MANDELA'S 'CONVERSATION WITH HIMSELF'

He needs no formal introduction. A larger than life picture in his own right. A great personality who like Mahatma Gandhi, Father of our nation, fought relentlessly for the freedom of his country facing torture, long years of incarceration, braved bullets, lathis and chained by the British colonolists and finally paved the way for independence of his nation from the iron grip of white men. Centuries of colonial rule, however could not break the backs of blackmen, their grit, determination and love of freedom and facing heavy odds along the path littered with many an obstacle finally achieved their goal. The guiding force however was he the great man named Nelson Mandela fondly called by us as 'African Gandhi'. Imagine the soul of a man who underwent 27 years of imprisonment, solitary imprisonment, his courage, conviction and thirst for freedom.
He won umpteen laurels not only in his country, but worldwide. Yes, he needs no introduction, each and everyone knows him, respects and hold him in high esteem. He won Nobel prize for peace, was awarded Bharat Ratna and Indira Gandhi Peace Foundation Award, similarly many nations across the world honoured him with numerous awards and now this 92 year old great global citizen, don't confine him to South Africa only in the twilight years of his life. Spends his days reflecting upon his fabulous and eventful years with his beloved ones away from all hullaballoo or hundrum of daily existence.
As the founder President of African National Congress (ANC) first, then as the leader who fought against the British, a mighty fearless campaign from the vanguard, almost three decades in prison, snatching freedom for his country and occupying the highest post of President a nation where he was a slave once like his followers, upon completion of his tenure happily handing over charge to the next leader Thabo Mbeki and Mbeki to Jacob Zuma, the incumbant President.
Problems, ofcourse South Africa faces like any other nation, but the most important thing is South Africa is a free country now, not one under a colonial yoke. Freedom, ofcourse, is a great concept be it South Africa, India, China and for that matter any other nation, for which mankind often aspire for, dream for, fight for, since time immemorial, stifling the voices of freedom equivalent to suffocating a human-being to death.
Here I do not want to dwell upon the myriad problems that country faces, there are countless of them but this is not a moment for concentrating on them because the subject about to be dealt with here is another one but equally important.
Today the 12th October, a book penned by Nelson Mandela is going to be released. Even before the release - it could however happen - some contents have already come out into the open.
"Conversations with Myself" as the book is titled, Mandela has taken the opportunity to take strong exception to the attitude of many painting a larger than life picture of him. Deification he hates most and he always likes to be known as a common citizen of South Africa otherwise he hates idolatry. Like any other freedom fighter of South Africa he was also a part of struggle for freedom like any other freedom fighter, he too underwent prison terms and torture like any other freedom fighter he had his own pains and sorrows and one pain still etched in his mind is the death of his elder son, other things being his Ex-wife Winnie and children suffered while he was in prison and when Winnie too was jailed leaving the children helpless and hapless - those frightening painful days through which he went through all poignantly mentioned.
Let me be frank.
The book I don't have. I could go through only the excerpts that set me thinking and ponder upon.
When I went through the excerpts, with fun and also with pain, I was thinking about, still thinking about in a country where Mahatma lived fearlessly, today his followers as well as other so-called leaders and ministers aspiring to be deified, to be painted larger than life pictures, erecting their own statues at every nook and corner across the country to be remembered by posterity, demanding escorts armed with gun wielding security guards both in front, back and side ways as if they 'might' be thinking that they deserve such ornamentalities or embellishments ofcourse everything at tax-payers' expenses.
Sir, frankly speaking I am at a loss to find out the meaning of such meaninglessness.
Dear Mandela, pay a visit to India to witness such 'exhilarating sights'- the clowns who ply the roads with escorts and the clowns who fly by air ofcourse in executive classes round the clock. All larger than life pictures Mr.Mandela.