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Nelson Mandela at 85
`I have cherished the ideal of democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die....`
"I have cherished the ideal of democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die...."
This 85-year old man fighting a deadly disease -- prostrate cancer-- has inspired the whole world with his grit and determination with which he fought the apartheid regime and replaced it with a multi-racial democracy.
Born in 1918, Rolihlahla Mandela, was part of the Madiba tribal clan-- part of the Thembu people -- in a small village of South Africa. He was the first member of his family to attend school. It was at school that his English teacher named him Nelson and he thus came to be known as Nelson Mandela. His father, a counsellor to the Thembu royal family, died when he was only nine years old. He attended Wesleyan College, which most Thembu royalty attended. While studying at college he met Oliver Tambo, who became a lifelong friend. Mandela qualified to become a lawyer and in 1952 opened a law practice in Johannesburg with his partner, Tambo. Both Mandela and Tambo campaigned against apartheid.
As a young law student, he actively participated in the campaign against the apartheid regime. His natural instinct for politics took him a long way. In 1943 he joined the African National Congress (ANC), first as an activist, then as a founder and then became the president of the ANC Youth League mainly with the support of Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo. Inspired by Mahatama Gandhi, he too was initially committed to non-violent mass struggle
He got married to Evelyn Masse, his first wife, in 1944 but divorced her in 1957. From her he has three children.
In 1955 Mandela was charged with treason along with 155 other activists, but the charges against him were dropped after a four-year trial.
Later in 1958, Mandela married Winnie Madikizela, who later played an active role in the campaign to free him from prison. But no one knew, his 38-year marriage to Winnie would end in separation and divorce in 1992, which many attribute to political estrangement. The ANC was outlawed in 1960 and Nelson Mandela went underground as tension with the apartheid regime grew. Though underground, Mandela, who was already the vice-president of ANC, launched a campaign of sabotage against the country`s economy. He was eventually arrested and charges of sabotage and violently overthrowing the government were framed against him.
In the winter of 1964 he was sentenced to life in prison. Within a span of 12-months Mandela`s mother died and his eldest son died in a car crash but he was not allowed to attend the funerals.
He remained in prison on Robben Island for 18-years before being transferred to Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland in 1982.
Though Mandela languished in exile but a huge chunk of the South African black population took forward his movement against the apartheid regime. This resulted in violent clashes between the government and the black community.
His long time friend Oliver Tambo came to his rescue. He launched an international campaign demanding Mandela`s release. The pressure worked and the world community tightened the sanctions imposed against the apartheid regime of South Africa in 1967. And in 1990, President F W de Klerk, succumbed to the pressure and lifted the ban on the ANC and Nelson Mandela was released from the prison in 1990. 1993 was rather an eventful year for South Africa. Both Nelson Mandela and President De Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Five months later, for the first time in the history of South Africa, people of all races voted in democratic elections and Nelson Mandela was elected the President and his party African National Congress won 252 of the 400 seats in the national assembly.
From there on, he worked very hard to successfully build an international image of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela gave up the presidency of ANC in December 1997 in favour of Thabko Mbeki, his nominated successor. He stepped down as President after the ANC`s landslide victory in the national elections in 1999 in favour of Mbeki.
After his retirement as President in 1999, Mandela went on to become an advocate for a variety of social and human rights organisation. He received many foreign honours, including the Order of St John from Queen Elizabeth II and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W Bush. He is also the only other person of non-Indian origin apart from Mother Teresa who has been awarded Bharat Ratna, the highest Indian civil award, in 1990.
In 1999, on his 80th birthday, he married Graca Machel, the widow of former president of Mozambique, who was also an ANC ally.
Bureau Report
Born in 1918, Rolihlahla Mandela, was part of the Madiba tribal clan-- part of the Thembu people -- in a small village of South Africa. He was the first member of his family to attend school. It was at school that his English teacher named him Nelson and he thus came to be known as Nelson Mandela. His father, a counsellor to the Thembu royal family, died when he was only nine years old. He attended Wesleyan College, which most Thembu royalty attended. While studying at college he met Oliver Tambo, who became a lifelong friend. Mandela qualified to become a lawyer and in 1952 opened a law practice in Johannesburg with his partner, Tambo. Both Mandela and Tambo campaigned against apartheid.
As a young law student, he actively participated in the campaign against the apartheid regime. His natural instinct for politics took him a long way. In 1943 he joined the African National Congress (ANC), first as an activist, then as a founder and then became the president of the ANC Youth League mainly with the support of Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo. Inspired by Mahatama Gandhi, he too was initially committed to non-violent mass struggle
He got married to Evelyn Masse, his first wife, in 1944 but divorced her in 1957. From her he has three children.
In 1955 Mandela was charged with treason along with 155 other activists, but the charges against him were dropped after a four-year trial.
Later in 1958, Mandela married Winnie Madikizela, who later played an active role in the campaign to free him from prison. But no one knew, his 38-year marriage to Winnie would end in separation and divorce in 1992, which many attribute to political estrangement. The ANC was outlawed in 1960 and Nelson Mandela went underground as tension with the apartheid regime grew. Though underground, Mandela, who was already the vice-president of ANC, launched a campaign of sabotage against the country`s economy. He was eventually arrested and charges of sabotage and violently overthrowing the government were framed against him.
In the winter of 1964 he was sentenced to life in prison. Within a span of 12-months Mandela`s mother died and his eldest son died in a car crash but he was not allowed to attend the funerals.
He remained in prison on Robben Island for 18-years before being transferred to Pollsmoor Prison on the mainland in 1982.
Though Mandela languished in exile but a huge chunk of the South African black population took forward his movement against the apartheid regime. This resulted in violent clashes between the government and the black community.
His long time friend Oliver Tambo came to his rescue. He launched an international campaign demanding Mandela`s release. The pressure worked and the world community tightened the sanctions imposed against the apartheid regime of South Africa in 1967. And in 1990, President F W de Klerk, succumbed to the pressure and lifted the ban on the ANC and Nelson Mandela was released from the prison in 1990. 1993 was rather an eventful year for South Africa. Both Nelson Mandela and President De Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Five months later, for the first time in the history of South Africa, people of all races voted in democratic elections and Nelson Mandela was elected the President and his party African National Congress won 252 of the 400 seats in the national assembly.
From there on, he worked very hard to successfully build an international image of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela gave up the presidency of ANC in December 1997 in favour of Thabko Mbeki, his nominated successor. He stepped down as President after the ANC`s landslide victory in the national elections in 1999 in favour of Mbeki.
After his retirement as President in 1999, Mandela went on to become an advocate for a variety of social and human rights organisation. He received many foreign honours, including the Order of St John from Queen Elizabeth II and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W Bush. He is also the only other person of non-Indian origin apart from Mother Teresa who has been awarded Bharat Ratna, the highest Indian civil award, in 1990.
In 1999, on his 80th birthday, he married Graca Machel, the widow of former president of Mozambique, who was also an ANC ally.
Bureau Report