“He didn’t cling to power. He empowered.”
Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished
There is only one thing dominating the front pages of the world’s newspapers; the Death of the greatest leader and humanitarian Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013), a global symbol of resistance and the world’s inspiring example of resilience, nobility and poise in the face of tyranny who liberated South Africa from much-despised apartheid regime died on Friday at an age of 95.
Called the Father of South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is regarded as a one of greatest leader of his time, a visionary and a philanthropist who went on to become the first Black President of South Africa between 1994 and 1999, and brought in several radical changes which changed the country forever. He spent 27 years in jail for following his vision and his mission of eradicating apartheid from South Africa and subsequently the whole world. In the year 1993, he received the Nobel Prize for Peace.
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart.
Dr. Mandela was Second non-citizen and non-Indian recipient of India’s top civilian awad Bharat Ratna for his Leader of the Anti-Apartheid movement in 1990.
President Jacob Zuma said that “Our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding President of our democratic nation, has departed”. He also said Mandela’s tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world: “His humility, his compassion, and his humanity earned him their love.”
The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, who was imprisoned and later served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He devoted his time as President of South Africa on disassembling the legacy of apartheid, poverty and inequality, and for uniting the polarized nation dominated by tribal politics. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.
Not only the South Africans unified in mourning for Nelson Mandela on Friday, but also many expressed their grievances at the death of the most influential humanitarian who was a global symbol of reconciliation and peaceful co-existence.
All the global leaders expressed their shock and grievances on the death of the great man.
I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a leader because of extraordinary circumstances.
US President Barak Obama said “We’ve lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth.”
Indian PM Mr. Manmohan Singh offered his condolences and described Nelson Mandela as a “giant among men” and further said “his passing away is as much a loss to India and the world as it is to South Africa.”
A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.
“Giant for justice “was what the UN Security Council said at the miserable news of death of Mandela and felt bereft of hope. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said “Nelson Mandela was a singular figure on the global stage — a man of quiet dignity and towering achievement, a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration. I am profoundly saddened by his passing”.
He is often termed as South Africa’s Gandhi. He once said to his Indian friend, “You gave us Gandhi, we gave you the Mahatma”. He had great respect for Mahatma Gandhi, and said to be deeply influenced by the Satyagrah movement. However, great wars are won by giving great sacrifices and Nelson Mandela was no exception. In his fight against the cruel tradition of apartheid and colonialism, he had to cross the border line several times, often putting at stake human rights and non-violence.
May his legend never dies. RIP.
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.