On 16 August, 1932, Ramsay Macdonald announced his Communal Award. The award authorised Muslims, Europeans, Sikhs and depressed classes separate electorates. Gandhi began fast unto death on 20th September, 1932 to protest against this decision. Finally, on 24 September, 1932 agreement settled in Poona known as ‘Poona Pact’ in which joint electorate was accepted on the basis of two provisions. The two provisions were : Firstly, there were 148 seats reserved for depressed classes in the provincial legislature while only 71 seats were reserved according to communal award. ....Read more