Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela tied the knot thrice in his life. The first was to Evelyn Ntoko Mase in October 1944. 13 years of togetherness ended on a crashing note as evelyn charged Mandela on grounds of adultery and constant absences. The couple had four children, two sons and two daughters, out of which only two survive presently.

In 1958, Mandela walked up to the aisle for the second time alongside Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The couple was blessed with two daughters. The two separated in 1992 following which they finally divorced in 1996.

In 1998, Mandela remarried Graca Machel (nee Simbine), widow of Samora Machel, on account of his 80th birthday.

Nelson Mandela was born Rolihlahla Mandela, on July 18, 1918, to Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa and Nosekeni Fanny. His father served as a local chief and councillor to the monarch. He was a polygamist with four wives and thirteen children, including four boys and nine girls.

Mandela grew up in the village of Qunu. Much of his early years were spent herding the cattle and playing with other boys of the district. Though both his parents were illiterate, they realized the importance of education and sent Mandela to a Methodist school when he was seven. Two years later, Mandela acquired the first name, Nelson, which was given to him by his teacher.

Post the death of his father, Mandela was entrusted to Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo by his mother. He became a significant part of the Dalindyebo family, who treated young Mandela as their own child.

He attended a mission school which was located near the palace. It was here that his interest in African history grew tremendously. Alongside this, he also studied other subjects like English, Xhosa, history and geography.

When Mandela turned 16, he travelled to Tyhalarha to undergo the circumcision ritual that symbolically marked the transition from boys to men. After the rite was over, he was given the name ‘Dalibunga’

Post completing his BA in 1943, Mandela enrolled at the University of Witwatersrand to initiate his law studies. He was the only native African in his class. Mandela joined the ANC under the leadership of Sisulu, who was increasingly influencing Mandela.

It was during this time that Mandela's political ideals were formed. He became actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement and even suggested the need for a youth wing in ANC, which led to the establishment of African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), on Easter Sunday, of which Mandela was in the executive committee.

In 1947, Mandela was appointed the position of a Secretary at the ANCYL. The organization was aimed at letting off of the old tactics of political petitioning and employing new methods of boycott, strike, civil disobedience and non-cooperation, with policy goals of full citizenship, redistribution of land, trade union rights, and free and compulsory education for all children

Mandela was appointed as the national president of the ANCYL in 1950. In his new found position, Mandela continued his fight against racism. Other than this, he delved into a larger picture which meant working for national liberation.

Two years henceforth, Mandela, profoundly influenced by Gandhi, set on the path of non-violent resistance. He formulated the Defiance Campaign against apartheid with Indian and communist groups. Starting with a group of merely 10,000 people, in no time the numbers expanded to reach 100,000.

In 1955, Mandela formed the Congress of the People, with active involvements from South African Indian Congress, the Coloured People's Congress, the South African Congress of Trade Unions and the Congress of Democrats. The main aim of the move was to evoke South Africans and ask them to send in proposals for a post-apartheid era.

Numerous proposals came in which were implemented upon to form the resultant, Freedom Charter. Created by Rusty Bernstein, the charter aimed at creating a democratic, non-racialist state with the nationalisation of major industry. A conference was called upon and attended by 3000 delegates. However, it did not turn out to be productive as police intervened.

Despite being banned several times, which restricted him from public appearance; Mandela defied the same and often appeared in the public. Following this, on December 5, 1956, Mandela, along with other ANC activist were arrested on grounds of high treason against the state.

Though they were bailed out a fortnight later, the legal proceedings began only on January 9, 1957 in which the judge resolved that there were sufficient reason to put the defendants on Trial. The trial which ended six years later, in 1961, proclaimed the innocence of the defendants and billed them as ‘not guilty’.

Meanwhile, militant Africans formed a new group under the leadership of Robert Sobukwe, which was called the Pan-African Congress (PAC). The activity against the government caused mass arrest, including imprisonment of Mandela and other ANC and PAC leaders and banning of the two organizations.