Gandhi and Ambedkar’s views
Gandhi, the principal architect of the Indian Freedom Struggle, saw the Communal Award as an attack on Indian unity and nationalism. He thought it was dangerous to both Hinduism and the depressed classes since it handed no answer to the socially downgraded situation of the depressed classes. Once the depressed classes were acted like a different political being, he reasoned, the problem of rescinding untouchability would get undermined, while separate electorates would assure that the untouchables stayed untouchables in everlasting. Gandhi tried the untouchables as an inborn part of Hindu society. Gandhi demanded that the depressed classes be elected through joint if feasible a broad electorate through universal suffrage while expressing no protest to the claim for a larger composition of allocated seats. On September 18, 1932, he fasted indefinitely to insist on his claims. Poona pact was signed between Gandhi and Ambedkar to abandon the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes. Gandhi named the depressed classes and the untouchables as “Harijan”, Ambedkar denounced it as a clever scheme. Gandhi also renamed the Depressed Classes League to “Harijan Sevak Sangh“. According to Gandhi, the practice of untouchability was a moral stigma on Indian society and wanted it to get blotted out by acts of atonement.
B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the constitution of independent India, supported the idea of a separate electorate proposed by the British government. He advocated the theory of separate electorates for the depressed classes in all round table conferences. By signing the Poona Pact, he abandoned the idea of separate electorates for depressed classes just only because of Gandhi’s fast but later on, he continued to denounce the Poona Pact till 1947. Ambedkar viewed the Untouchables as a religious minority rather than part of the Hindu community, preferring to call them a “political minority” or a “minority by force“. Ambedkar wanted to unravel the matter of untouchability through constitutional laws and approaches.
Ideological Differences Between Gandhi and Ambedkar
The depressed classes so-called untouchables were one of the most debatable topics during the 1930s because of discussion on the separate electorate to the depressed classes. Gandhi and Ambedkar both declared themselves the leader of the depressed classes in India. They both shared many ideas, although in many ways they had different beliefs. There is a striking resemblance in symbolism inherent in some of the actions of both individuals. Gandhi who always talked about the unity of the Indian people, showed his beliefs towards Joint Electorates, whereas Ambedkar, who was born in a depressed class and was the victim of untouchability during his life, saw depressed classes as a religious minority in India and advocated the separate electorates and reserved seats in the Imperial Legislative Council at Round Table Conferences.