The Poona Pact agreement was signed at 5 pm on the 24th of September 1932. This historical timestamp marks the conclusion of negotiations between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar regarding political representation for depressed classes.
Who signed the Poona Pact document in 1932?
Mahatma Gandhi did not sign the final document because he was imprisoned at Yerwada Central Jail in Poona during the crisis. His son Devdas Gandhi acted as the signatory on behalf of the broader movement alongside twenty-three other representatives who gathered to finalize the terms.
How many seats were allocated under the Poona Pact compared to the Communal Award?
The original Communal Award proposed reserving 71 seats in the central legislature, but the Poona Pact increased this allocation to 147 electoral seats. This new number represented nearly twice the representation offered by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald's Separate Electorate plan.
When was Temple Entry Day observed after the Poona Pact signing?
Eight January 1933 was later observed as Temple Entry Day to commemorate progress toward equality following the agreement. The pact established a precedent for affirmative action within the democratic framework of independent India that continues to influence political landscapes today.