Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of ‘Harijans’ in his political and social programme

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi’s decision to incorporate the upliftment of the ‘Harijans’ (a term he used for the Depressed Classes or Dalits) into his political and social programme was catalyzed by the events surrounding the Poona Pact of 1932. The British government’s announcement of the Communal Award in August 1932, which proposed separate electorates for the Depressed Classes, was met with strong opposition from Gandhi, who viewed it as a divisive measure that would fragment Hindu society. In protest, Gandhi commenced a fast unto death while imprisoned in Yerwada Jail. This act of civil disobedience led to negotiations between Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, culminating in the Poona Pact on September 24, 1932. The agreement replaced separate electorates with reserved seats for the Depressed Classes within the general electorate, aiming to ensure political representation without segregating them from the broader Hindu community. Following this pact, Gandhi intensified his efforts against untouchability by establishing the Harijan Sevak Sangh in September 1932 and launching the weekly journal ‘Harijan’ in January 1933, thereby making the eradication of untouchability a central focus of his reformist agenda.