Nelson Mandela was one of the most popular and attractive statesmen in the world, who led the struggle to end racism in South Africa and establish a multi-caste democracy.
Nelson Mandela was a living legend with his charismatic personality, keen sense of humor, generosity like extending a hand of friendship to an enemy who forgets bitterness, and his colorful and dramatic life story.
Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first black president of South Africa on May 10, 1994, after the end of apartheid. Even just a decade ago, this political upheaval in the minority white-ruled South Africa was an unimaginable event.
Nelson Mandela played the biggest role in this change. Not only in South Africa, he also played a role in establishing peace in different countries of the world.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
Nelson Mandela was born in 1918. His father was a councilor of the Thembo royal family in the province of Eastern Cape.
My father's name was Rolihlahla Dalibhunga Mandela. One of the teachers at the school gave him the English name Nelson. But to the people of South Africa, she was 'Madiba'.
At a young age, Nelson Mandela moved to Johannesburg, where he was elected president of the youth wing of the African National Congress. Closely involved in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
At the same time he started working as a lawyer. Together with Oliver Tambo, another important leader of the African National Congress, he opened his office in Johannesburg.
In 1960, 69 people were killed in police firing on protesters in the Ethiopian sarpabhile the anti-apartheid movement became intense. He began to question whether the peaceful movement would benefit at all.
In a speech at the time, Nelson Mandela said that peace and dialogue with the government were futile when the government was carrying out brutal attacks on unarmed and unresponsive people.
Nelson Mandela was arrested and sentenced to life in prison for plotting to overthrow the government when the ANC launched an armed struggle. His long imprisonment began on the infamous island of Reuben in South Africa.
Released after 28 years
He extended a hand of friendship to the former white rulers
Photo caption,
He extended a hand of friendship to the former white rulers
But despite the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and top ANC leaders, the fight against apartheid continues in South Africa's black townships. Hundreds of black youth lost their lives in police firing.
International pressure is mounting on the South African government to release Nelson Mandela. He was finally released on February 11, 1990, after 27 long years in prison.
In a speech in front of the jail that day, Nelson Mandela reminded his supporters of what he had said in court during his trial.
Mr Mandela said he dreamed of a South Africa where people of all races and ethnicities could live together with equal opportunity.
"It simply came to our notice then. But if need be, I am ready to die for this ideal. ”
It was not easy to build a new Africa, leaving behind the old South Africa. But instead of avenging the bitterness of the past, Nelson Mandela extended a hand of friendship to his former white oppressors. The path to a new South Africa began.
After the liberation, talks began with the apartheid government of South Africa aimed at establishing a new democratic state, where all castes and all nations would have equality. Following this, Nelson Mandela was elected president by a large margin in the 1994 election.
Like his political life, Nelson Mandela's personal life was full of ups and downs.
In 1994, he married his first wife, Evelyn Mess. This marriage did not last long.
The decision to divorce his second wife and longtime political comrade Winnie Mandela was one of the hardest decisions of his life.
On his 70th birthday, he married for the third time the former First Lady of Mozambique, Grassa Marshall.
Even after his retirement, Nelson Mandela's busyness did not stop, he became an icon or symbol of freedom and world peace, so his call continues to be read in various public welfare works.
One of his sons died of AIDS. After this incident, he became vocal about AIDS prevention and treatment in South Africa.
For the rest of his life, he devoted himself to campaigning for poverty and AIDS.
Nelson Mandela was once asked, how would he be happy to remember him?
His answer was, "I want to say the same thing about me, there is a man lying here who has done his duty on earth." That's all I want to say about myself. "