There are only a few legendary and noteworthy names in history who unforgettably impacted the world and became more than just beings, like Gandhi. Whilst many were inspired by the “Mahatma”, which translates into “great soul”, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated to celebrate his keen follower and Former South African President.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1993, Nelson Mandela awards collection in 40 years reached the number of 260. Today, the world celebrates a great independent leader who personified Gandhi’s ideas to become the “Gandhi of South Africa” on 18th July as Nelson Mandela Day.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the freedom fighter who became the voice of black people in South Africa which was then the British colony. He was the face of the independence struggle in the country with three hundred years of restriction and powerlessness.
Born in Thembu royal family in Mvezo, Union of South Africa, a Xhosa speaker studied law at the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand and became a lawyer in Johannesburg. 1918 born Rolihlahla eventually became involved in anti-colonial and African nationalist politics, by joining the ANC in 1943 and co-founding its Youth League in 1944.
He was anti-apartheid, which means he was against a system of racial segregation that privileged whites which were reinforced in his country through the National Party's white-only government. What followed was his work as president of the ANC's Transvaal branch, his involvement in the 1952 Defiance Campaign and the 1955 Congress of the People and repeated arrests for seditious activities and was unsuccessfully prosecuted in the 1956 Treason Trial.
The visionary secretly joined the banned South African Communist Party (SACP) influenced by Marxism and co-founded the militant Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1961. Unlike his initial thought process of non-violent protests, he led a sabotage campaign against the government. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1962, and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring to overthrow the state following the Rivonia Trial.
After 27 years of imprisonment in Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster Prison, President F.W. de Klerk released Mandela in 1990 amidst the domestic and international pressure and fears of racial civil war. The negotiation between the two led to an end to apartheid. This resulted in the 1994 multiracial general election in which Mandela led the ANC to victory and became president.
Gandhi and Mandela, both seem to have another similarity in their journey, Walk to Freedom. While Gandhi’s walk to Dandi from Sabarmati Ashram became Dandi March, which consisted of the more than 60 years old Gandhi walking 386 km in 1931 for 24 days to break the salt law, he seemed to inspire Mandela’s socio-political journey.
Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom is a book consisting of such chapters of inspiration to achieving his goal of freedom and becoming the first Black President after the history of three centuries of White rule in South Africa.
The 1994 published book profiles early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison as he was regarded as a terrorist as a leader of outlawed ANC party and jailed in infamous Robben Island. His journey as a President was focused on restructuring the country’s system. The later chapters in his book describe his political ascension and his belief that the struggle continued against apartheid in South Africa.
Mandela dedicated his autobiography to "my six children, Madiba and Makaziwe (my first daughter) who are now deceased, and to Makgatho, Makaziwe, Zenani and Zindzi, whose support and love I treasure; to my twenty-one grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who give me great pleasure; and to all my comrades, friends and fellow South Africans whom I serve and whose courage, determination and patriotism remain my source of inspiration."
The 95-year-old Mandela took his last breath on 5th December 2013 after losing the fight to prolonged respiratory infection.
Nelson Mandela University or NMU was founded through a merger of three institutions in January 2005. While it was created in 1882 as Port Elizabeth Art School, and went through various name changes before it received its current name.
With its main administration in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, the University is a comprehensive university offering professional and vocational training. Six of its seven campuses are in Port Elizabeth and one is in George. They offer to study from diploma, a degree up to doctoral level qualifications.
Nelson Mandela Foundation was Founded by the visionary himself in 1999 to promote his vision of freedom and equality and as a platform to continue this journey to protect his country after he stepped down as the President of South Africa.
Mandela’s story ignites a flame of desire to contribute to a goal bigger than yourself. On that note, we would like to celebrate him with one of the famous Nelson Mandela quotes.
“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.” – Nelson Mandela
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