Why was the Communal Award of 1932 severely opposed by the leaders of the national freedom struggle?
The Award allotted to each minority a number of seats in the legislatures to be elected on the basis of a separate electorate.
Incorrect AnswerThe Award declared the Depressed Classes to be a minority community.
Incorrect AnswerThe Award removed reservations for persons with disability in government jobs.
Incorrect AnswerBoth (a) and (b)
Correct AnswerExplanation:
The British policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ found another expression in the announcement of the Communal Award in 1932.
The Award allotted to each minority a number of seats in the legislatures to be elected on the basis of a separate electorate that is Muslims would be elected only by Muslims and Sikhs only by Sikhs, and so on.
Muslims, Sikhs and Christians had already been treated as minorities. The Award declared the Depressed Classes (Scheduled Castes of today) also to be a minority community entitled to separate electorate and thus separated them from the rest of the Hindus.
The Congress was opposed to a separate electorate for Muslims, Sikhs and ‘Christians as it encouraged the communal notion that they formed separate groups or communities having interests different from the general body of Indians.
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By: Abhishek Sharma