Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar always strived for liberating the oppressed classes from societal shackles, University of Mysore (UoM) Vice-Chancellor Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar observed that the Poona Pact signed  between Dr. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi will remain as an important landmark in Indian political history.

He was speaking after inaugurating an interactive-session on ‘Poona Pact and the Aftermath,’ organised by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Research and Extension Centre, marking the 89th anniversary of the signing of the Pact,  at the new Vishwajnani auditorium at Manasagangothri here this morning.

He pointed out that the Poona Pact inked between Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi on Sept. 24,1932, was an agreement reached between the two great leaders on behalf of depressed classes and upper caste Hindu leaders on the reservation of electoral seats for depressed classes in the Legislature of British India Government. 

Noting that the Pact signified a solution derived by the amalgamation of two different ideologies (Dr. Ambedkar: Political approach and Gandhi: Social approach), he said that the two icons of the Indian freedom struggle strived for achieving a common goal for upliftment of one of the most vulnerable sections of the society. He further said that the Pact also granted new rights to oppressed sections of the society (then labelled as untouchables).

Prof. D. Jeevankumar, Hon.faculty of Gadag-based Rural Development and Panchayat  Raj University, delivered keynote address through a zoom meeting. Centre’s Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Chair Visiting faculty Basavaraj Devanur presided. Earlier, floral tributes were offered to the portrait of Dr. Ambedkar. Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commission Chairman M. Shivanna, BSP State President M. Krishnamurthy, Centre Director Prof. J. Somashekar and others were present.