leader, Dr.B. R. Ambedkar. After lengthy negotiations, Gandhi reached an agreement with Dr.Ambedkar to have a single Hindu electorate, with Dalits having seats reserved within it. This is called the Poona Pact
. Electorates for other religions like Muslim
and Sikh
remained separate.
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
on 4 August 1932 to grant separate electorate
Separate electorate
In India, a certain number of political positions and university posts are held for specific groups of the population, including scheduled castes, backward castes, and women.- Definition :...
s to minority communities in India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, including Muslims, Sikhs, and Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
(then known as the Depressed Classes or Untouchables) in India.
In August 1932, the then Prime Minister of Britain, Ramsay Macdonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
gave his 'award' known as the Communal Award
Communal Award
The Communal Award was announced by the British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald on 4 August 1932 to grant separate electorates to minority communities in India, including Muslims, Sikhs, and Dalit in India....
. According to it, separate representation was to be provided for the Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans, etc. The depressed classes were assigned a number of seats to be filled by election from special constituencies in which voters belonging to the depressed classes only could vote.
The Award was highly controversial and opposed by Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, who fasted in protest against it. Communal Award
Communal Award
The Communal Award was announced by the British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald on 4 August 1932 to grant separate electorates to minority communities in India, including Muslims, Sikhs, and Dalit in India....
was supported by many among the Minority Communities, most notably the dalit leader, Dr.B. R. Ambedkar. After lengthy negotiations, Gandhi reached an agreement with Dr.Ambedkar to have a single Hindu electorate, with Dalits having seats reserved within it. This is called the Poona Pact
Poona Pact
The Poona Pact refers to an agreement between the lower caste Untouchables of India led by Dr. B. R...
. Electorates for other religions like Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
and Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
remained separate.