Nelson Mandela

Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013 after a long list of illnesses and sufferings. Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Transkei, a Xhosa homeland. He and his first wife, Evelyn Mase, had four children. But the couple divorced in 1957, and Evelyn died in 2004. A year after Mandela's separation from Evelyn in 1955, he had met with his second wife Winnie Madikizela, a firebrand anti-apartheid activist on her own right, and they got married in 1958. Nelson-Winnie couple became a symbol of struggle against injustice, racial inequality and suppression.

Nelson Mandela joined the anti-apartheid movement in 1944 and helped form the African National Congress Youth League. Initially Mandela preached non-violence, following the example of Mahatma Gandhi, but later formed the armed resistance against the regime. Police arrested Mandela and others in 1963 on charges of guerrilla campaign. Mandela along with seven other defendants were sentenced to life in prison. During his trial, on April 20, 1964, Mandela gave a statement: "I have fought against white domination, 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". Mandela was sent to infamous prison in Robben Island, and spent 18 years there before being transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in the mainland in 1982. During his prison time, South Africa had witnessed several vicious race riots and brutal security crackdowns, including from Soweto uprising in 1976. The following year (1977), activist and founder of Black Consciousness movement, Steve Biko, was beaten to death by police, drawing international outrage. 

As international sanctions were taking its toll on South African economy and international isolation was growing exponentially, the regime led by P.W. Botha began a series of behind-the-scene talks with ANC confidantes inside and outside the country, especially engaging with Oliver Tambo. That set the stage for Mandela's eventual release from jail in 1990 as approved by the President F.W. de Klerk, last White President. In 1993, both Mandela and de Klerk shared the Nobel Peace Prize. A year later Mandela became the first Black President, and May 10, 1994 marked a historic day as millions of South Africans celebrated the inauguration of Mandela as the country's president. During one-term of presidency, Nelson Mandela led several high-profile changes and reforms. In 1995, a Constitutional Court was inaugurated, and the following year (1996), parliament approved the new constitution. During the same year (1996), Mandela launched the Truth and Reconciliation Commission under the leadership of Desmond Tutu. However, Nelson Mandela's political and moral triumph coincided with personal tragedy including his separation from his wife Winnie in 1992 and divorce in 1996, as well as the death of his 54-year-old son Makatho Mandela in 2005 from AIDS. In 1998, Mandela married Graca Simbine Machel, widow of Mozambican President Samora Machel. Beside Graca, Mandela was survived by a daughter from his first marriage, two children from his second marriage and grandchildren.

As South Africa was going through a 10-day mourning period, culminating in an official burial of Nelson Mandela on December 15, 2013 at his native village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape province, a phalanx of political and government heads attended on December 10, 2013 an official funeral at a football stadium in Soweto. US delegation included President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush as well as former first ladies Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush, respectively. President Obama received the loudest cheers from about 100,000 people in attendance as he thanked South Africans for sharing Nelson Mandela with rest of the world. U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged world to follow not only Mandela's leadership, but also his qualities of forgiveness and compassion. However, when Jacob Zuma appeared on big screen TV, audience showed their disrespect. At one point of time, Deputy President and emcee Cyril Ramaphosa had to intervene. One of the primary attractions of the get-together was that Nelson Mandela in death could bring Raul Castro, Cuban President, and Barack Obama to the same stage, and both leaders shook hands.

On December 15, 2013, the journey of the South African legend came to an end where it started 95 years ago. Mandela was buried with full state honor, traditional tribal rituals and established christian hymns at a family graveyard in his native village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province.