Depressed Classes
Topic: The National Movement: Gandhian Era · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement"; Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"
Meaning
"Depressed Classes" was a term used in colonial times for the castes treated as untouchable. These groups were later called Scheduled Castes. In the 1930s their political representation became a major issue. B.R. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates, meaning that only dalit voters would elect dalit representatives. Gandhi opposed this because he felt it would cut dalits off from Hindu society for ever. After independence, the Constituent Assembly abolished untouchability and reserved seats for them instead.
Example
At the second Round Table Conference (1931), the British accepted separate electorates for the Depressed Classes. Gandhi began a fast unto death in protest. This led to the Poona Pact of September 1932, which gave reserved seats that would be voted for by the general electorate.
Don't confuse with
- Harijan: this was Gandhi's word for the same groups, meaning "people of God". "Depressed Classes" was the official colonial term.
Related concepts
- All India Kisan Sabha
- Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
- FICCI
- G.D. Birla
- Jamnalal Bajaj
- All India Trade Union Congress
- Communist Party of India
- Meerut conspiracy case
- Women in the civil disobedience movement
- Women's Indian Association