Main Features of the Poona Pact:
The Poona Pact, signed on September 24, 1932, was an agreement between leaders of the Dalit community and the British government. It sought to address the issue of political representation for Dalits in India. The main features of the Poona Pact were as follows:
1. No Separate Electorates for Dalits:
- Dalits were no longer to have separate electorates.
- They were to be included in the general electorates and would be voted in by the general population.
2. Depressed Classes:
- The term "Depressed Classes" was used to refer to the Dalit community instead of "Harijans" which was a term coined by Mahatma Gandhi.
- The use of the term "Depressed Classes" aimed to highlight the socio-economic challenges faced by the community.
3. Reserved Seats:
- Reserved seats were provided for the Depressed Classes in both provincial and central legislative councils.
- This ensured that the Dalit community had representation in the political decision-making process.
4. Representation:
- The Poona Pact aimed to provide fair representation to the Depressed Classes in the political system.
- It recognized the need for their inclusion and participation in the governance of the country.
Overall, the Poona Pact was a significant development in the struggle for Dalit rights in India. It provided a platform for the community's political representation and fought against the practice of untouchability. The agreement aimed to uplift the status and improve the socio-economic conditions of the Dalit community.

The Poona Pact of September 1932 was a significant agreement that was reached between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who was the leader of the Dalit community in India. This pact was a result of the discussions held by the British government-appointed Simon Commission in the 1930s, which recommended certain reforms in the political representation of different communities in India. The main features of the Poona Pact are as follows:

No separate electorates for Dalits, to be voted by the general electorates:
- The first feature of the Poona Pact was the abandonment of the principle of separate electorates for the Dalit community. The Simon Commission had recommended the continuation of separate electorates for the Dalits, which meant that they would have their own reserved seats in the legislatures and would be elected by members of their own community.
- However, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar disagreed on this issue. While Gandhi believed in the principle of unity and did not want to divide the Indian society further, Ambedkar argued that separate electorates were necessary to ensure adequate representation and protection for the Dalit community.
- After intense negotiations, Gandhi and Ambedkar reached a compromise and agreed to abolish separate electorates. Instead, the Dalits would be given reserved seats in the legislatures and would be elected by the general electorates.

The Dalits to be called Depressed Classes and not Harijans:
- Another feature of the Poona Pact was the change in terminology used to refer to the Dalit community. Gandhi had previously used the term "Harijans" to refer to the Dalits, which means "children of God." However, Ambedkar objected to this term as he believed it was patronizing and did not adequately address the issues faced by the community.
- As a result, it was agreed in the Poona Pact that the Dalits would be referred to as "Depressed Classes" instead of Harijans. This change in terminology aimed to highlight the social and economic discrimination faced by the community and to bring attention to their specific needs and concerns.

Reserved seats for Depressed Classes in provincial and central legislative councils:
- The most significant feature of the Poona Pact was the provision of reserved seats for the Depressed Classes in the provincial and central legislative councils. This meant that a certain number of seats in these bodies would be exclusively reserved for candidates from the Dalit community.
- The reserved seats were meant to ensure representation and a voice for the Dalit community in the political decision-making process. This was seen as a step towards empowering the community and addressing their social, economic, and political issues.
- The exact number of reserved seats was not specified in the Poona Pact and was left to be determined by the British government. However, it was agreed that the number of reserved seats would be in proportion to the population of the Depressed Classes in each province.

In conclusion, the main features of the Poona Pact of September 1932 were the abandonment of separate electorates for Dalits and their inclusion in the general electorates, the change in terminology to refer to the Dalits as Depressed Classes, and the provision of reserved seats for the community in the provincial and central legislative councils. These features aimed to address the issues of representation and empowerment of the Dalit community in the political sphere.