Painting by Pierre Auguste Renoir

As a leader, Nelson Mandela can be compared to radical reformers like Mahatma Gandhi, Garibaldi and Lenin who waged life-long struggles for freedom and emancipation of their people. He led the struggle against apartheid – the inhuman practice of racial discrimination followed by white rulers in South Africa. And, now Mandela’s relentless crusade is coming to fruition. An octogenarian, Nelson Mandela, spent 28 years of his life in the prisons of oppressive white rulers. He had to suffer a lot at the hands of these racists, but did not waver for a moment. Eventually, the Pretoria government had to release him in the autumn of 1990. The entire world hailed him as a great leader, who launched constructive revolt for the liberation of the coloured nationals in association with the African National Congress. After lifting of the apartheid he became the president of South Asia.

Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July, 1918. His father was the chief of the Thembu tribe. Mandela had a first-hand experience of the atrocities unleashed by the white rulers on the coloured people. He often thought of liberating his people from this pitiable condition. He came to Johannesburg at the age of 22. There, he met an active revolutionary named Walter Sisulu. He started studying Law and married Ewelyn who was a nurse.

During the fifties, Mandela in association with Sisulu and Oliver Tambo, started an agitation against the white rule which was crushed by the Pretorian authorities. Mandela married Winnie, his comrade-in-arms, during the struggle in 1958,after divorcing his first wife. Mandela, Sisulu and other leaders were tried for treason in 1958 but were freed in 1961. He got the support of African leaders like Julius Nyrere and Kenneth Kaunda. On 5 August f1962, he was again arrested. His second marriage also broke down in 1996. He was romantically linked with Graca Machel, the widow of the former Mozambican President Samora Machel. Ultimately Dr. Mandela married her on his 80th birthday on July 18,1998.

The entire world raised a protest against the inhuman policies of the government of South Africa. The United Nations imposed economic sanctions on Pretoria and South Africa was debarred from international sports and other world for a. After taking over the Presidentship of South Africa – Dr. Mandela worked towards achieving a respectable place for his country in the arena of International politics in terms of foreign relations, trade and economy and so on.

Mandela has won international acclaim for his sacrifices for the cause of human rights and freedom. In 1980, he was given the Nehru Peace Prize by India. East Germany honoured him with the ‘Star of International Friendship’ and Venezuela conferred the ‘Simon Bolivar Award’ on him. He has also been lhonoured with the ‘Sakharov Award’ and the ‘Human Rights Award’. In 1990, India conferred its highest award the ‘Bharat Ratna’ on him. Nelson Mandela has come to symbolize human struggle against racial discrimination. His efforts paved the way for talented, meritorious and bright non-white. South African athletes to participate in the 1992 Olympics. IN 1996, the South African Cricket team participated in the 3 nations. Titan Cup Competitions held in different cities in India.

If he weren’t so modest, South African President Nelson Mandela could take pride in a distinguished political career, that ended in June 1999,with the election of his protégé, Thabo Mbeki as his successor. Now the man wh