World celebrating 100 years of Nelson Mandela

Born in Transkei, South Africa, on July 18, 1918,  Nelson Mandela’s birth name was Rolihlahla. In his Xhosa tribe.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 18-07-2018 10:39 IST | Created: 18-07-2018 10:37 IST
World celebrating 100 years of Nelson Mandela
Each year on 18 July we look back on what has been done and forward to what will be done. (Image Credit: Twitter)
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At the age of 12, his father died due to lung disease, then raised by a Thembu regent, went to jail due to many false allegations and political conspiracy Nelson Mandela the first black president of South Africa completes 100 years on this earth today.

Born in Transkei, South Africa, on July 18, 1918,  Nelson Mandela’s birth name was Rolihlahla.

The name means pulling the branch of a tree or troublemaker. Name "Nelson" was given to him by his teacher on his first day of elementary school.

He studied law at the University of Witwatersrand. In 1942, he joined the African National Congress.

He married Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 1958, They had two children together but due to political estrangement, their marriage ended in divorce in 1996.

During the time of 1962 he received guerrilla training in Morocco and Ethiopia, he left the country to garner support for the armed struggle.

Then he went to jail in 1963 for leading the liberation movement against apartheid and for his stance on the human right to live in freedom.

A speech in the courtroom about being ready to die helped save his life, his speech during the trial received international attention and was published as I Am Prepared to Die.

Nelson Mandela continued addressing racial issues in his country and supported reconciliation initiatives even after his release from jail.

And one day his efforts resulted in him becoming elected as South Africa’s president in 1994. He remained in office as president until 1999.

Nobel Peace Prize, with another former South African president Frederik Willem de Klerk, in 1993 made him an international role model for racial revolution in the world.

Each year on 18 July we look back on what has been done and forward to what will be done.

Maiden Mandela Day was launched in New York on July 18, 2009, but the UN’s resolution to declare the day occurred later that year.

United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring July 18 as “Nelson Mandela International Day” on November 10, 2009.

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