‘Indian leaders should emulate Mandela’

Hyderabad: Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika (TVV) and Centre for Dalit Studies recalled the role of Nelson Mandela in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa as well as in rebuilding the South African society by eliminating discrimination on the basis of colour. He also made sure that no hatred was shown against the whites after the movement, the organisations hailed.

Mallepalli Lakshmaiah, founder chairman of Centre for Dalit Studies, K Ramachandra Murthy, Editor-in-Chief of HMTV and The Hans India, Prof Satyanarayana, Ravi of Centre for Dalit Studies, Prof Kodandaram, the TJAC chairman, Prof Ganta Chakrapani , Sridhar Deshpande Pittala Ravinder, eulogised the contributions of Mandela.

Prof Kodandaram said that though Mandela had to spend 27 years in jail, he never lost his intellectual balance and confidence. Comparing Mandela’s role in drafting a new Constitution for South Africa to that of Dr B R Ambedkar in drafting the Indian Constitution, he pointed out that Mandela never developed any hatred towards whites, though the black people had seen several decades of unimaginable discrimination in the hands of the whites.

Mallepalli Lakshmaiah said that the weaker sections in India needed to draw an inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s legacy and the South African movement. “South Africans demanded reparations, not reservations. They made the government work towards bringing equality in all walks of life in the society, by holding the government responsible,” he added.

Ramachandra Murthy said that Mandela was a man of determination, who had a unique ability to reconcile himself to any situation. In this context, he felt that reconciliation was very much needed for the people of Telangana to achieve a healthy society post-demerger. He also expressed his displeasure over the way the society had forgotten the contributions made by Mandela to the mankind, as was evident in the people’s indifference to the loss of such a great life.

Describing Mandela as a model for identity struggles and human rights in the world, Prof Ganta Chakrapani said that his model could be used for rebuilding Telangana. He said that the National Segregation Policy of South Africa, which included Social Housing Policy, was enacted in the post-apartheid era by the South African government which created a space where the whites and the blacks could live together in harmony.

However, he pointed out that even after 60 years of independence, such inclusive policies were not implemented in India, though they had been included in the Constitution. He suggested that the African National Congress policies be adopted by the Telangana leadership after the formation of Telangana.

He said that Mandela wanted not only the colonial rule to end, but also all the social evils related to discrimination which existed in the South African society. He implored the TJAC leadership to take inspiration from Mandela’s life.