Source: Photo: AFP

Nelson Mandela waves to supporters on January 9, 1994, in Johannesburg.

The television was on and I sat watching, mesmerised by the vast numbers of people filling the screen. To the uninformed observer, it might have looked a bit like a street party. There were men, women, children and people of all races gathering by the hundreds singing, dancing, clapping and chanting. It was in fact live television coverage from outside Nelson Mandela's home in Johannesburg, the morning after he had been pronounced dead. When interviewed, the people on the streets said they were not just mourning his death but also celebrating Mandela's amazing life and achievements. 
In an address to the nation on Thursday evening, South African President Jacob Zuma stated simply, “He is now resting, he is now at peace.” He continued by saying that, "Our nation has lost its greatest son...our people have lost a father." Undoubtedly most South Africans would agree. Nelson Mandela was not just a visionary, world leader and icon, he also taught the world about forgiveness and was, to quote the Prince of Wales, “the embodiment of courage and reconciliation". 
My first encounter with political activism was in my first year of university. Nelson Mandela had already been in prison for almost a quarter of a century and although I was aware of, and against apartheid, I had never actively done anything about it. One of my friends, however, was a staunch Mandela supporter and joined the African National Congress (ANC) that year. Although many opposed the view, at the time it was considered a terrorist group. Subsequently this label was removed. 

Source: Photo: AFP

Mandela adressing on February 13, 1990.

Students were constantly talking about the anti-apartheid movement, Mandela, and the dire situation in South Africa. It made me read up about what was going on and I found myself being disgusted by the human and civil rights violations being perpetrated on a daily basis. Thinking back now, it beggars belief to think that this kind of racial segregation was actually institutionalised in South Africa and lasted for almost fifty years. 
Although it was still highly controversial (some claimed that boycotts and sanctions would negatively impact the general population), I recall people boycotting Shell petrol stations, Barclays Bank, not buying produce from South Africa to try and put economic pressure on the then government to abolish apartheid. As I didn't drive a car or Bank with Barclays, I did try to avoid produce from South Africa that was sold in the local supermarkets.
The following year in 1988, 72,000 people gathered at Wembley stadium in London and eighty three of the world's most famous stars performed in a 70th birthday tribute to Mandela. I remember being utterly disappointed at not having been able to attend the concert but like 600 million other people around the world, I watched it on television. Despite it being a concert for Mandela's birthday, it was also seen as a platform for raising worldwide awareness of the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and saying 'no' to apartheid. It was also referred to as the 'Free Mandela' concert. In the Student Union Shop at my University, there were even 'Free Mandela' t-shirts available.
Finally after years of campaigning, on the 11th of February 1990 Nelson Mandela was released. By this stage he had spent twenty seven years on Robben Island, near Cape Town as a political prisoner. There was a sense of jubilation and people celebrated across the globe. The atmosphere in my university cafeteria, in the lecture theatres and classrooms was electric. Somehow it felt like justice had finally been served and maybe somewhere rightly or wrongly we all felt we had a minute part to play in the grander scheme of things. Credit has to be given to President F W De Clerk who was instrumental in the release of Mandela and subsequently the ending of apartheid in South Africa. 
Over the next few years, amidst ongoing tension and sporadic violence within the country, Mandela spent his time and efforts pushing for the first multiracial elections in South Africa. Unsurprisingly in 1993, Mandela, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize which he shared with Mr de Klerk. 
The following year all his hard work and determination came to fruition and Mandela was elected South Africa's first black president. His detractors must have been gutted to see the ex prisoner become the president right before their eyes. Despite having not just South Africa but most of the world hanging on his every word he did not cash in on his popularity and served only a single term from 1994 till he stepped down in 1999. 
Even after retirement Mandela was not one to sit idly and travelled extensively; working tirelessly on various Human Rights projects and became an increasingly outspoken advocate for the need to tackle the HIV/Aids epidemic in Africa. Gradually he reduced the number of public appearances he made and preferred to remain in South Africa especially once his health began to fail him.
A few years ago when my youngest daughter was ten or eleven, she was asked to do a school project on someone inspirational. She chose Nelson Mandela. She trawled the internet to get as much information as she could glean from various articles, took out books on Mandela and read his autobiography “Long Road to Freedom” before I did! When I asked her what had made her choose Mandela she told me that 'Madiba' as he was affectionately referred to had changed the way people view others and taught us that race, colour and religion didn't make us different from one another. I couldn't have agreed more. Nelson Mandela was an inspiration to millions of people of all ages, races and religions around the world and his legacy is one that will live on for generations to come. 
Although Mandela was known for his indomitable spirit and courage, his exceptional leadership qualities and for being a fearless freedom fighter, I would like to remember him as a real living breathing human being with hopes, dreams, fears and desires just like the rest of us. And how can anyone forget his delightfully mischievous sense of humour. After announcing his 'retirement from retirement' in a 2004 interview, he told the world 'Don't call me – I will call you.'
For most people, spending almost three decades in prison would have broken their spirit or fostered feelings of negativity and hate towards those who had done him this unforgivable injustice. Instead, he spent his life teaching others the value of compassion, forgiveness and courage. In his autobiography 'Long Walk to Freedom', Nelson Mandela writes “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”