Nelson Mandela : if they can learn to hate they can be taught to love

Sources = wikipedia and trak.in

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African politician and activist. On April 27, 1994, he was made the first President of South Africa elected in a fully represented democratic election. Mandela was also the first black President of his country.

Mandela was born in Mvezo, South Africa to a Thembu royal family.

His government focused on throwing out the legacy of apartheid by ending racism, poverty,inequality, and on improving racial understanding in South Africa. Politically a believer in socialism, he served as the President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997 and adopted new Constitution of South African in 1996 that prohibits all discrimination, based on language, religion,handicap and sexual orientation, not only on racism. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.

Mandela received more than 250 honors, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin. He is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata ("Father").

Mandela was sick for several years during his retirement. He was hospitalized in late summer of 2013 from a continuous lung infection. Mandela died on 5 December 2013 in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg from the lung infection. He was 95 years old.

He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership for his anti-apartheid activism in 1993. After receiving the prize he said:

"We stand here today as nothing more than a representative of the millions of our people who dared to rise up against a social operation whose very essence is war, violence, racism, oppression, repression and the impoverishment of an entire people."

Many South Africans thought that Mandela died overnight on 26 June after he was removed from his life support. The South African government said that Mandela is still alive despite the rumor that he died. It was later reported that the rumor was just a death hoax.CNN also reported that Mandela died, but later fixed the report soon afterwards. Photos were taken with Mandela and First Lady Michelle Obama as proof that Mandela was still alive.

In 1990, Mandela received the Bharat Ratna Award in India.
In 1992 received Pakistan's Nishan-e-Pakistan.
In 1992, he was awarded the Atatürk Peace Award by Turkey. He refused the award, because of human rights violations committed by Turkey at the time. He later accepted the award in 1999.
In 1993, Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize with F. W. de Klerk for their work during the civil rights revolution in South Africa.
In 1993, Mandela received the key of the city of Chicago,Illinois from Mayor Richard M. Daley.
In 2007, Mandela was honored with a statue in Westminster Abbey, London, England.
In 2009, the United Nations made 18 July Mandela Day.
In 2012, the Praia International Airport in Cape Verde was renamed as the Nelson Mandela International Airport.
In 2013, a statue of Mandela was unveiled in the South African embassy outside of Washington, D.C.
The city of Johannesburg awarded him Freedom of the City.
Sandton Square in Johannesburg was renamed Nelson Mandela Square in March 2004.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was named in his honor.
The Nelson Mandela Bridge, in Johannesburg was also named in his honor.
Mandela was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President of the United States George W. Bush.
Mandela was awarded the Order of Canada.
Mandela was the first living person made an honorary Canadian citizen.
Mandela was the last recipient of the Soviet Union's Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union.
Mandela first recipient of the Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights.
Mandela was honored with the Order of the Aztec Eagle by the Mexican government.
A park in Leicester, England was named Nelson Mandela Park was named after Mandela.
Elizabeth II awarded him the Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St John.
Mandela was also awarded the Order of Merit by Elizabeth II.

Some of the interesting facts about Nelson Mandela and his movement of anti-apartheid:

His Roots: He was born in the royal family of Thembu tribe; in fact, his father the chief of Mvezo, the village he was born in Transkei, South Africa. Mandela’s ancestors were paramount tribal chiefs in the 19^th century, and his clan’s name was Madiba, from which the name Mandela has been derived. He is often called as Madiba or sometimes “Tata” which translates to “Father”.

Militant Outfit? Although he shunned violent ways of carrying forward his anti-apartheid movement in later years, he formed Umkhonto we Sizwe, a banned militant outfit in 1961 which was responsible for several deadly attacks on government establishments and killing innocent lives. During his final trial, he confessed and pleaded guilty to 156 acts of public violence including planting bombs at Jews locations, mobilizing terrorists outfits etc. Due to the violent methods opted by this organization, and the association of African National Congress in this fiasco, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher both had declared AFC as a terrorist organization.

Friends with Dictators?: As a president, he purchased billions worth of ammunition and weapons which had little or no use considering the weak economy of the country at that time. Some of the defense deals he finalized are still questioned. It is also said that he was friendly with some of the cruelest dictators of our time including Gaddafi.

His Picture were Banned: At one time, South African government had banned all pictures and images of Nelson Mandela, all over the country. In case anyone was found to carry his images, imprisonment was the verdict.

His Prison Sentence: While serving his prison term at Robben Island, where he spent 18 of his 27 years prison sentence, his eyes and lungs were permanently damaged as he was required to work hard under sun without any protection to eyes.

Personal Life: Nelson Mandela’s personal life was not peaceful. He lost his father when he was 9 years old. His first son Thembi died in a car accident in 1969. His wife Winnie had an affair with Dali Mpofu, which resulted in their divorce.

Dancing?: Nelson Mandela specialized in Ballroom dancing, as he loved doing that. He has also appeared in one feature film, titled Malcom X which came out in 1992. Before he died, Canada honored Nelson Mandela by making him an honorary citizen of Canada. He was the 5^th person to be awarded such honorary Canadian citizenship.

One his most famous quotes which will always guide future leaders and visionaries: “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

May his legend never die. RIP.