Based on eleven chapters this book brings to light the dimensions of Nelson Mandela’s life, never discussed before. The author discusses apartheid in daily life in South Africa. The police could raid any house on any street at any time considered appropriate by them. He further says that black South Africans had been deprived of educational, social, political and economic opportunities and it wanted to take many generations to overcome the disadvantaged position. Moreover, the author writes about his grandfather’s struggle in life. His grandfather had lived twenty-seven years of his life in prison. Nelson Mandela said: “But If you learn your enemy’s language, you have a great power over him.” That is why he wanted his grandson to learn different languages.”
Ndaba traces history of Mandelas, discusses various short stories and memories to explain his opinion about certain ideas. Ndaba narrates a story about losing his school journey twice. On hearing this Nelson Mandela gets upset and teaches him a lesson. I believe this story shows a strong, disciplined and principled Mandela who wanted to buy good strong training of his grandson. Ndaba further writes about his grandfather that he was very punctual about his morning walk and exercise. When there were first presidential elections in in South Africa Nelson Mandela was hesitant to participate. He wanted someone young who had a better insight of the current issues of South Africa.
Ndaba talks about the strained relation between his parents and how he was to live with his grandparents due to his strained relation. Ndaba’s mother and his father died of HIV. First his mother then his father. Both times he was not aware about the nature of their illness. This had a huge effect on Ndaba who believes that he should have been told by his family members.
Madiba (Nelson Mandela) asked his black countrymen to forgive the atrocities of apartheid. He was using nonviolence not as a moral principal but as a strategy. In jail he was observing the happenings in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. They gained their independence and kicked out the white people resulting in a dead economy. The author views Nelson Mandela’s forgiveness as part of a leadership strategy. In 1998, Madiba went to Kwazulu-Natal for a ceremony where eight-five black families received 600,000 hectares. There at the event he said: “Our land reform program helps us redress the injustices of apartheid. It fosters national reconciliation and stability.”
Once Queen Elizabeth called Mandela. He said, “Hello? Elizabeth! How are you? Good, good. Oh, yes, I’m fine, thank you”. Later Mandela’s wife said, “Madiba, you cannot just call her Elizabeth”. “What are you talking about? She calls me Nelson. We always call each other by our first names. Don’t forget, I ‘m royalty”.
Chapter nine is an interesting chapter in which Ndaba goes to the mountain to attain the tribal custom of manhood after his grandfather’s approval. The details are an interesting read. While Nelson Mandela was at Robben Island, he wrote to the Commissioner of Prisons, I have never regarded any man as my superior either in my life outside or inside prison”.
Ndaba says that his grandfather believed that one’s resolve- one’s truth is the voice that roams within, His grandfather taught him to listen to it. Nelson Mandela died on 5th December 2013. He was the icon of endurance, forgiveness, harmony and reconciliation. Earlier in life struggled for an armed movement through Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK). In 1962 he traded abroad to arrange guerilla training for members of MK. When in jail Mandela said: “Prisoners cannot enter into contracts. Only free men can negotiate”.
Ndaba Mandela concludes the book with a message to fellow South Africans. He wants them to fight for economic emancipation as the fight is not over yet.
I have read it recently.
ReplyDelete