178 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
voting had remained the Untouchables would have had a few seats less but every other member would have been a member for the Untouchables. The increase in the number of seats for the Untouchables is no increase at all and was no recompense for the loss of Separate Electorate and the double vote. The Hindus, although they did not celebrate the Poona Pact, did not like it. Throughout their commotion to save Mr. Gandhi’s life there was definite current of conscious feeling that the cost of saving his life may be great. Therefore, when they saw the terms of the Pact they very definitely disliked it, although they had not the courage to reject it. Disliked by the Hindus and disfavoured by the Untouchables, the Poona Pact was given recognition by both parties and was embodied in the Government of India Act.” [1]
After the Poona Pact, Third Round Table Conference was held at England. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar left India on 7th November 1932 to attend this Conference. Gandhi’s fast and Poona Pact were the issues of debate everywhere. One of the comments about Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is as follows :
“On boardship many important passengers talked about the Poona Pact and about Gandhi’s fast that had rocked the Indian world. The fast had impressed them tremendously. One of the European passengers pointing to Dr. Ambedkar, said to his friend : “This is the young man who is writing new pages of Indian history.” [2]
��
1 : Writings and Speeches, Vol. 9, Pp. 87-90.
2 : Keer, P. 220.