Nelson Mandela and Mohandas Gandhi

By: Cristin Croce

Mandela’s given Xhosa name Rolihlahla signified that he could be a troublemaker.

“He was one of the world’s longest-detained political prisoners; during the time of his incarceration easily its most famous.”

He is the universal symbol of social justice “The more scholarly biographical studies

of Mandela… tend to approach him by his own lights, as, for example, the determined leader of the more militant tendency in the ANC, or the disciplined pilot of his country’s destiny… The biographers differ in their interpretations of his political role yet do not take issue with his national symbolic significance.

He became a symbol for a democratic South Africa

Nelson Mandela: Story and Symbol

Mandela’s first city job was mine compound policeman.

He attended ANC meetings. There were many laws that limited

civil liberties in South Africa and Mandela wanted to do something about it.

In his efforts he was very influenced by Gandhi.

He eventually formally joined the ANC and became a very important member.

He set up and attended many protests, and due to these he was accused of treason and sabotage and imprisoned.

While he was in prison his wife Winnie still fought and so did the ANC.

Nelson Mandela: His Efforts

Gandhi was very unhappy with the basic thrust of modern civilization, so he spent most of his adult life trying to find an alternative.

Gandhi’s principles of a good society were derived from his theory of human nature.

First the good society should be informed by the spirit of cosmic piety. Second, since human beings are interdependent, the good society should discourage all forms of exploitation, domination, injustice, and inequality. Thirdly, since human beings are spiritual in nature, the good society should help them develop their moral and spiritual powers and create the conditions for self-rule. Fourthly, the good society should cherish epistemological pluralism. Finally, each individual has a distinct moral and psychological constitution and comes to terms with life in his or her own unique was, the good society should provide the maximum space for personal self-rule.

Gandhi applied these concepts in many different areas in life, he especially used them in the economic and the political aspects.

Mohandas Gandhi: Vision of a Non-Violent Society

Boehmer, Elleke. Nelson Mandela: A Very Short Introduction. New York. Oxford UP, 2008. Print.

Parekh, Bhikhu. Gandhi: A Very Short Introduction. New York. Oxford UP, 2001. Print

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