For Mandela

“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb….” 

The world woke up today to the news of the demise of Nelson Mandela who passed away Thursday, 5^th December, 2013 about 8:50 pm, South African time, after a protracted illness. He was 95 years old. He died at home, surrounded by his family in Houghton, Johannesburg. Mandela, as he was fondly called by friends and detractors alike, was the first black president of South Africa. He was also called Madiba, a clan name of the people of Xhosa.

Mandela was born on 18^th July, 1918 to the Thembu royal family of Xhosa ethnic group. He attended Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatersrand, where he studied Law.

Nelson Mandela came into prominence due to his activities as a member and subsequent leader of the African National Congress, an anti-apartheid political group. The ANC later metamorphosed into a political party. Madiba was a founding member of the Youth League, of the ANC. He rose to become a formidable member of the ANC and the South African Communist Party.

Living in Johannesburg, Mandela worked as a lawyer and was convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the South African government, due to his involvement with the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in 1962. He was sentenced to life imprisonment; and in 1990, he was released after serving twenty seven years in prison.

Nelson Mandela won several awards and honours after his release from Robben Island. In 1993, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Other awards and recognitions included the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin and the Bharat Ratna.

Mandela married his first wife, Evelyn Mase, in 1944. She was training to become a nurse. They had children together and were later divorced in 1958. He married Winne Madikizela, a social worker, in June 1958. He married Graca Machel, his widow, in 1998.

Madiba was known for his courage, faith and the quest for peace and unity. He was a well respected activist, politican, africanist and world leader. Nelson Mandela published his memoir, Long Walk to Freedom, in 1994. Little Brown & Co published the autobiographical work, where he chronicled his trials, temptations and triumphs as a freedom fighter and inmate at Robben Island.

The world has lost a gem. Good night, Nelson Mandela.