Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela - Essay Example

It is apparent that both leaders advocated for non-violent ways of settling their grievances. For instance, Mandela borrowed ideologies and principles from Gandhi who had insisted on negotiation with the black Africans and Indian administrators. Similarly, Mandela and Gandhi were revolutionists who fought for the rights of other citizens (Dalton, 2012). This implies that the two leaders mobilized people to help them fight for changes by pushing the administrators to transform their ruling strategies.

It is also evident that Mandela was similar to Gandhi in that they were against social segregation and discrimination across South Africa (Limb, 2008). For instance, as a lawyer in South Africa, Gandhi did not like the way the Indians faced mistreatments from other ethnic groups. Mandela also led the anti-apartheid movement that separated the blacks against the Europeans in the country. This indicates that they had similar approaches to influencing equality and appreciation of separate races within the country.

DifferencesHowever, some differences were also evident between the two prominent leaders. For instance, while Mandela fought for the interests of his people, he emerged as a political leader. He also formed a political party that acquired independence for the black liberators. In contrast, Gandhi later became a religious-nationalist in his native country India (Dalton, 2012). Another difference is that Gandhi never had political ambitions and only fought for the liberation of people against the British (Dalton, 2012).

Mandela had political ambitions that enabled him to contest in a democratic election where he emerged the victor. It is also different than Gandhi was instrumental in both his country and in South Africa where he led the campaigners for change (Limb, 2008). Contrastingly, Mandela only participated in his home country where he was arrested before venturing into politics and mobilization (Limb, 2008). The other difference is that Gandhi was assassinated while Mandela died in the hospital after a long illness.

ConclusionThe fight for democracy involved inspirations from other influential personalities. Considering this, the efforts exhibited by Mandela and Gandhi were instrumental in influencing democratic changes in their respective nations. However, the similarities between them entailed the use of non-violent strategies, fight against social segregation and they were revolutionists. However, the differences comprised of Gandhi being assassinated while Mandela faced natural death. The other differences involved Gandhi had no political ambitions while Mandela became a politician after the struggles.

It is also a different thing that Mandela only participated in his mission in his native country while Gandhi was involved in both South Africa and India.