A look at Nelson Mandela and his India connection

FP Archives • December 6, 2013, 10:42:15 IST

Nelson Mandela, the icon of the antiapartheid movement, passed away Thursday at his home in Johannesburg. India was his first destination abroad after spending over a quarter of a century behind bars. Here’s a look at Mandela’s trips to India and his significant meetings with Indian dignitaries.

South African President Nelson Mandela (C) introduced to Mohammad Azharudin (L) by the Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar (R) January 4. Mandela meet both teams during the lunch break on the third day of the second cricket Test match between South Africa and India at the Newlands cricket ground. Reuters

Former SA President Nelson Mandela is greeted by Indian counterpart Shankar Dayal Sharma (L) and Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda (R) 27 March at Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace in New Delhi. Mandela, who arrived in New Delhi after attending Bangladesh’s independence celebrations, called for the restructuring of the United Nations so that powers are evenly distributed. “We don’t believe a few countries should undermine what the international community decides,” he said. AFP

Nelson Mandela holds the award of the International Gandhi Peace Prize for social, economic and political transformation which he received from former Indian President KR Narayanan at the Presidential palace in New Delhi, 16 March 2001. AFP

Former South African president Nelson Mandela hugs Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, and her husband Robert Vadra after receiving the Gandhi Peace Prize in New Delhi March 16, 2001. Mandela received the 10-million rupees ($217,391) Gandhi Peace Prize for his non-violent resistance to apartheid. Reuters

Nelson Mandela shares a light moment with former Indian Prime Minister, the Honourable Mr I K Gujral during a photo-call at Tuynhuis in Cape Town on 7 October, during the Indian Prime Minister’s official visit to the country. AFP

Jyoti Basu, Former Chief Minister of West Bengal, meets South African President Nelson Mandela at his office in Pretoria 22 July. AFP

Nelson Mandela talks with Indian former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during an award ceremony at the Presidential palace in New Delhi, 16 March 2001. Mandela received the award of the International Gandhi Peace Prize for social, economic and political transformation from Indian President KR Narayanan (not pictured). AFP

An underprivileged child (L) receives a free haircut from members of the Dr. Nelson Mandela Fans’ Forum as another child poses with a portrait of Mandela in Bangalore on July 18, 2011. The charity event was in honour of the 93rd birthday of former South African president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. AFP

Nelson Mandela and former India’s President Abdul Kalam share a light moment at Mandelas office in Johannesburg, 16 September 2004. Kalam had hailed anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela as a “mighty spirit” – a term signifying near-divine status in his country.AFP

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former South African President and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela arrive at the Nelson Madela Foundation in Johannesburg, 02 0ctober 2006. AFP

Former South African president and Nobel peace prize laureate Nelson Mandela with Sonia Gandhi, the President of the Indian National Congress and the leader of the ruling Indian Congress Alliance at the Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg during her four day working visit to South Africa. Gandhi presented a smiling Mandela with a book entitled ‘Gandhi’s Way’ which celebrated a centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of peace and humanity. AFP

Written by FP Archives