Nelson Mandela International Day
Every year on 18 July the day Nelson Mandela (born) UN joins a call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to devote 67 minutes of time to helping others, as a way to mark Nelson Mandela International Day.
Born: 18 July 1918
Birth Place: Mvezo, South Africa
Nationality: South African
Died: 5 December 2013, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa
Known as: Father of South Africa
Awards: Nobel Peace Prize, Bharat Ratna, etc.,
Movies and TV shows: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Death of Apartheid
For 67 years Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa. “Nelson Mandela has fought for social justice for 67 years. We’re asking you to start with 67 minutes.”
To mark the first global celebration of Mandela Day on 18 July 2009, Mandela’s 91st birthday, a series of educational, art exhibit, fund-raising and volunteer events leading up to a concert at Radio City Music Hall on 18 July were organised by the 46664 concerts and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
In November 2009, the UN General Assembly declared 18 July “Nelson Mandela International Day” in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom.
“We would be honoured if such a day can serve to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace,reconciliation and cultural diversity,” according to a statement issued on Mandela’s behalf.
General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/13 recognizes Nelson Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity, in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, the promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, as well as the upliftment of poor and underdeveloped communities. It acknowledges his contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world.
Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact.
Interesting Facts about Nelson Mandela:
- Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the South African Statesman who fought against apartheid, was the world’s most famous political prisoner for almost 27 years, and then in April 1994, became the first black President of the Republic of South Africa.
- Nelson Mandela was born on July 19, 1918 near Umtata Transkei, South Africa, to Henry Mphakanyiswa Gadla and his third wife Nosekeni Fanny.
- His mother could not read or write, but Nelson had to be educated, and he started as a pupil at the local school. He was noted as a quiet, industrious boy.
- When Nelson was ten years old, his father expired and his education was taken over by his father’s nephew Chief Jongintaba, who was the head of the Madiba Clan.
- So in 1928, Nelson moved to the Great Place, which was the royal kraal at Mqekezweni, and stayed with his cousin Justice. He learnt English, Xhosa, Geography and History.
- Everyday after school both the boys would look after the cattle and drive them back home in the evening for milking. At night they would sit around the fire and listen to the elders of the community talk about the days gone by before the coming of the White People.
- Nelson would listen with great interest to the cases that came up in the Chief’s court and developed a keen desire to become a lawyer.
- Education for white children was compulsory but a large number of black children never went to school or dropped out at an early age.
- Mandela was admitted to the South African Native College at Fort Hare, near Healdtown, for the Bachelor of Arts Degree. While studying in the University at Fort Hare, he met Oliver Tambo, who became a lifelong friend of Mandela’s.
- The government was trying to get the blacks to join the army but they were not allowed top carry arms. A.B. Xuma (Medical Doctor) was elected as the new President of African National Congress (ANC). He changed the ANC into a modern political movement.
- Nelson Mandela lived in Alexandra and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree through correspondence. He trained with a white lawyer, who took keen interest in the progress of the young Mandela. Nelson Mandela met Walter Sisulu and stayed with the Sisulu family in Orlando.
- In 1944, Mandela married a nurse, Evelyn Mase. The following year, Evelyn gave birth to their first son. Nelson and Evelyn had another son two daughters.
- Mandela was keen on physical fitness he took up boxing and went to the gymnasium regularly. He continued to study law at “Writs”, the University of the Witwatersrand.
- The black people were not allowed on every train or bus in the country. They were prohibited from going on strike. All the parks and libraries in the cities were closed to all non-whites. All the best beaches and seashores were reserved for the whites. Concert halls and cinemas were closed for black people.
- There was no place for the black people in the European community above the level of certain forms of labour.
- By1948, Mandela who had become a famous figure in the youth league and was elected as the General Secretary of the ANC Youth League, played a key role in putting the organization on a national footing.
- At the end of 1949, ANC adopted an action to oppose white rule and started a non-co-operation movement. On June 26, 1950, Mandela was appointed Voluteer-in-Chief, the chief organizer of the protest.
- In 1952, at the age of 33, he became President of the Transvaal Province. This took him to the national level and he was one of the four Deputy-Presidents.
- Whatever Mandela did was only because of his earnest desire to help his fellow black citizens.
- He married Winnie Mandela in 1958, Following the Sharpville Massacre in 1960 when 67 black were killed by South African security forces during a demonstration against apartheid laws, the ANC and the Pan African Cogress were banned.
- To evade in police he had to go disguise several times, sometimes dressed as a common labourer and sometimes as a chauffeur. His successful evading of the police earned him the nickname, “Black Pimpernal”.
- Since the peaceful and non-violent methods or the South African black leaders were not getting the desired results, the ANC leadership decided to launch an armed struggle ad in June 1961 formed ‘Umkhonto we Sizwe’ (Spear of the Nation) as its armed wing with Mandela as Commander-in-chief.
- In January 1962 Mandela left South Africa secretly and traveled to a Pan African Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and then went on to Algeria where he received military training.
- He went on to London where he met opposition leaders. He returned to South Africa and on August 5, he was arrested and convinced of illegally leaving the country and for incitement of He was sentenced to five years in prison.
- His statement from the dock in the Rivonia Trial ends with these words: “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 for which I am prepared to die”.
- Mandela and de Klerk shared the 1993 Nobel Prize for their efforts in establishing democracy and racial harmony in South Africa.
- In 1994 Mandela became the first black President of South Africa. In 1992 he announced separation from his wife Winnie, but later made her a deputy minister in his cabinet.
- He dismissed her from this post in April 1995 and filed for divorce in August 1995. In March 1996, he was finally divorced from his wife.
- Mandela has honorary degrees from more than 50 Universities and is Chancellor of the University of the North.
- In December 1997 he stepped down as leader of ANC, in favour of the South African vice-president Thabo Mbeki.
- After his release in 1990, the Government of India invited Mandela and his wife to India and awarded him with the country’s greatest honour, the “Bharat Ratna”. Mandela is the second foreigner to receive this prestigious award.
Related Posts:
Subscribe Here (or)
RSS
Facebook
Google+
Twitter
Leave a Reply