Nelson Mandela । Nelson Mandela- Short Biography, Family and Facts

Nelson Mandela- Short Biography, Family and Facts

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the leader of African National Congress, is a symbol of struggle and uncompromising fighting spirit for freedom. Mandela seeking justice for the blacks of South Africa he spent 27 years in South African jail. He was struggling against racial segregation in South Africa and spending his lovely 27 springs behind the bars remained firm to this conviction. A man who is true to his causes and have the courage to sacrifice his all for the sake of his ideas, no prison is secured enough to keep him checked. Hence the South African Government too had to bow down to his desires and thus he was unconditionally freed from the prison on 12th February 1990.

Born: 18 July 1918

Place: the village of Mvezo in Umtata Town

Mother: Nonqaphi Nosekeni

Father: Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa Mandela

Awards: Sakharov Prize (1988), Bharat Ratna (1990), Nobel Peace Prize (1993)

Nickname: Madiba

Spouse: Evelyn Ntoko Mase, Winnie Madikizela, Graça Machel

Children: 6

Died: 5 December 2013

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on 18th July 1918 in Umtata Town, the black land of Trans Kei in South Africa in the Thembu Royal family. In his school days in Missionary School, he saw how the whites hated the blacks. From the Wed aster Strand University he completed his law courses. His mother Nonqaphi Nosekeni and father Henry Gadla wanted him to be the traditional head of the people. But he stood for the oppressed men of South Africa and picked up the hard and tortuous path of fighting for the oppressed blacks of South Africa. He was a humanist and wanted to stop the inhuman cruel system of apartheid. South Africa was always the victim of this cruel practice. Among the total population of South Africa, 20 million are black while white people are only 5%. But these 5% white men possess 87% of lands in South Africa while the majority of black people have only 13% of lands to feed them. This is the law in that country too. South Africa is the only country in the world who still proudly practice this racial segregation and separation between the whites and the blacks—known as apartheid.

The Harare University was the University for the Black Natives of South Africa only and in 1938 Nelson was admitted in it. Shortly after 2 years he involved himself in student movements and was ousted from the university. Then he came forward with higher ideas of fighting apartheid and formed the African National Congress along with his two colleagues, Walter Sisulu and Tambo. In the early '50s, he became the leader of the said ANC but had to go underground as the Government of South Africa found him guilty of fighting against its interest.

The South African Government passed some acts to give its apartheid policy a permanent character. Those were the Population Registration Act of 1950 which grouped the South Africans into fixed racial categories and the Group Areas Act of 1950 in which the white government was to decide where the blacks, whites and the colored were to live. These laws were a great act of injustice no doubt, and Nelson started agitations against it. As a result, he was imprisoned along with Walter Sisulu on November 7, 1962. Now Mandela demanded the political right of "one man one vote." On 12th June 1962, the Government sent him to Rivonia Treason Trial along with other eight accused, wherein he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Sufferings were nothing new to Mandela—instead, it kindled a flare in him. Since 1962 he remained behind the bars but never stepped behind from his demands. The then South African President Botha wanted to release him conditionally, but he refused that type of freedom as he thought his life was not for him but for the blacks of South Africa. Then came the regime of Mr. F.W. de Klerk who released Mandela unconditionally. This was an act of broad mindedness no doubt but Mr. Klerk is not so broad to end the practice of apartheid still. Hence the system is yet in vogue in South Africa. 

The whole world was jubilant at the release of this untiring fighter for freedom. Being 'released from the jail Mandela visited several countries demanding sanctions against the South African Government over apartheid. He began his journey from U.S.A Everywhere he was greeted warmly. On October '90 Mandela visited India. It was indeed a remarkable event. India was probably the first country which had always supported the blacks against the apartheid policy of the South African Government. Mahatma Gandhi was a staunch fighter against the system and his steps were always followed by the subsequent leaders. India honored his fights by conferring on Mandela the title of Bharat Ratna. 

Nelson Mandela is a living legend. He is the symbol of the indomitable spirit of man. He is a symbol of uncompromising truth. He is indeed a hero, a man who has emerged from a symbolic grave—reborn and filled with creative powers.

Also read- B.R. Ambedkar