Chapter 23

This chapter started off with a very strong introduction about Nelson Mandela. It spoke of his time in jail and his quick accomplishments he made after being released. He was a strong man and one to be remembered in history. His strength led to African freedom against Europeans and mobilized millions of people to take role in political activity and warfare. Decolonization promised national freedom, personal dignity, abundance, and opportunity.
   Freedom was also a problem for India, they had a "freedom struggle" just as South Africa did. Though it took a while, India was one of the first colonies to gain freedom where South Africa was one of the last.  India's most important political expression of an all- Indian identity started in the INC, established in 1885. Its only members were English speaking Indians such as lawyers, journalists, teachers and business men. The INC was an elite organization but still struggled to gain mass among India's vast peasant population. Gandhi stepped into the picture and quickly rose within the leadership ranks of INC. In the 1920's and 30's he tried his approach in periodic mass campaigns that brought support from all over. Gandhi was a political power like no one had ever seen before, he didn't want social revolution but the moral transformation of individuals. He was a peacekeeper and a new face for India. After great non-violent struggle, India finally gained its independence in 1947 as 2 countries, one Muslim Pakistan and a Hindu India. This divide was very destructive, over 1 million Indians were killed.
     South Africa's struggle for freedom was very different to India's. South Africa has been independent since 1910 but the freedom was only granted to the white population which was less than 20%. During the Boer War, South Africans had already sought independence from the Afrikaners but failed. Different from India, South Africa had a well developed industrial economy. White Africans owed factories, plants and farms while Africans worked for  them. Just as India did, South Africans developed their own leadership, the ANC. It started off as professional African men but then branched out to a younger generation. The ANC lead the freedom struggle with Nelson Mandela as their fearless leader. As India did, South Africa eventually won their freedom and their country split into two. The split wasn't over religion like India, it was over things such as race, ethnicity and ideology. The Africans finally had their home.