Mandela Day: Celebrating the ‘Gandhi of Africa’ and his deep connection with India

EVERY year on July 18, the world observes Mandela Day, a global call to action to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela—a man whose courage, compassion, and commitment to justice changed the course of history. On this day, people across the globe dedicate 67 minutes of service, a minute for each year Mandela spent fighting for equality. This year, as we reflect on his extraordinary life, it is worth exploring a lesser-discussed yet deeply meaningful aspect of Mandela’s journey: his profound connection with India and the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.

 

Mandela and Gandhi: Two souls, one struggle

 

Though they belonged to different generations and fought on different continents, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi were bound by a shared philosophy and a common purpose. And it was the fight against racial oppression through nonviolent resistance. Gandhi’s struggle against apartheid in South Africa shaped his ideas of Satyagraha. It was a principle that Mandela would later draw on in his own lifelong campaign against apartheid.

It is no coincidence, then, that Mandela was often called “the Gandhi of Africa.” The comparison is not just symbolic, but it is rooted in shared values, similar experiences of persecution. And a deep respect Mandela held for Gandhi’s methods and legacy.

 

India: A beacon of inspiration

 

Mandela first learned about Gandhi while imprisoned on Robben Island, where he spent 18 of his 27 years in jail. Books about Gandhi were among the few he was allowed to read. Gandhi’s story of resilience in the face of injustice left an indelible mark on him. In Mandela’s own words:

 

“India is the Mahatma’s country of birth; South Africa was the country of his adoption. He made both countries his home and devoted his services to both.”

Mandela came to see India not just as a distant nation, but as a moral compass. It was the country that had successfully thrown off colonial shackles using nonviolence, civil disobedience, and people’s power.

 

India, in turn, took an early and consistent stand against apartheid. India was the first country to sever trade relations with South Africa in 1946, even before its own independence. It later led global campaigns to isolate the apartheid regime, becoming a champion of South Africa’s liberation on the world stage.

 

A long-awaited embrace: Mandela’s visits to India

 

After decades of struggle, when apartheid finally ended and Nelson Mandela was released in 1990. One of the earliest countries he visited was India. The visit was not political, it was personal. He came not as a diplomat, but as a long-lost friend returning to a land that had long stood by him.

 

During his 1990 visit, India bestowed upon Mandela its highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna. He was the first non-Asian to receive it, a recognition of both his moral stature and India’s emotional bond with him.

 

In a deeply moving speech at the time, Mandela said:

 

“India is my second home. I cannot describe the emotion that overwhelms me each time I visit your country.” He would return again in 1995, this time as the President of South Africa, further strengthening the ties between the two nations.

 

Why Mandela was called the ‘Gandhi of Africa’

 

The title “Gandhi of Africa” did not come easily—it was earned through years of sacrifice, humility, and unwavering dedication to peace. Here are some of the many reasons why the comparison with Gandhi resonates so deeply:

 

1. Commitment to nonviolence

 

Though Mandela’s early political strategy included armed resistance through the ANC’s military wing, ‘Umkhonto we Sizwe’, his later philosophy was deeply rooted in reconciliation and peaceful negotiation, much like Gandhi. After his release, Mandela led South Africa through a remarkably peaceful transition, avoiding civil war in a country on the brink of chaos.

 

2. Moral authority

 

Like Gandhi, Mandela’s greatest strength was moral leadership. He chose forgiveness over revenge, despite enduring nearly three decades of imprisonment. He famously invited his former jailers to his presidential inauguration, a gesture echoing Gandhi’s ethos of loving even one’s enemies.

 

3. Symbol of resistance

 

Both men became symbols of resistance for their nations. Gandhi inspired India to break free from British rule. Mandela inspired South Africa to dismantle apartheid. Both were imprisoned, vilified, and persecuted—but neither was broken.

 

4. Legacy of humility

 

Despite global fame, neither Gandhi nor Mandela sought personal glory. Both lived simple lives, championed the poor, and placed service above self. Their humility became their power, earning them the love and trust of millions.

 

India and South Africa: A relationship forged in struggle

 

The India-South Africa bond was born not of commerce or diplomacy, but of shared ideals. Gandhi’s time in South Africa was pivotal—it was here that he first encountered institutional racism, and it was here that the seeds of Satyagraha were sown. Decades later, Mandela would harvest those seeds in the same soil, transforming them into a mighty movement.

India’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle was not just governmental, it was also deeply grassroots. From trade unions and student bodies to cultural groups and political parties, Indian civil society played a key role in keeping the flame of resistance alive.

 

After Mandela’s release and the fall of apartheid, this emotional connection laid the foundation for a renewed partnership. India and South Africa today share strategic, economic, and cultural ties—but it is their shared history of struggle that remains their strongest link.

 

A legacy that belongs to the world

 

On Mandela Day, as people across the globe plant trees, clean schools, donate food, and help the elderly, they are not just honoring a man—they are keeping alive the spirit of Ubuntu: “I am because we are.” This African philosophy of interconnectedness aligns perfectly with Gandhi’s idea of Sarvodaya: the welfare of all.

 

Mandela and Gandhi both taught the world that true strength lies in compassion, that justice must be pursued with patience, and that the arc of the moral universe does indeed bend toward justice—if we help it bend.

 

As we mark Mandela Day, let us remember that the bond between India and Mandela is not just historical—it is inspirational. Mandela carried Gandhi’s torch into the 20th century and beyond. He transformed the pain of oppression into the power of forgiveness. He showed the world that leadership is not about domination, but about dignity.

 

In celebrating Mandela, we are also celebrating the enduring power of Gandhi’s ideals, the strength of India’s support for justice, and the timeless truth that one person can change the world.

 

This Mandela Day, may we not only remember—but act. In the spirit of Mandela. In the spirit of Gandhi. In the spirit of humanity.