The Problem of Political Suppression[f1]
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The introduction of the principle of political liberty
in India has been very tardy & gradual. It began in the year 1892 when the
principle of popular representation in the Constitution of the Legislatures was
introduced. It was expanded in 1909. There were two defects in the popular
representation as it stood in 1909. The first defect was the franchise was very
high. It was so high that a large mass of people were excluded. Those to whom
it reached were the aristocracy of the Hindus and the Muslims. The second
defect was that the scheme of popular representation was confined to the Legislature. It did not extend to the
Executive. The Executive continued to be independent. The Legislature could
neither make or unmake the Executive. The next was taken in 1919. Curiously enough, in the scheme of 1919 the
principle of popular representation was applied to the Executive without
applying it in commensurate degree to the Legislature. This happened because
the political movement in India was led largely by the higher classes. They
have always been more anxious for Executive power
than for extension of franchise. It is natural. For they stood to gain by
executive power. While those who would gain by franchise were the masses.
The higher classes having the ear of the British
authorities pressed for executive power and succeeded getting it without the
extension of franchise.
The franchise was no doubt extended much beyond the
bounds fixed in 1909. But it did not touch the Untouchables. Indeed they are so
poor that nothing except adult franchise would bring the Untouchables on the
electoral roll.
The Government of India was
very much perturbed. They could do very little. But they did express their
anxiety about placing the Untouchables under the political domination of the
high caste Hindus without giving the Untouchables the right to vote in the
election. In their despatch of 19th March 1919 the Government of India observed— [Quote]
The situation was altered in 1935 under the scheme
proposed by the British Government under what is called the Communal Award.
(i) The Untouchables were to have a differential franchise so as to
enfranchise about ten per cent of their population.
(ii) The Untouchables were not only to have a
differential franchise, they were to have certain number of seats reserved for
them in the Provincial and Central Legislatures.
(iii) The seats reserved for them were to be filled by separate Electorates
formed exclusively of voters belonging to the Untouchable Community.
(iv) In addition to having a vote in the Separate Electorates the
Untouchables were to have a second or additional
vote in the general election for seats open to
Hindus other than the Untouchables.
Mr. Gandhi who had been
objecting to separate representation of the
Untouchables raised a protest against the proposal of the British Government
and threatened to fast unto death if these concessions were not withdrawn. Mr. Gandhi’s objection was mainly to Separate Electorates
and as the British Government refused to withdraw
their proposals unless there was an agreement between
the Untouchables and the Hindus. There upon
Mr.Gandhi started his fast. Eventually an agreement was arrived at between
the Hindus and the Untouchables in September 1932. That agreement is known as
the Poona Pact. Its terms are reproduced below:
(1) There shall be seats reserved for the Depressed
Classes out of the general electorate seats in the Provincial Legislatures as
follows:
|
Madras |
30 |
|
Bombay with Sind |
15 |
|
Punjab |
|
|
Bihar and Orissa |
18 |
|
Central Provinces |
20 |
|
Assam |
7 |
|
United Provinces |
20 |
|
Total |
148 |
These figures are based on the total strength of the
Provincial Councils, announced in the Prime Minister's decision.
(2) Election to these seats shall be by joint
electorates subject, however, to the following procedure:
All the members of the Depressed Classes registered in
the fengral electoral roll in a constituency will
form an electoral college, which will elect a panel of four candidates
belonging to the Depressed Classes for each of such reserved seats, by the
method of the single vote; the four persons
getting the highest number of votes in such primary election, shall be
candidates for election by the general electorate.
(3) Representation of the Depressed Classes in the
Central Legislature shall likewise be on the principal of joint electorates and
reserved seats by the method of primary election in the manner provided for in
Clause two above, for their representation in the Provincial Legislatures.
(4) In the Central Legislatures, eighteen per cent of
the seats allotted to the general electorate for British India in the said
legislature shall be reserved for the Depressed Classes.
(5) The system of primary election to a panel of
candidates for election to the Central and Provincial Legislatures, as here in
before mentioned, shall come to an end after the first ten years, unless
terminated sooner by mutual agreement under the provision of Clause six below.
(6) The system of representation of the Depressed
Classes by reserved seats in the Provincial and Central Legislature as provided
for in Clauses I and 4 shall continue
until determined by mutual agreement between the communities concerned in the settlement.
(7) Franchise for the Central and Provincial
Legislatures for the Depressed Classes shall be as indicated in the Lothian
Committee Report.
(8) There shall be no disabilities attaching to any one
on the ground of his being a member of the Depressed Classes in regard to any
elections to local bodies or appointment to the Public Services. Every
endeavour shall be made to secure fair representation of the Depressed Classes in these respects, subject to
such educational qualifications as may be laid
down for appointment to the Public Services.
(9) In every province out of the educational grant, an
adequate sum shall be earmarked for providing educational facilities to the
members of the Depressed .Classes.
This pact forms the charter of the political liberty of
the Untouchables. The first election.......