Gandhi while in jail in 1932 had set up the All India Anti Untouchability League in September 1932 and had started the weekly Harijan in January 1933. He handed the responsibility for running it in the hands of two of his close associates, the industrialist, G.D. Birla, and the social worker, A.V. Thakkar. After the signing of Poona Pact, this organization was renamed the Harijan Sewak Sangh.