Mandela, the greatest man of the 20th century

By Premasara Epasinghe

South African former President Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela struggled for a democratic South Africa much of his life, spent 27 years in prison, charged with attempting to overthrow the White dominated government, turned 95 on July 18, 2013. He was born on July 18, 1918 at Mvezo, a tiny village on the banks of Mbashe River in the district of Umata, the capital of the Transkei.

On May 10, 1994, when the morning sun was faint behind the clouds, the swearing in ceremony took place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the Democratic President of One-Country-One Nation" ie. South Africa.

Nelson Mandela

He made a peaceful revolution, which transformed South Africa into a "multi-racial rainbow" country or a nation. Mandela's compassion, benevolence and diplomacy made him a figure of great moral stature. Undoubtedly, Nelson Mandela, is the greatest man of the 20th century.

The great statesman, Mandela was the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

He joined the freedom struggle as an non-white, as a member of the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and for the next 20 years led a campaign against the South Africa's apartheid White Government.

At a small township - Sharpeville, the Government brutally attacked the innocent non white protestors and 79 people were killed by the police. About 600 people were injured. The Sharpville incident is known as the "Massacre of the Innocents". The victims were unarmed.

Massive country

As a person who visited South Africa, I consider this beautifully country as one of the best I have seen. Its a massive country an area covering 1,219,916 sq km or 470,566 sqm.

It consists of ethnic groups - Blacks 75 pc, White 14 pc Coloured 9 pc and Asians 2 pc. The official languages are Afrikans, English, Ndeble, Xhosa, Zulu, Ped, Swazi, Venda and Tsonga. Also there are number of religious groups.

The greatest achievement of this great national leader was to bring all the ethnic groups into one group as well as freeing them from apartheid, give equal opportunities to all irrespective caste, colour, creed or religion.

What is apartheid?

It was a policy of racial segregation practised by the White South African government from 1948-1990. Racial enequility and restricted rights of non-whites were institutionalised when the Afrikaner dominated National Party came into power in 1948. Officially a framework of "Seperate Development" of races in practice "Apartcheid" enforced "White minority rule". It was based on segregation in all aspects of life, including residence, land ownership and education. Non whites c 80 pc of the population were given separate political structures and quaisatonous Homelands called Bhatustans. The system was underpinned by extensive repression and measures such as "pass-laws", which restricted the movements of non-whites. In 1990, the South African Government, increasingly isolated internationally and beset by Economic difficulties and domestic unrest, pledged to dismantle the system.

Black majority

The election in April 27, 1994 in which the country's first national, non-racial-one person-one vote election, where for the first time the black majority voted ANC leader Nelson Mandela as the President of South Africa. De Klerk was sworn in first as the second deputy President and Thabo Mbek as the first Deputy President. After the swearing in ceremony Nelson Mandela addressed the nation.

"Today, all of us do by our presence here.... confer glory and hope to new born liberty. Out of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud... We who were "outlaws" not so long ago, here today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil. We have, at least achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty deprivation, suffering and other discrimination.

Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will experience again the oppression of one by another.

The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.

Let freedom reign - God bless Africa!

Long walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela.

Fairytale

The Mandela story is like a fairytale. Born on July 18, 1918 to parents - mother, Nosekeni Fanny, father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyisha, he was named Rohillahla. He lived in the village Qunu and was a country child. He too played with the poor village children and helped the mother in household work. He was baptised into the Methodist or Wesleyan church. The Mbekelc Borthers, insisted the mother, to send his son to school. George Mbekela met Nosekeni Fanny and said." Fanny, your son is a clever boy. Send him to school". His mother remained silent. The problem was that the boy did not have a proper trouser to send him to school. His father Henry Mphakanyiswa took one of his trousers, cut it and made a short trouser. With a string Rolihlahla fightened his trouser, wrapped a blanket, wore his fathers pair of shoes with rags inside and washed with much difficulty a humble, poor beginning.

At school, English teacher Mdingane gave this boy a new name - Nelson Mendela.

Tragedy struck when Nelson's father died. Poor mother went to Thembuland, left his son tot he care of kind-hearted chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo. He became the guardian of Nelson Mandela. He treated Mandela like his ownson Justice, who was older than Nelson. Both were sent to the English school.

Teachers

In 1960, Nelson joined the University College of Fort hare in Alice. There were only 150 students. The greatest African scholars such as Prof. Z.K. Mathews Prof. D.D.T. Jabavu were products of the university. In his first year Nelson Mandela studied English, anthropology, politics, native administration and Roman Dutch Law. His teachers were Rex Tatance and Rev.A.J. Cook. Mandela became a member of the student Christian Association and on Sunday's conducted Bible classes for villagers.

As his son Justice and the new find Nelson were now youths, chief Jogintaba Dalimdyebo thought to settle them through suitable marriages. To escape marriage both left the Regents Residence and proceeded to Johannesburg in secret of job opportunities. This was one of the turning points of Nelson Mandelas life. First both of them work in gold mines. Later, Mandela joined a law firm, which belong to a lawyer named Sidelsky.

While working there he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree and did his law studies. Eventually he became an Attorney-at-Law. While working at the law firm, he met Gaur Radebe and Walter Sisulu. Through the influence of them, Nelson Mandela become a member of ANC. Day by day, he saw the injustices meted out to his non-while breatherns, he became a hardcore member of ANC, and fought against the injustices. There is a saying, "No national leader knows a nation, until one has been jailed for the cause of upliftment of their country". Fine examples can be traced from India and Ceylon. Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Subash Chandrabose (India) F.R. Senanayake, William Pedris, Dr. N.M. Perera, Philip Gunawardene, Dr. Colvin R. de Silva, Vivian and Leslie Gunawardene, Bernard Soysa and the leaders of the ANC are good example.

Freedom fighter

Thus began the birth of a freedom fighter, liberator of Africans - Nelson Mandela. His life was not a bed of roses. Through sheer determination, commitment, he put the country first than self. Due to his just freedom struggle, the white government charged him with treason.

He formed a unit titled Umkhonto we Sizwe - "Spear of Nation". Its a popular undergrouns movements to achieve liberation.

On the morning of December 5, 1956, Mandela was arrested for high treason.

To be continued