Madiba Mandela: Behold the Man - Editorial

7 December 2013 05:23 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In this era when most leaders appear to be abusing the vice side instead of the wise side of the globalised capitalist market economic system and politics specially

has degenerated into selfishness and self-centred plunder of the people’s resources, the death of legendary South African leader Nelson Mandela on Thursday night could also mean a resurrection of exemplary values and principles all over the world. Nelson Mandela, widely respected if not revered by billions of people as ‘Madiba’ or father may have passed away but his legacy and the lessons he thought and lived will influence the world for generations and ages to come.

Nelson Mandela and India’s Mahatma Gandhi are regarded as the greatest leaders of the century because they experienced inner liberation from selfishness, self-centredness and related vices like greed, bitterness anger and jealousy or the desire for personal gain or glory.

Madiba Mandela’s prophetic vision was that of an era where the wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will take rest with the kid the calf and the lion cub will feed together befriending each other, the cow and the bear will see their young ones lie down together, like cattle, the lion will eat hay, by the cobra’s den the infant will play, into the viper’s lair the child will put his hand. Justice and truth were the girdles of Madiba Mandela’s waist.

After several decades of struggle, conflict persecution and torture in jail Madiba Mandela’s vision and goals his courage and faith gave him the inspiration to say with the poet; two men were behind prison walls, one saw the slime the other the stars. Apartheid or the white minority rule was as vicious as the Nazi tyranny during the century. But Madiba Mandela like a modern day Moses led the black majority people—the poorest of the poor like the Hebrew slaves of Egypt- to liberation, freedom and dignity.

In 1989 the first free elections were held in South Africa and Nelson Mandela won with a resounding majority. He could have stayed on for two terms, three or even for life but after serving his people for four years and consolidating the democratic freedom and the economic development process of all the South African people—black white or coloured—Nelson Mandela bowed out gracefully though like Mahatma Gandhi the leaders who followed after him sought his guidance and direction till the days when he became semi-conscious. This is an important lesson to all world leaders whether they be in politics, religion business or other fields. He was a just steward and servant of the people who elected him to office and he served them honestly with integrity, accountability and transparency giving much more than he received in contrast to most of today’s leaders who are grabbers or plunderers instead of being givers.

Like most great leaders who are respected and remembered hundreds of years after their stewardship, Madiba Mandela also believed in the great saying, “All that is not given is lost”. So he was magnanimous in victory and gave forgiveness and the blessing of rehabilitation to the white leaders and people who had hurt, cursed and harmed him and his people. He set up the now famous Truth and Reconciliation Commission through which South Africa restored equality and harmony to the extent that it has become a light to the world.

In 1953 Madiba Mandela said, there is no easy walk to freedom anywhere and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain tops of our dreams.

On sacrifice he said “If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man.”

On equality he said, “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the South African people. 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.”

Farewell Great Prince may hosts of angels sing thee to thy eternal rest.

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Madiba Mandela: Behold the Man - Editorial

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