2. Interesting Facts Mandela Born July 18, 1918 Name meanings: Rolihlahla- Troublemaker Madiba- Aristocratic lineage Nelson- Britain naval hero Longest imprisoned political protestor (27 years) “His face and his form, his raised-arm salute and walk into freedom, are among the most widely reproduced icons of the 20th century” (Boehmer, 1) Gandhi Oct. 2, 1869 – Jan. 30, 1948 Gandhi- meant grocer, but… Father & Grandfather- Chief Administrators & members of the court Started out as a lawyer Realized his calling in Mandela’s home country, South Africa Influenced by Christianity, Judaism, and Jainism Martin Luther King based his beliefs on satyagraha
3. Comparisons Both were considered the leaders of their respective nations in the struggle against apartheid They found their true calling as freedom fighters in the same country, South Africa Both started out as lawyers The ANC and Indian Congress were actively fighting for independence at the same time in the mid-1940s Both shared the vision of “humanity transcending racial, cultural, and other differences” (Boehmer, 91) Mandela was co-awarded India’s Gandhi Peace Prize in 2000 Mandela claimed “that a Gandhist philosophy of toleration had shaped the ANC’s liberationist ‘school of thought’” (Boehmer, 92)
4. Contrasts Mandela Used non-violent AND violent resistance Believed that Christian schools were responsible for black education Agreed with communism and even attended some Communist Party meetings Strictly a “citizen” of South Africa and focused solely on their freedom Fought with logic and less strict resistance (i.e. he did not fast) Gandhi ONLY used satyagraha(non-violent protest) Raised Hindu but was influenced by Jainism & Christianity as an adult Communism and capitalism were considered completely unacceptable “Citizen of both South Africa and India” (Boehmer, 93) Used symbolism and strict moral beliefs in sayagraha(i.e. fasting)
5. I would like to point out something that I have noticed while completing these assignments: Gandhi and Nelson Mandela are so well-known that their names do not require spell check because they are already programmed into the Microsoft Office dictionary.
6. Sources Guerrilla Law – Nelson Mandela Picture http://www.guerrillalaw.com/Mandela.html OrtodontiaContemporanea – Gandhi Picture http://ortodontia-contemporanea.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html Overcoming Apartheid – Apartheid Picture http://www.overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/image.php?id=283 Paramaribo - Gandhi & Mandela Picture http://paramaribospan.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html P.E.A.C.E. – Gandhi, Mandela, King Picture http://universitypeace.org/3.html Boehmer, Elleke. Nelson Mandela: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Parekh, Bikhu. Gandhi: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.
