Reservation Policy In Pre-Independence Period

Abstract

British Indian Society in the sense of the numerous social closures is operated by the caste system. These indigenous incarnations continued and some categories were introduced by the British. At the top of the hierarchy are the Brahmins, or priests, followed by the Kshatriyas, or warriors. The Vaisyas, the farmers and artisans, constitute the third class. At the bottom are the Shudras, the class responsible for serving the three higher groups. Christian missionaries took the lead in adopting the cause of the Depressed Classes seeking to provide welfare for them. By the 1850s, either inspired or shamed into action by the missionaries’ example, Hindu reformers emerged. The Adi-Dravida leaders like B. R. Ambedkar, R. Srinivasan and M.C. Rajah, the Justice leaders like Pangal Raja and Self - Respect leaders like E.V.Ramasamy appealed to the masses to extend all co-operation to the Simon Commission. Owing to the support received from the quarters of the Dravidans, the Simon Commission easily garnered oral and written evidences in Tamilnadu for a new constitutional experiment to the whole nation. The Indian Central Committee, which was constituted to co-operate with Simon Commission, entered into a general agreement and wanted to test the principle of communal electorate to the depressed classes in the Madras Presidency for a period of ten years. The British Government convened the Indian Round Table Conferences. The Justice Party urged the British Government to convene it at the earliest possible. B.R. Ambedkar claimed that as the British Government has not done anything to remove untouchability it should consider the views of the public. Ramsay Mac Donald, the Prime Minister announced, on the discussion over the Simon Commission's recommendations the Communal Award on August 17th, 1932 which favoured separate electorate. According to the Government of Act of 1935 reserved a number of seats to various communities and interests. In 1940s, E. V.Ramasamy Naicker struggled for exclusive reservation for Backward Classes (BCs). The Congress Government issued a G.O. in 1947.