'Long Walk To Freedom' - Nelson Mandela
Before divulging my views on this book any further, I realise that it's the second time I am here to expatiate on any autobiography, the first being my blog on 'Experimets with Truth', a few months back..
Well, most of the times when I begin to gear me up for the job of composing one more readable article on my blog, a tinge of laziness accomapanied with the feeling of not having any presentable stuff deters me from going any further and has become a primary reason for my desertion of writing practises..
But two days back, I completed with this gloriously remarkable book which gives the life account of one of the most famous figures of history, one of the most innovative leaders and the most resilient patriots ever born .... Nelson Mandela.
And I will certainly like to mention a few pts. on this blog to retain the memory of this book to pore over in future.
His struggle beginning from his youth, when he joined Youth League, leading to his life in prison, which lasted approximately 27 yrs & 6 months ,to way back to freedom just to fight once more with the White Government on Negotiation Table is indeed a kind of cornucopia of adventures, one can imagine only in dreams or envisage them in movies, but the thought that this guy has passed his entire youth in prison is sufficient to put shivers down the spine of any person who believes himself capable of suffering anything even for the sake of national benefit.
The book always carries with it a humorous touch though scenes of extreme frustration have been scribbled all along, particularly relating to his separation from his wife,Winnie and the oppresive measures taken by government to retain white supremacy over blacks by hook or crook leading to abhoresome policies of Apartheid.
I beleive rather than giving my descriptions, a certain portions from his own writing will do more justice in conveying his stand, though the excerpts presented below are not accurate, as I am writing them, recalling only from my memory, the book is no more with me.
'There are two obligations to any person: obligation towards his family, who are most near & dear to you and obligation towards your (country) people.
A person born in South-Africa can never be entitled to fulful both of them cause if you fulfil the former, you will remain confined to your own family and if you fulfil the later, you will become an outlaw living a life of secrecy and violations.'
'The most important thing for a prisoner suffering sentence is not the government policy, or even the God, but the warden attending him next door.His happiness of life depends on his relation with this warden. '
When a warden ,in the fit of rage,rushed towards Mandela, to punch him,He(Mandela) got very afraid but this sentence came out of his mouth automatically, not totally out of bravery, but because it is what was supposed to be said:'If you so much as lay a hand on me,I will take you to the highest land on court, and when I will finish with you,you will be as poor as a church mouse. '
The warden ofcourse silenced.
'It is not bravery to not feel fear, but to overcome it.I have remained bold, even when I was afraid the most.'
'Whenever in a struggle for the sake of righteousness and humanity, you climb a hill, you only find there are more hills to climb.'
'Both oppressor and oppressed become the victims , oppressor becoming the victim of hatred and the oppressed becoming the victim of slavery.Both need to be freed.'
'No person is born with hatred towards any person owing to colour of his skin.Hatred must be taught.And if they can be taught to hate, they can also be taught to love as love comes more naturally to humans than hatred.'
'I have completed a long distance and I am taking a moment to rest here, to look at the vista of enviroment surrounding me, to look at the distance I have covered,but I dare not linger as my long walk is not yet over.'
All said, this is a must read autobiography and teaches you the values of morality, resilience, strength and leadership.
Well, most of the times when I begin to gear me up for the job of composing one more readable article on my blog, a tinge of laziness accomapanied with the feeling of not having any presentable stuff deters me from going any further and has become a primary reason for my desertion of writing practises..
But two days back, I completed with this gloriously remarkable book which gives the life account of one of the most famous figures of history, one of the most innovative leaders and the most resilient patriots ever born .... Nelson Mandela.
And I will certainly like to mention a few pts. on this blog to retain the memory of this book to pore over in future.
His struggle beginning from his youth, when he joined Youth League, leading to his life in prison, which lasted approximately 27 yrs & 6 months ,to way back to freedom just to fight once more with the White Government on Negotiation Table is indeed a kind of cornucopia of adventures, one can imagine only in dreams or envisage them in movies, but the thought that this guy has passed his entire youth in prison is sufficient to put shivers down the spine of any person who believes himself capable of suffering anything even for the sake of national benefit.
The book always carries with it a humorous touch though scenes of extreme frustration have been scribbled all along, particularly relating to his separation from his wife,Winnie and the oppresive measures taken by government to retain white supremacy over blacks by hook or crook leading to abhoresome policies of Apartheid.
I beleive rather than giving my descriptions, a certain portions from his own writing will do more justice in conveying his stand, though the excerpts presented below are not accurate, as I am writing them, recalling only from my memory, the book is no more with me.
'There are two obligations to any person: obligation towards his family, who are most near & dear to you and obligation towards your (country) people.
A person born in South-Africa can never be entitled to fulful both of them cause if you fulfil the former, you will remain confined to your own family and if you fulfil the later, you will become an outlaw living a life of secrecy and violations.'
'The most important thing for a prisoner suffering sentence is not the government policy, or even the God, but the warden attending him next door.His happiness of life depends on his relation with this warden. '
When a warden ,in the fit of rage,rushed towards Mandela, to punch him,He(Mandela) got very afraid but this sentence came out of his mouth automatically, not totally out of bravery, but because it is what was supposed to be said:'If you so much as lay a hand on me,I will take you to the highest land on court, and when I will finish with you,you will be as poor as a church mouse. '
The warden ofcourse silenced.
'It is not bravery to not feel fear, but to overcome it.I have remained bold, even when I was afraid the most.'
'Whenever in a struggle for the sake of righteousness and humanity, you climb a hill, you only find there are more hills to climb.'
'Both oppressor and oppressed become the victims , oppressor becoming the victim of hatred and the oppressed becoming the victim of slavery.Both need to be freed.'
'No person is born with hatred towards any person owing to colour of his skin.Hatred must be taught.And if they can be taught to hate, they can also be taught to love as love comes more naturally to humans than hatred.'
'I have completed a long distance and I am taking a moment to rest here, to look at the vista of enviroment surrounding me, to look at the distance I have covered,but I dare not linger as my long walk is not yet over.'
All said, this is a must read autobiography and teaches you the values of morality, resilience, strength and leadership.
