SUNIL VAID
“It is easy to break down and destroy. The heroes are those who make peace and build” – Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity – as a human rights lawyer, a person of consciousness, an international peace maker and the first democratically elected President of a free South Africa. On November 2009, in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and Freedom, UN General Assembly declared 18th July “Nelson Mandela International Day” recognizing Mandela’s values and his dedication to the Service of humanity in : conflict resolution , race relations promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and rights of children/ other vulnerable groups. His fight against poverty and promotion of social justice is worth mentioning. UN recognized and acknowledged his contributions to the struggle for democracy internationally and promotion of a culture of peace throughout the World.
Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918,into a royal family of the Xhosa- speaking tribe in South African village of Mvezo, where his father ,Gadla Henry Mphakanyisive, served as chief. His Mother Nosekeni Fanny was third of Henry’s four wives, who together bore him nine daughters and four sons. After the death of his father in 1927, 9 year old Mandela- known by his birth name, Rolihlahla- was adopted by Jongintbla, a high ranking Thimbu regent who began grooming his young ward for a role with in the tribal leadership.
Nelson Mandela studied Law at the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand before working as a lawyer in Johannesburg. There he became involved in anti colonial and African nationalist politics, joining the ANC in 1943 and co – founding more militant Youth League. He initially opposed alliances with other groups like the Indians and white communists, fearing that would hijack the ANC , but gradually evolved a broad based politics that embraced all those opposed to Apartheid. Nelson Mandela used similar skills measuring the consequent of his every move. He organized the active militant wing of ANC – the spear of the nation – to sabotage Government installations without causing injuries to people. He could do so because he was a rational pragmatist.
While he was influenced by Mohandas Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement, he saw non violence as tactical decision rather thanked the moral choice described by Gandhi ji. In the early days, Mandela notes, “the state was far more powerful than We.” This made Non violence a practical necessity rather than option. Mandela is best known for fighting the system of Apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was the policy that saw the country segregated on racial lines. Whether social, political or economic, the Whites (a minority numerically) cornered the best of everything and non Whites were discriminated against.
Mandela served 27 years in prison, split between Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison and Victor verster prison .Amid growing domestic and international pressure and fears of racial civil war, President F.W.de klerk released him in 1990.In 1993 Mandela was awarded the Noble prize for peace jointly with FW de Klerk and became the First democratically elected President of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela was an iconic revolutionary who ended Apartheid in South Africa. Africa’s great statesman, Mandela presided over a largely peaceful transition and stepped aside after only one term in Power. He was the first black President of South Africa and under his aegis, the country dismantled the institution legacy of apartheid and racism. He remained the country’s moral compass in the silence of his twilight in much the same as the liberation movements rallying cry through 27 years in incarceration. He appointed a truth and Reconciliation commission that might have fallen short of conclusive addressing Apartheid- era atrocities but saved the nation from descent Into bloodshed.
Nelson Mandela’s life and writings reveal his fascination with Education. The late Statesman’s autobiography, “Long walk to freedom”, often profiles characters by their education and what he learnt from them. Mandela pursued his own learning, curiously and indefetigigaly in many different settings. He is also an example of lifelong learning that is profoundly dialogue in nature. This entails a kind of learning that involves continuing, interlinked dialogues with others, oneself and the World around. In Mandela’s case this learning was based on the values of openness, humility, critical reflection and commitment to justice. The most striking of Mandela’s learning dialogues was with his changing context. He could read and respond to the signs of the times in very different settings- such as when re entering public life as septuagenarian in the 1990s in an extremely volatile national and global context. The four qualities of Mandela’s dialogic lifelong learning- dialogues with others, with self, with the collective and with context – are not discrete, they constantly interact. From his life and his struggle, his own dialogic lifelong learning stands out as a tribute and legacy.
As an activist, as a prisoner or as a leader in Govt , he remained intensely conscious of his moral and political responsibilities as a man in search for Excellence. Even after his death on December 5, 2013, he has remained a global figure with a legacy- of politics of excellence. We remember him on his birth Anniversary today, it is not because we take leave of his time and his struggle but mainly because his politics of Excellence and his moral capital are more relevant than ever to all who continue to believe in the non – violent pursuit of public happiness and in peace making governance.
