Introduction
Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi are two important figures in the political history of South Africa and India, respectively. While they never met, Mandela is known to have followed Gandhi’s principles. Mandela’s political career began in 1949, after India gained independence with Gandhi’s leadership. Mandela became South Africa’s first democratically elected president, while Gandhi never contested any elections in India. Both leaders advocated for non-violence and non-cooperation, with Mandela following Gandhi’s footsteps for over a decade. One significant difference is that Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, while Gandhi was not. Mandela is often called ‘the Gandhi of South Africa,’ while he described Gandhi as ‘the archetypical anti-colonial revolutionary leader.’ These are the key differences between Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
Highlights
1. Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi had different attitudes and character, but Mandela followed Gandhi’s principles.
2. Mandela’s political career began after Gandhi secured India’s independence, while Gandhi also worked for the removal of the caste system in India.
3. Gandhi used non-violent means to oust the British from India, while Mandela followed in his footsteps for over ten years.
