On July 18, the world will pay tribute to the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela on Nelson Mandela International Day, a global observance marked over the past 16 years since its launch in 2009 by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and its subsequent recognition by the United Nations.
More than a celebration of Mandela's life, the day has become a global call to honour his legacy by taking action to make the world a better place.
Although Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013, his enduring principles of peace, reconciliation, and the rejection of hatred remain as relevant today as ever. In a world increasingly marked by conflict and division, those ideals are needed more than ever.
The former Robben Island prisoner endured unimaginable suffering and injustice during his long imprisonment. Yet, after leading South Africa out of apartheid, he chose reconciliation over retribution.
His willingness to build peace with those who had once oppressed the Black majority remains one of the most extraordinary examples of statesmanship in modern history.
As unwavering as he was in his pursuit of justice, Madiba also showed the world the power of forgiveness. Rather than seeking revenge against those who had inflicted decades of oppression, he embraced reconciliation as the foundation for a democratic South Africa.
Had he been alive, Mandela would have turned 108 on July 18. He died 13 years ago at the age of 95, having spent more than 27 years in prison and devoted 67 years of his life to the struggle for justice, equality, and human rights.
While Nelson Mandela International Day encourages people around the world to dedicate 67 minutes to community service, symbolizing his 67 years of public service, the occasion should represent something even greater. It should inspire us to reflect deeply on the values he championed and recommit ourselves to them.
Despite the systemic oppression endured by him and millions of South Africans under apartheid, Mandela harboured no hatred towards those who had designed and enforced the system. Instead, he chose reconciliation, creating space for national healing through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and broader efforts to unite a deeply divided society.
Bangladesh, too, has experienced moments when its political and civil society leaders could have chosen a similar path -- one free from recrimination, retribution, and revenge.
The most recent was the 18-month period between the July Revolution of 2024 and the February election this year. Regrettably, that opportunity was lost.
Instead of fostering reconciliation, we embraced greater polarization, vengeance, and exclusion, doing little to restore the country's social and political cohesion.
That failure stands in stark contrast to the spirit I witnessed nearly three decades ago. In March 1997, as a young reporter, I stood near the podium at Suhrawardy Udyan during Bangladesh's silver jubilee of independence.
There, Mandela -- alongside Yasser Arafat and Süleyman Demirel -- delivered a memorable address.
He observed that while South Africa was "still crawling from the darkness of apartheid into the sunshine of freedom," it stood in solidarity with Bangladesh as it celebrated 25 years of independence.
He reminded the audience that "the road to independence and freedom is never easy," urging nations to work together to build effective governance, promote economic renewal, and cooperate in ensuring peace, development, and self-determination.
One line from that speech has stayed with me ever since: "Let us co-operate to create jobs and banish hunger, disease, and illiteracy."
Nelson Mandela was a towering statesman in every sense of the word. He embodied wisdom, compassion, justice, and magnanimity, living by the principles he espoused. Nelson Mandela International Day itself was inspired by his call for future generations to continue the struggle against injustice, captured in his enduring words: "It is in your hands now."
Today, we live in a world where inequality continues to widen, wealth is increasingly concentrated among a privileged few, and millions still struggle to secure basic necessities such as food, shelter, healthcare, and education. Armed conflicts, economic crises, and climate change are reversing decades of progress against hunger and poverty.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres aptly captured the spirit of the day, saying: "Like Madiba, we can all play a part in building fair economies and inclusive societies... by building economies rooted in renewable energy -- for people and the planet."
The future remains ours to shape. But to realize Mandela's vision of a more peaceful and just world, we must first embrace the power of collective forgiveness.
Without it, the destructive cycles of vilification, vengeance, and division will continue to define both our national politics and the global order.
Reaz Ahmad is Editor, Dhaka Tribune.
