Celebrating Nelson Mandelas life

Celebrating Nelson Mandelas life

- Uday Dandavate

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Nelson Mandela serves as a role model for revolutionaries worldwide who want to replace discrimination and injustice with an egalitarian and peaceful society.

In comparing various mass movements for social justice and struggles against oppressive regimes, non-violent methods, espoused by Mandela, stand out as the most difficult yet impactful tools for sustainable transformation of societies. While Karl Marx mobilized the working class with the vision of dictatorship of the proletariat, Mahatma Gandhi introduced into the vernacular of revolutionaries the concept of non-violent resistance and Satyagraha (assertion of truth). Followers of Marxian ideologies only succeeded in replacing one kind of authoritarian rule with another kind. On the other

If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

hand proponents of non-violence such as Budhha, Gandhi, Martin Luthar King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi were able to introduce into mass imagination an alternate model of an egalitarian society that is inclusive of both- the supporters and the opponents of the system they wanted to replace.

A Jewish friend recently gave me an innovative idea for bringing peace to the West Bank. He said, Israeli and Palestinian forces have perfected the art of resistance and retaliation through violent means. What if instead of indulging in violence those who want to see true peace in the west bank, faced their opponents with non-violent demonstrations? The security forces and the leaders who have a stake in perpetuating violence in the region would be at a loss. Their armed forces will not know how to deal with non-violent Satyagraha (assertion of truth). My friend proceeded to suggest an alternate scenario, where, instead of fighting for two separate countries would it be possible to consider an inclusive society that allows both Palestinians

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.

and Israelis to live together peacefully? He pointed out- that a vision for two opposing parties to co-exist was the most impactful strategy that helped Nelson Mandela and F W de Klerk to end apartheid and share power.

A similar consideration for saving his nation from conflict between Hindus and Muslims, was in the mind of Mahatma Gandhi when he wanted the leadership of the Congress Party of India to reject British governments proposal for division of India as a precondition for freedom. Gandhi went to the extent of suggesting that either the congress party should reject the proposal and continue the freedom struggle in a non-violent manner or make a counter offer to the British of making Mohmad Ali Jinah Prime Miniter of undivided India. Gandhi failed to prevail upon the Congress leadership, which accepted separation of India and Pakistan. The communal riots and mass massacre that followed partition of India created a permanent setback to the process of integration of India.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela learned from Indias missed opportunity for embarking on long-term social harmony. He prevailed upon the African National Congress leadership to commit to a South Africa where the Black and the White population could, forget the history of violence between them and build a multi-racial South Africa together.

For the younger generation Buddha, Gandhi, and Martin Luthar King Jr. are only characters from the history books. Nelson Mandela, on the other hand, serves as an example from the present times. Through deft handling of dismantling of the Apartheid, Mandela has demonstrated that non-violent methods and inclusive mindsets can alone provide a longterm solution to conflicts that are dividing nations and prompting them to take up arms at slightest provocation.

Nelson Mandela has also demonstrated that a leader can have a profound influence on his people even after

Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose.

relinquishing power (as he did after one term in the office as the President of South Africa). In a political environment where occupying positions of power by hook or by crook is seen as the only means of solving countrys problems, and being the voice of dissent an unpatriotic act, Mandelas experiment of partnering with the perpetrators of injustice against the black population in building the future of South Africa stands out as an inspiration. Just as Mahatma Gandhi served as an inspiration for leaders of non-violent revolutions around the world, Nelson Mandelas life will serve as a beacon for those who want to see a world free from conflict. Nelson Mandela will live for a long time in the imagination of revolutionaries.

Let us all join South Africa in celebrating a life that is bound to inspire imagination of a peaceful and intercultural future.