Destiny had fashioned in Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela an aristocratic visage, a light common touch, rigorous self-discipline, gracious humility and unimpeachable integrity. On Dec. 5, Mandela took the last step on his long walk to freedom. That was the title of his memorable 1994 autobiography, the movie version of which was released recently.
The evocative title was inspired by India's independence leader and first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who, more than half a century earlier, wrote that "there is no easy walk to freedom anywhere and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain tops."
In 1980, India conferred the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding on Mandela. With Mandela still in prison, the award was accepted by then-ANC President Oliver Tambo who, in the acceptance speech, poignantly and presciently noted that Nehru had served the world far better as a free man as head of independent India's government than as a British political prisoner during the Raj.