Nelson Mandela the anti-apartheid leader
and former president of South Africa showed the world the power of morality and
fought for the right of the people all throughout his life. In memory of his
devotion and contribution to mankind, the United Nations officially designated
Nelson Mandela Day or Mandela Day in November 2009. Since then every year on
July 18th the birth anniversary of this great world leader.
Mandela was the first black president
of South Africa, his 67 years long battle against racial discrimination and human
rights violations brought him success over the discriminatory practices faced
by the members of his communities and other such people for generations. One of
the biggest purposes and importance of acknowledging this day is to teach the
people around the globe to create a difference in their communities for a
change that must ensure them a life of dignity, by contributing to society. One
such importance is to remind people of his legacy and his continuous battle for
the right which society owes them.
Life of Nelson Mandela:
- Mandela was given the name ‘Nelson’ by his teacher, on the first day of elementary school. He was named ‘Rolihlahla’ at the time of his birth, which means a ‘troublemaker’ in his tribe.
- Mandela’s wife Graca Machel was earlier married to Mozambique President Samora Machel.
- Mandela was passionate about boxing
- Nelson also appeared in a movie in 1992. It was Spike Lee’s biopic ‘Malcolm X’, Mandela for a short while appeared in the movie in the role of a teacher.
- Mandela won over 250 awards throughout his life for his contribution in some form the other, including Nobel Prize for Peace in the year 1993. Later a year after his death, The United Nations instituted Nelson Mandela Prize in the year 2014, for people around the globe for serving humanity.
- Mandela died in the year 2013 at the age of 95, after a prolonged respiratory infection.
Nelson has given the
world hope that anything can be achieved through struggle and continuous
efforts all in a humane and justified way. Among several of his iconic words, one
that perfectly denotes Mandela’s struggle and what he achieved, “It is in your
hands, to make a better world for all who live in it”