The Poona Pact of 1932 was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and which one of the following leaders?

Introduction / Context:
The Poona Pact is an important event in modern Indian history, especially in the context of representation of the depressed classes. It involved crucial negotiations between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B. R. Ambedkar about separate electorates and reserved seats for depressed classes. This question checks whether the learner can correctly identify the leader who signed the pact with Gandhi in 1932.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event referred to is the Poona Pact of 1932.
• The Pact concerned electoral arrangements for depressed classes under British rule.
• The options list major leaders of the freedom movement and British administration.
• We assume basic knowledge of key personalities associated with social justice issues in India.

Concept / Approach:
The background of the Poona Pact lies in the Communal Award announced by the British government, which granted separate electorates to the depressed classes. Dr B. R. Ambedkar initially supported this arrangement. Mahatma Gandhi, however, opposed separate electorates for depressed classes and went on a fast unto death in the Yerwada jail in Poona. Negotiations ensued between Congress leaders and Dr Ambedkar, culminating in the Poona Pact, which replaced separate electorates with reserved seats in joint electorates. Therefore, the leader who signed the pact with Gandhi was Dr B. R. Ambedkar.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Connect the Poona Pact with the issue of depressed classes representation. Step 2: Recall that Dr B. R. Ambedkar was the principal spokesperson for the depressed classes. Step 3: Remember that Gandhi and Ambedkar reached a compromise, leading to reserved seats in joint electorates instead of separate electorates. Step 4: Select B. R. Ambedkar from the options as the correct co signatory with Gandhi.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical accounts consistently state that the Poona Pact was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B. R. Ambedkar, signed on behalf of the depressed classes and the caste Hindu leadership. The exact terms included increased reservation of seats for depressed classes in provincial legislatures and a joint electorate system. No sources attribute the pact to figures like Jinnah, Lord Irwin, or Subhash Chandra Bose, which confirms that B. R. Ambedkar is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Muhammad Ali Jinnah: He was associated with Muslim League politics and later the Pakistan movement, not with the Poona Pact. Lord Irwin: He was a Viceroy earlier linked with the Gandhi Irwin Pact of 1931, a different agreement. Subhash Chandra Bose: He was a prominent nationalist leader but was not involved in negotiating this particular pact. Rajendra Prasad: He was a senior Congress leader but did not sign the Poona Pact with Gandhi as the main counterpart.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse the Gandhi Irwin Pact with the Poona Pact and mistakenly choose Lord Irwin. Another pitfall is to associate any pact involving Gandhi with other famous leaders like Jinnah or Subhash Chandra Bose without examining the issue at stake. Remembering that Poona Pact is specifically about depressed classes representation helps anchor Dr Ambedkar as the correct counterpart.

Final Answer:
B. R. Ambedkar