The Bishops Co ed School Kalyaninagar Pune

ICSE ENGLISH HISTORY PROJECT 2021-2022

Influence of Gandhian Principles on Nelson Mandela

Name: Mishika Malladi

Class: 10 D
Roll No: 31
Subject teacher:Mrs. Caroline D’Cruz
Introduction

Nelson Mandela, who was often dubbed as the 'Gandhi of South Africa', had strong Indian
connections and striking similarities with India's 'Father of Nation'. An avowed Gandhian,
Madiba, as Mandela was affectionately known around the world, always praised Gandhi for
his principles of 'Satya and Ahimsa' and followed his philosophy.
As a strong follower of Gandhi's teachings, he was awarded the International Gandhi Peace
Price in 2001 for his peacemaking efforts by the Indian government.

In this presentation we will learn more about the relation between Mahatma Gandhi and
Nelson Mandela and how the Gandhian principles influenced Mandela.

2
Acknowledgement
I take this opportunity to thank my Principal, The Headmaster and my
History teacher Caroline D’Cruz , for guiding me towards accomplishing
this task. I would also like to thank my parents and family who have
supported me wholeheartedly throughout the completion of the
assignment.

3
Index
SLIDE SUB HEADINGS
NUMBERS
SLIDE 5 Brief Introduction of Nelson Mandela

SLIDE 6 Brief Introduction of Mahatma Gandhi

SLIDE 7 Relation between Mandela and Gandhi

SLIDE 8 Gandhian Principles

SLIDE 9 Nelson Mandela’s Work in South Africa

SLIDE 10 Influence of the Gandhian Principles on Nelson Mandela

SLIDE 11 Conclusion
SLIDE 12 Bibliography

4
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political
leader and philanthropist.

He served as President of South Africa from 1994

to 1999. He was the country's first black head of
state and the first elected in a fully representative
democratic election.

Mandela served 27 years in prison, split between

Nelson Mandela (left) Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison and Victor Verster
Prison.
5
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist and
political ethicist. He trained in law at the Inner Temple, London, and was called
to the bar at age 22 in June 1891.
Gandhi's vision of an independent India based on
religious pluralism was challenged by a new
Muslim nationalism. In 1947, Britain granted
independence, but the British Indian Empire was
partitioned into two dominions, a Hindu-majority
India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. Gandhi
visited the affected areas and undertook several
fasts unto death to stop religious violence.

Gandhi photographed in South Africa

6
Relation Between Gandhi and Mandela
Nelson Mandela was, in many ways, during his lifetime, a practitioner of Mahatma Gandhi’s
philosophy of Satyagraha or Truth Force, passive resistance and Ahimsa or non-violence.

"While Nelson Mandela is the father

Nelson of South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi is
Mandela and our grandfather," Harris Majeke,
Gandhiji South Africa's ambassador to India.

Mandela and the African National Congress took a large amount of their inspiration
and strategy from Mahatma Gandhi and his campaigns in South Africa and India. The
world emerged a much better place for that
7
 Gandhian Principles
• Truth and Non violence: Nonviolence, far from simply being peaceful or the absence of overt violence, is
understood by Mahatma Gandhi to signify active love - the polar opposite of violence, in equivalence.
Truth, according to Gandhi ji, is the partial truth of truthfulness in word and deed, as well as the absolute
truth - the true fact. God is the supreme reality (as God is also Truth), and morality - the moral rules and
code - is its foundation.

• Sarvodaya- Sarvodaya is a term meaning 'Universal Uplift' or 'Progress of All'. The term was first coined
by Gandhi ji as the title of his translation of John Ruskin's tract on political economy, "Unto This Last".

• Swaraj- Although the word swaraj means self-rule, Gandhi ji gave it the content of an integral revolution
that encompasses all spheres of life

• Trusteeship- Gandhi ji advocated Trusteeship as a socioeconomic ideology . It establishes a mechanism

for rich people to serve as trustees of trusts that look after the general welfare of the people . This theory
represents Gandhi ji's spiritual growth, which he attributed in part to his association with and research of
theosophical literature and the Bhagavad Gita.

• Swadeshi- Swadeshi is the focus on acting within and from one's own community, both politically and
economically. It is the interdependence of community and self-sufficiency. Swadeshi was the key to the
independence of India.
8
Nelson Mandela’s Work in South Africa
Mandela served as South Africa's president for five years. His Truth and Reconciliation Commission
was designed to document human rights violations.

In 1999, Mandela spent the remainder of his life working to end

poverty and raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. Every year on June 18,
he is remembered on Nelson Mandela International Day..

"The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning,"

Mandela said. "To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains,"
he wrote in his autobiography.
Nelson Mandela and his wife
upon his release after 27 years
9
Influence of Gandhian Principles on
Nelson Mandela
• The anti-apartheid icon shared a special bond for India
and this was there for the world to see when he chose
the land of Gandhi, whom he called his 'political guru'
and a 'role model', as his first destination abroad in 1990
after spending 27 years behind bars.

• In fact when he was released from prison in 1990, India

conferred him with the Bharat Ratna, the nation's
highest civilian honor. He was the first non Indian
recipient of the award and this was before his noble
peace prize in 1993.

• An avowed Gandhian, Madiba, as Mandela was

affectionately known around the world, always praised
Gandhi for his principles of 'Satya and Ahimsa' and
Nelson Mandela
followed his philosophy 10
Conclusion
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Nelson Mandela are regarded as the
apostles, the torch bearers of peace, justice and humanity. Their influence has
enlightened not only the twentieth century but will also enlighten for many
more centuries to come. They have left behind them an unmatched legacy for
the future generations to follow. These two personalities have become symbols
of peace, morality and non-violence. The two political saints from two different
continents have an abstract yet very subtle bonding and juxtaposition of
thoughts, ideology and humanity which was very amazing yet very deep rooted
in the ground of reality. Their preaching which is the culmination of their action
would remain like a lighthouse of guidance. Time and fate never allowed them
to come face to face in the span of twentieth century era, these proponents of
humanity share large ground of similarity in their means, methods and results
of their endeavors.

11
Bibliography
● https://brainly.in/question/3737126

● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi

● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

● https://progressive.org/dispatches/mandela-took-inspiration-
gandhi/#:~:text=%22While%20Nelson%20Mandela%20is%20the,of%20passive%20protest%20agai
nst%20oppression.
● https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper4/gandhian-ideologies

● https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/nelson-mandela-fought-apartheid-work-not-
complete

● My friend – Karshati Gugawad

12