Understanding Gandhiji's Shift Towards Harijan Upliftment Post-Poona Pact

The question asks about the specific event that prompted Mahatma Gandhi to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' (as he called the Depressed Classes) more directly and prominently in his political and social agenda, beyond just opposing untouchability in principle. Let's examine the historical context of the options provided.

Analyzing the Options and the Poona Pact

We are looking for an event that specifically galvanized Gandhiji into making the eradication of untouchability and the upliftment of Harijans a central plank of his public life and campaigns.

• The Poona Pact (1932): This was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar on behalf of the Depressed Classes. It came about after the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal Award, which proposed separate electorates for the Depressed Classes. Gandhiji saw this as a divisive measure that would permanently segregate Harijans from the rest of the Hindu community and undertook a fast unto death in protest while imprisoned in Yerawada Jail, Poona. The Poona Pact was a result of negotiations to end this fast. It abolished separate electorates for the Depressed Classes but increased the number of reserved seats for them in the provincial and central legislatures within joint electorates.
• The Gandhi-Irwin Agreement (Delhi Pact) (1931): This was a political agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, primarily dealing with civil disobedience, the release of political prisoners, and the participation of Congress in the Second Round Table Conference. While Gandhiji's commitment against untouchability existed, this pact did not specifically trigger the intensified focus on Harijan upliftment.
• Arrest of Congress leadership at the time of the Quit India Movement (1942): This event marked a major phase of the independence struggle but was a general political crackdown and not directly linked to a shift in focus regarding Harijan upliftment, although Gandhiji's commitment continued.
• Promulgation of the Government of India Act, 1935: This was a constitutional reform enacted by the British Parliament. It provided for provincial autonomy and introduced dyarchy at the center, among other provisions, including the representation of various communities. While it set the framework for elections and representation, it was the preceding event, the Poona Pact, that specifically addressed and altered the representation strategy for the Depressed Classes and directly impacted Gandhiji's subsequent actions regarding Harijan welfare.

The Communal Award and Gandhiji's subsequent fast, leading to the Poona Pact, were a turning point. Gandhiji felt that the threat of separate electorates highlighted the urgent need for caste Hindus to actively work towards integrating Harijans and removing the social disabilities they faced. This event led him to launch a massive campaign against untouchability, including undertaking a country-wide tour (Harijan Tour) and establishing the Harijan Sevak Sangh to work specifically for the social, economic, and educational advancement of the Depressed Classes. Thus, the Poona Pact was the catalyst that propelled the upliftment of Harijans to the forefront of Gandhiji's socio-political reform program.

The Impact of the Poona Pact on Gandhiji's Work

Prior to the Poona Pact, Gandhiji opposed untouchability morally and socially. However, the political crisis created by the Communal Award and his fast made him realize the depth of the issue and the necessity for a more dedicated, organized effort for Harijan upliftment. The Poona Pact solidified his resolve to tackle untouchability head-on as a matter of national importance and religious purification.

Therefore, the Poona Pact is the event that specifically led Gandhiji to integrate the upliftment of Harijans centrally into his ongoing political and social reform movements.

Revision Table: Key Events and Harijan Upliftment

Additional Information on Gandhiji and Untouchability

Mahatma Gandhi considered untouchability a blot on Hinduism and Indian society. His opposition to it was moral and religious from the beginning of his public life in India. He aimed for the complete eradication of this practice. However, the political development surrounding the Communal Award and the subsequent Poona Pact elevated the issue from primarily a social reform concern to a major political and social mission with organized, nationwide efforts. He renamed the Depressed Classes 'Harijans' (children of God), though this term was later criticized by some leaders like B.R. Ambedkar.

Gandhiji's work for Harijan upliftment included:

• Advocating for temple entry rights.
• Promoting inter-dining and inter-caste marriage.
• Campaigning for access to public facilities like wells and schools.
• Running ashrams that practiced equality and non-discrimination.
• Launching publications like 'Harijan' newspaper.
• Encouraging caste Hindus to atone for centuries of injustice.

The Poona Pact was a pivotal moment that intensified and structured his efforts significantly, making the upliftment of Harijans a central theme of his later years.