Hindus disputed Untouchable population figures to protect their own political representation

Evidence

86 The figure Ambedkar cites is drawn from the Simon Commission report of 1930. When the Lothian Committee came to India in 1932 Ambedkar said, “The Hindus adopted a challenging mood and refused to accept the figures given by the Simon Commission as a true figure for the Untouchables of India.” He then argues that, “this is due to the fact that the Hindus had by now realised the danger of admitting the existence of the Untouchables. For it meant that a part of the representation enjoyed by the Hindus will have to be given up by them to the Untouchables” (BAWS 5, 7-8). — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 505

When the Lothian Committee came to India in 1932 Ambedkar said, “The Hindus adopted a challenging mood and refused to accept the figures given by the Simon Commission as a true figure for the Untouchables of India.” He then argues that, “this is due to the fact that the Hindus had by now realised the danger of admitting the existence of the Untouchables. For it meant that a part of the representation enjoyed by the Hindus will have to be given up by them to the Untouchables” (BAWS 5, 7-8). — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 505

Categorization

• QUESTION: How did population-count disputes shape the actual reserved-seat allocation negotiated at the 1932 Poona Pact?
• XREF: Directly evidences Ambedkar’s recurring claim in Annihilation of Caste that upper castes benefit materially from denying Dalit numbers and existence. — connects to: Caste Hindus sought to deny Untouchables the choice that choice confers power.; British census counted Untouchables as Hindu, making their defection numerically threatening.; Ambedkar asserted Untouchables would choose political power over membership in the Hindu fold. (+2 more)
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 505

Broader Connections

• Caste Hindus sought to deny Untouchables the choice that choice confers power. #corroborates (0.70)
• British census counted Untouchables as Hindu, making their defection numerically threatening. #expands (0.65)
• Ambedkar asserted Untouchables would choose political power over membership in the Hindu fold. #corroborates (0.60)
• Ambedkar argued separate electorates were needed to produce genuine Untouchable representatives. #corroborates (0.55)