Fresno State will unveil a new monument to Nelson Mandela. Here’s the significance | Opinion

At a time when forces of violence, division, war and crises intensify globally and locally, Fresno State’s Peace Garden is poised to unveil a new monument honoring Nelson Mandela, the legendary South African leader who dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice and peace.

Situated at the heart of the Fresno State campus, the Peace Garden stands as a unique testament to the university’s commitment to the values of peace, diversity and equity. This space is already home to monuments honoring luminaries such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., César E. Chávez and Jane Addams. Despite their different backgrounds, these leaders continue to inspire struggles for peace and social justice, paving the way for universal upliftment, which Gandhi termed “Sarvodaya.”

The Peace Garden is a site of education for all who visit it. Oftentimes, on my way to classes, I see students walking around the garden. I have also witnessed local elementary and middle school students surrounding the monuments as their teachers explain to them the contributions these leaders made to the world.

Opinion

As a scholar of Gandhi who worked closely with Reverend James M. Lawson Jr., a prominent leader of nonviolence, I reflect on the significance of the Mandela Monument. Its addition at this time in history beckons hope and trust in the power of dialogue and reconciliation.

Mandela, who passed away in 2013, is renowned for his pivotal role in mobilizing both domestic and international resistance against institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination. Throughout his journey, Mandela faced numerous challenges but remained steadfast, employing various strategies to combat injustice and inhumanity.

I find it inspiring that, within the confines of his prison cell, Mandela contemplated the transformative power of reconciliation and the importance of building a unified society.

He was imprisoned for his revolutionary activities against South Africa’s Apartheid regime. His resilience was most profoundly tested during his 27 years of imprisonment, from 1962 to 1990. Mandela endured harsh restrictions and perilous conditions: He was allowed only one visitor per year for a mere 30 minutes, and he could send and receive just one letter every six months.

In my seminar on the philosophy of peace and nonviolence, I focus on the uniqueness of Mandela as a beacon of hope, committed to healing the wounds of hate, revenge and rivalry. He resolved to employ the method of truth and reconciliation — a clear expression of nonviolence — to uplift humanity and foster change.

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison,” Mandela reflected in his autobiography.

His ability to release the shackles of vengeance, along with his physical confinement, serves as a profound model for those seeking justice today. From his experiences, he learned that peace can only be promoted through dialogue and understanding with all involved parties. His relentless efforts to dismantle oppressive laws and create goodwill among all communities show a path forward for uniting our divided societies.

The keynote address at the ceremony will be delivered by Dr. Siyabulela Mandela, an independent consultant on human rights, international development and conflict resolution. His talk, titled “Reconciliation: Fostering Peace through a Search for Common Grounds,” promises to inspire attendees and further the conversation around reconciliation.

The Mandela Monument Ceremony is open to the public and will be held at the Peace Garden at Fresno State this Thursday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m.

Mandela may have lived thousands of miles away, but his lessons on truth and reconciliation resonate globally and locally. His lifelong commitment to justice, unity and healing transcend geographic boundaries, offering valuable guidance for communities everywhere.

This monument offers another powerful example to our students and community of how the path of resistance to injustice, reconciliation, open communication and empathy can help bridge divides and foster lasting change, right here at home.

Veena R. Howard is a professor in and the chair of the Department of Philosophy at California State University, Fresno. She is also the endowed chair in Jain and Hindu Dharma and the director of the M.K. Gandhi Center: Inner Peace and Sarvodaya.