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Frontier Province.
given separate representation in the legislatures.
Gandhiji protested against it and went on a fast 0 8. The Governor General and Governors were
unto death. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the leader of the under the British control and they were
untouchables, and other leaders feared the loss of responsible to the British government and
life of Gandhiji, and therefore they intervened. not to the provincial governments.
Consequently, an agreement was reached
0 9. The communal or separate electorate
between the high-caste Hindus and untouchables. continued as before.
It was agreed that the common electorates would
be retained, but 1148 seats would be reserved for 10. Voting rights were given to more people, by
the depressed classes in the Provincial Legislative which about 14 percent of the people could
Councils. It also reserved 18 percent of the seats vote.
in the Central Legislative
The Congress did not accept this act. However,
Council for the untouchables. when assured that the Governors would not
This agreement came to be interfere in the day-to-day working of the Indian
known as Poona Pact . The ministers, the Congress participated in the
government accepted this elections. It succeeded in establishing ministries in
agreement and withdrew the
six provinces. It was the single largest party in
Communal Award. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar another three provinces where it formed the
Gandhiji gave up his fast, but he observed another coalition government. On the other hand, the
21-day fast to purify his soul. Muslim League won only 109 seats out of a total
of 482 seats reserved for the Muslims. Only two
Government of India Act (1935)
provinces had non-Congress ministries. This
The Third Round Table Conference in London led proved that religion-based politics was not
to the passing of the bill, called the Government destined to be successful in India. The ministries
of India Act, 1935. This Act suggested the did useful work in many fields, such as education,
following changes in the administration of India : eradication of social evils and development of
employment opportunities. It also boosted
0 1. A federal government would be established
in India which would include the native handicrafts. The people too were given some
liberties.
states as well. This was not implemented.
0 2. The provinces would be given complete FIFTH AND FINAL PHASE : 1939-1947
autonomy to govern themselves; by this, the
provincial ministers were made answerable The events until now had led the people nearer
to the provincial legislatures, but the central the goal of complete Swaraj, but the events that
government continued to have overall took place after 1939 sealed the fate of the British
authority in important matters, such as in India for all times to come.
finance and police.
Second World War and Freedom Movement
0 3. Dyarchy was abolished in the provincial In 1939, the Second World War started and India
legislatures, but it was introduced in the
was made a party to it without any consultation
Central Legislative Council.
with the popular ministries. A large number of
0 4. A federal court was established at the centre. Indian soldiers were posted in different war zones.
0 5. The Reserve Bank of India was established. Britain claimed to fight the war for the cause of
democracy, but it itself was a colonial and
0 6. Burma and Aden were separated from India.
imperial power and was suppressing the rightful
0 7. Two new provinces, Sindh and Orissa were democratic rights of the people in many countries.
created and a full-fledged governor was The Congress demanded that Britain must free
nominated for the province of North-West India first and then make India a party to the war.
Contemporary Social Science-8
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