Nelson Mandela my Personal Encounter
My clear recollection of Nelson Mandela
is of following the “Release Mandela Movement”, which at the time had international support and the role that his then wife Winnie played
in that effort. The role that the International
Cricket Board played in the boycott, by
depriving the South Africans of the opportunity to participate in world cricket
at the highest level; The international
sanctions against trade with South Africa; The involvement and contribution of so many
against that wicked and inhumane system known as Apartheid. I can't remember another time when I remained
glued to my television set for so long awaiting that moment when he would
emerge from prison. That memorable day
in February, 1990 for some reason we were left waiting for a long time, the
release time seems never to arrive, it was being postponed from one time to
another. I remember crying like a baby,
shamelessly in my living room. These we
tears of joy, a sense of relief, a sense of achievement, of overcoming. The feeling was in-describable. It felt like this was a close friend, a
relative, someone dear to you, someone I knew all my life, someone whom I had
waited for so long to see again. There
was such a feeling of uncertainty, what would happen to him? Would his old enemies not accept his peaceful
approach? What would he do since he had
been incarcerated for such a long time? How would he fit in? What about his family? By then unsavoury stories had begun to emerge
about Winnie. The questions were
numerous. But he soon proved that these
concerns were not founded and that he had prepared himself well to make a
difference, to contribute at the highest level not only in South Africa but as
a citizen of the world.
When his book A Long Walk to Freedom
came out I had to get my copy. The
interesting thing is that I can boast of having had my copy personally autographed by
him during his visit to Saint Lucia in 1998. I am grateful to Lady Janice Compton for
facilitating the book signing. The
opportunity to meet him in person will always remain indelibly imprinted in my
mind. It was an awe inspiring encounter,
that circle of people who gleefully awaiting their turn to be introduced to the
greatest living icon, was unbelievable. We
all stood there with great anticipation and baited breath awaiting our turn. The saddest thing for me was that Tobias's
camera was taken from him at the door as there was an official photographer for
the evening. I know that Mandela was a
man who espoused forgiveness, yet my response to the performance of the official photographer
on that evening was to say the least, most disappointing. In short, unlike my spouse I do not have a
photograph of that famous hand shake, evidence of the fact that we breathed the
same air, that his hand clasped mine that our eyes meet. I can only depend on a vivid memory of that encounter;
physical evidence would have helped, if only to share the awe of the moment. (It's taking me some time to show forgiveness
here, although I always preach that forgiveness benefits the person who is
doing the forgiving).
I was also blessed to have visited his
home land and the township Soweto, to meet with his people and to enjoy the beauty of
his country. The defining moment of this
visit for me was a boat trip to Robben Island; the island prison where he had
spent so many years of his life. Visiting
his cell and hearing the clanking sound of that heavy gate being slammed behind
me and visualizing what that would sound like if one had to hear it so many
times a day for so many years. A
chilling sound indeed. I also got to see
the cave where he would teach his fellow prisoners to read and write and hear
of the stories when human excrement was used to keep the jailers at bay whilst
the prisoners were being schooled. Even
human filth can serve a useful purpose, talk about thinking out of the box and
using all resources available to you.
The guide at Robben Island which by that
time had been converted into a tourist attraction was a fellow prisoner with
Mandela. I was able to take a photograph
with him but he had lost his ability to smile.
Compared to Mandela who remained such a cheerful human being he was
still struggling with his emotions from the experiences they had shared. This goes to prove it is not what happens to
you but how you choose to react or respond to what happened. How you use the experience to build yourself
and others or to destroy. It's about how
you see it and how you choose to let circumstances impact you. The mind-set
is always important as our thoughts precedes and determines our actions.
Long live the spirit of a man of the
people, an icon, a leader par excellence, and a great human being. Never to be forgotten. I feel truly blessed to have met him, to have
shared his personal space. May he rest
in perfect peace and leave his peace with the world. We need it now more than ever.
Our contribution could be: “Let there be
peace on earth and let it begin with me”.
Or for those who are spiritually inclined; “Let there be peace on earth and let it
begin with God’s love in my heart”.
Namaste
