Everyday People
Sunday, March 23rd 2008
Hey Folks! Hit the 1000 visitor mark early this month so thanks to everyone who continuously promotes the site!
Have you ever been in conversation with someone and they drop a name and instantly expect you to know who that person is? For example I was talking about world heroes with a friend of mine and he mentioned the likes of Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Gandhi. While I’ve heard these names many times it suddenly struck me that I don’t know the full extent of why exactly are these people heroes? So this week I thought I’d look into exactly who these people are, and what makes them so special.
Name: Mahatma Gandhi
My understanding: Indian world leader for peace who wore VERY simple clothing
Who was he really:
Gandhi was born in 1869 and lived 78 years before his assassination in 1948. He was an Indian political and spiritual leader who pioneered the concept of Satyagraha or non violent resistance. He was deeply sadened by the way Indians were being treated and campaigned tirelessly to ensure equality for all those around him.His main activities as a peaceful protester in both South Africa and India were in relation to alleviating poverty, liberating women, ending the discrimination caused by the caste system.
He also protested strongly against the British imposed Salt Tax and subsequently led his Quit India campaign calling for the British to leave India. He lived quite a simple life in his own Ashram and made his own clothing, surviving on a vegetarian diet. Gandhi was well known for his fasting as self purification.
Gandhi went to London to study law and also ended up joining the British Armed Forces in South Africa during the time of the Zulu War.
For more info check out the wikipedia article on Gandhi
Name: Mother Teresa
My understanding: A nun who worked with un children
Who was she really:
Mother Teresa was an Albanian nun who worked tirelessly for the poor and homeless. She started the ordain The Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta with only 13 members in 1950. The purpose of this Mission was to look after “...the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.”
She pioneered the concept of a home for the dying, a palative care centre for “... people who lived like animals to die like angels — loved and wanted.” Individuals entering the home were given medical treatment and last rites according to their individual faiths. These homes were eventually expanded into orphanages, other hospices and leprosy homes.
By the time of her death in 1997, the organisation had grown to have 4,000 nuns and over 100,000 volunteers, operating 610 missions in 123 countries. These missions included hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, children’s and family counseling programs, orphanages, and schools. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
For more info, check out the wikipedia article on Mother Teresa
Name: Nelson Mandela
My understanding: A South African political leader who was jailed for a very long time and managed to abolish apartheid upon his release.
Who was he really:
Nelson Mandela was the 11th President of South Africa of the African National Congress (ANC) Party who campaigned against justice and quality for blacks and whites during a fierce reign of Apartheid in the country. Before becoming President, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist for the ANC’s armed wing and commit ed a number of sabotage offences that he was subsequently sent to jail for 27 years.
While in jail Mandela was classified as a the lowest category of prisoner and was allowed only one visitor and one letter every six months. Making good use of his time in there, Mandela undertook a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London. During his jail term there was an increasing amount of international political pressure to have him released but unfortunately things were not able to change until P.W. Botha, the existing president during the time of Mandela’s imprisonment, stepped down from office.
After being released from prison, Mandela adopted a reconciliation and negotiation policy for his party and campaigned for equality to both blacks and whites. An example of his presidential potential is in his address to the nation following the assassination of ANC leader Chris Hani in 1993:
Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with the President at the time F.W. de Klerk for their combined efforts in negotiation of peaceful multi-racial elections within the country. Subsequently Mandela was elected as President of South Africa - the country’s first black president and the oldest - 77 years.
For more info check out the wikipedia article about Nelson Mandela
I used Wikipedia as my main source of information and even though the articles might not be 100% accurate, they still are able to articulate the amazing characteristics of these people. Its important to keep in mind that though these people are all hailed as heroes in the world today, they are still everyday people like you and me. They just have extra-ordinary stories to tell.
Dream, Build, Inspire, Lead!
AJ~
p.s. Next week’s post might be a bit late as I’m in Sydney for a board meeting and might not be able to post on time.
Author: AJ Kulatunga
Category:
Dream, Inspire, Lead, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Everyday People
Comments
Hey . . .great post. Like yourself, I didn’t know enough about these great people. But thanks to you. . .I know a little more. I’ve been intrigued by Mandela for years but haven’t bothered to follow up. Actually, I hava a funny story re mandela and a date i went on once. Tell you more about it sometime soon.
P.Lelekis