{"title":"Can an Electoral System Ensure Real Representation? The Poona Pact and Preferable Dalit Representatives","authors":"S. Biswas","doi":"10.1177/03769836231173045","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"This article challenges the traditional view that Dalits† gave up their right to representation when Ambedkar signed the Poona Pact and agreed to joint electorates, which allowed caste Hindus to elect ‘failed’ Dalit candidates of the primaries in the final polls. The article shows that upper-caste Hindus cast their votes for the same Dalit candidates in the final elections who received the highest Dalit votes in the primaries through an examination of the provincial elections in 1936−1937 and 1945−1946. The article argues that Dalit candidates elected either through joint or separate electorates cannot necessarily guarantee the autonomy of Dalit representatives. It contends that only Dalit legislators having the epistemic aspect emphasised by Ambedkar and the empathetic character underlined by Gandhi can be preferable representatives of Dalit interests.","PeriodicalId":41945,"journal":{"name":"Indian Historical Review","volume":"48 1","pages":"25 - 46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.1000,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Indian Historical Review","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03769836231173045","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"0","JCRName":"ASIAN STUDIES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This article challenges the traditional view that Dalits† gave up their right to representation when Ambedkar signed the Poona Pact and agreed to joint electorates, which allowed caste Hindus to elect ‘failed’ Dalit candidates of the primaries in the final polls. The article shows that upper-caste Hindus cast their votes for the same Dalit candidates in the final elections who received the highest Dalit votes in the primaries through an examination of the provincial elections in 1936−1937 and 1945−1946. The article argues that Dalit candidates elected either through joint or separate electorates cannot necessarily guarantee the autonomy of Dalit representatives. It contends that only Dalit legislators having the epistemic aspect emphasised by Ambedkar and the empathetic character underlined by Gandhi can be preferable representatives of Dalit interests.
期刊介绍：
The Indian Historical Review (IHR), a peer reviewed journal, addresses research interest in all areas of historical studies, ranging from early times to contemporary history. While its focus is on the Indian subcontinent, it has carried historical writings on other parts of the world as well. Committed to excellence in scholarship and accessibility in style, the IHR welcomes articles which deal with recent advancements in the study of history and discussion of method in relation to empirical research. All articles, including those which are commissioned, are independently and confidentially refereed. The IHR will aim to promote the work of new scholars in the field. In order to create a forum for discussion, it will be interested in particular in writings which critically respond to articles previously published in this journal. The IHR has been published since 1974 by the Indian Council of Historical Research. It is edited by an Editorial Board appointed by the Council. The Council also obtains the advice and support of an Advisory Committee which comprises those members of the Council who are not members of the editorial board.
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
分享
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
扫码关注我们
