Explanation: In August 1932, Ramsay MacDonald, the British Prime Minister, announced a scheme of representation of the minorities, which came to be known as the Communal Award.

• The award not only continued separate electorates for the Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans but also extended it to the depressed classes (Scheduled Castes).
• Gandhiji was distressed over this extension of the principle of communal representation to the depressed classes and undertook fast unto death in Yerawada Jail (Poona) to get the award modified.
• At last, there was an agreement between the leaders of the Congress and the depressed classes.
• The agreement, known as Poona Pact, retained the Hindu joint electorate and gave reserved seats to the depressed classes.

Source: Laxmikanth’s Polity