Surprising Facts About Nelson Mandela

This post is all about Nelson Mandela and his lesser known facts. Check them out, as these are quite interesting and not known by all.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 17:16

Nelson Mandela is the name that does not need any introduction. He is the man who almost single-handedly led to the demise of the apartheid practice in South Africa.

Though he won a Noble Peace Prize, he actually resorted to violent means for getting freedom. He almost spent 3 decades in prison, as he was fighting for the rights of Africans, and while he was in prison, he graduated in law.

Also Read: Things About Jayalalitha All Indians Should Know

There is a lot about Nelson Mandela that the world does not know of. Here, in this article, we are about to share some of the most surprising facts about Nelson Mandela that you should know of.

Find out more about this legendary man - Nelson Mandela!

Fact #1

Nelson Mandela is not his original name. His original name was "Rolihlahla Mandela", which means "to pull the branch off a tree" in Xhosa language. It also meant "troublemaker". Despite the fact that his name was changed, he continued to create troubles for the English people.

Fact #2

He spent 27 years of his life in prison and was an ace in disguising himself. He was in a chauffeur's disguise when he was arrested in 1962.

Fact #3

His main motive as a president was to improve the relations between whites and blacks, forming a brand-new image of South Africa to the world.

Fact #4

He started many organisations like the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Elders (an independent group of famous people who address global problems and human suffering).

Fact #5

He regretted that he didn't devote his time to solving the AIDS issue when he was the president. Later, he established 46664 (which was his prison number - he was the 466th prisoner in the year 1964 and so, 46664) - a non-profit organization that completely dedicated itself to spread awareness and prevent AIDS.

Fact #6

After getting the treatment for prostate cancer in 2001, he became weak with other ailments and this decreased his public appearances. 18th July was declared as the "Nelson Mandela International Day" by the United Nations for his contributions to democracy, social justice, freedom and human rights.

Fact #7

He was listed in USA's terror watch list till 2008, with his ANC (African National Congress) members because of their armed rebellion against apartheid.

Fact #8

Mandela was the co-author of the book "How Far We Slaves Have Come" along with Fidel Castro (Cuban Revolutionist and Politician who became the Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976).