A tearful Homage to Nelson Mandela

A tearful Homage  to Nelson Mandela

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” — Nelson Mandela

 

A rumour of the former President of Nelson Mandela’s death spread  some time ago in the social media after he fell ill. I searched the net to find out facts and watched news channels so that it all should be just rumours. I was happy to see that it was so.  In June this year he was admitted in the hospital and the rumour of his death before his birthday took turn, but the great fighter won over the death and in September came out of the hospital. Today’s news I came to know when I read my mail communication from White House. I said, this must be true as it is authentic. I was shocked and I was in the midst of my training programs and I did not even dare listening to Mr.Obama’s speech on his death. It was a great shock though the news was expected sooner or later due to health condition and his own family’s preparation for his end. In this last few decades I have hardly seen anyone like him in the world. “A True Gandhian” declared Mr.Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India. British Prime Minister David Cameron said "a great light has gone out in the world." “He no longer belongs to us. He belongs to the ages” declared the US President.

His idea of Guerilla war against the white for country’s freedom changed greatly due to the inspiration from none other than Mahatma Gandhi.   His 27 years of struggle in prison cannot be imagined. He is not only the father of modern South Africa but also a great world leader. His speech from the Dock, as it is famously called on 20^th April, 1964 is meaningful even today:

 “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

 

I felt as if I lost my friend and a relative. . I have searched my album and picked up a photo which I got snapped standing next to his statue in Madam Tussauds and put it up above. My reaction soon after hearing the news was, “How many such people still live in the world and will the coming days will see any such leaders? Will my own countrymen understand the importance of a great leader Mahatma Gandhi and live the legacy? Will my country lead the light for the world?”. My reactions suddenly turned to my inability to do anything big for bringing such transformation among the youth or countrymen. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, in his death brought the world together in his mourning, but will these leaders realize that it is equality, non-violence and true altruism can only change the world we live in and all wars must end? Mr. Mandela, you will be always live forever in the hearts of   all peace lovers of the world and continue to inspire our lives.

To read more on his biography visit: http://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography