Aung San Suu Kyi

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Famous as         Political Leader (Freedom Fighter) of Myanmar
Born on                19 June 1945
Born in                Yangon (Rangoon), Burma (Myanmar)
Nationality        Myanmar
Works & Achievements Leader of the National League for Democracy; Nobel Peace Prize Winner (1991)




Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced as Ong San Soo Chee) is the leading face of the pro-democracy movement and a leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar. Suu Kyi is one of the world's most renowned freedom fighters and advocates of nonviolence. Born to a Burmese military officer Aung San and Daw Khin Kyi, Aung San followed the footprints of her father and emerged as a central figure of the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar. Active in politics since 1988, Aung San has spent most of her time under several house arrests and bans and is currently under detention by the military junta. The venerated leader has won many national and international awards including Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament in 1990, United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Jawaharlal Nehru Award from India and Rafto Human Rights Prize and was awarded the honorary Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle against the dictatorship in year 1991.

Childhood and Education
Aung San Suu Kyi was born on 19 June, 1945 in Rangoon, capital city of Myanmar (then Burma). Her father, Aung San, was the architect of Burma’s independence. He founded the modern Burmese army and negotiated Burma's independence from the British Empire in 1947. He was, however, assassinated by his rivals in the same year when Suu Kyi was barely two years old.. Her mother Daw Khin Kyi was working in the External Affairs Ministry and was appointed Myanmar's ambassador to India in 1960.

Aung San Suu Kyi completed her basic education at schools in Rangoon and moved to India following her mother’s appointment as Myanmar’s envoy to India in 1960. Suu Kyi continued her studies in India. She graduated from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi in 1964. After graduating she went to Oxford University for further studies and completed her BA in philosophy, politics, and economics at St. Hugh's College, Oxford University in 1967.

Suu Kyi in Office
In 1969, during her visit to United States for further study, she met United Nations’ Secretary General U Thant and joined as the Assistant Secretary, Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. In 1972, Suu Kyi worked as the Research Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan. Same year she married Dr. Michael Aris, a scholar of Tibetan culture, living in Bhutan. The couple had two children, Alexander and Kim. During 1985-86, Suu Kyi studied at the Center of Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, as a visiting scholar. Suu Kyi completed her fellowship at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, in 1987.

Suu Kyi in Politics
In 1988, Suu Kyi returned to Myanmar to nurse her ailing mother and plunged into the nationwide uprising for the establishment of democracy. It all happened following the resignation of General Ne Win on July 23, 1988. Suu Kyi, in an open letter to the military government asked to establish a rule of the people in Myanmar. On 8 August, 1988, people, raising pro-democracy slogans assembled at the prominent places of the capital. The event led to a mass slaughter carried out by the ruling junta against the uprising throughout country. The military regime killed over 10,000 demonstrators, including students, women, and children – in a span of months.

In September 1988, Aung San Suu Kyi, in her first political move, joined the National League for Democracy as its secretary-general. The party was pushing for political reforms in the country. Suu Kyi gave numerous speeches calling for freedom and democracy. On July 20, 1989 Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest in the city of Rangoon. The same year, her mother, Daw Khin, after a prolonged, illness passed away.

Unable to maintain its grip on power, even during her detention, the “junta” was forced to call for a general election in 1990. Despite being held under house arrest, the NLD went on to win a staggering 82% of the seats in parliament. But, the junta regime refused to recognise the results. After six years of arrest and confinement Suu Kyi was released in July 1995. The military always offered her to leave the country and settle abroad but Suu Kyi rejected.

Suu Kyi’s Release and Re-detention
After her release Suu Kyi continued the struggle for democracy in Myanmar. This increased her popularity across the world and international political powers were compelled to intervene to resolve the issue. Though the western countries tried to put pressure on the ruling junta by curtailing economic aid, the neighboring countries continued to encourage the commerce. The military rulers increasingly restricted Suu Kyi's movements during 1996. She was also barred from traveling outside Rangoon and put under house arrest. In May 2002, Suu Kyi was released and the military government indicated that the release was unconditional and that Suu Kyi was free to pursue her political activities as leader of the NLD.

She was again arrested and placed behind bars in May 2003 after the Depayin massacre, during which up to 100 of her supporters were beaten to death by the regime's cronies. She moved from prison back into house arrest in late 2003 and has been held there ever since.

Death of Michael Aris
On March 27 1999, while Aung San Suu Kyi was in Burma, Michael Aris died of cancer in London. He had petitioned the Burmese authorities to allow him to visit Suu Kyi one last time, but they had rejected his request. The government always urged Suu Kyi to join her family abroad, but she knew that she would not be allowed to return.

Awards
Suu Kyi has won numerous international awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament, United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Jawaharlal Nehru Award from India and Rafto Human Rights Prize.



Aung San Suu KyiTimeline:
1945: Aung San Suu Kyi born in Rangoon.
1947: General Aung San assassinated
1948: The Independent Union of Myanmar is established.
1960: Daw Khin Kyi appointed Myanmar's ambassador to India. Suu Kyi accompanies mother to New Delhi.
1960-64: Suu Kyi at high school and Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi.
1964-67: Oxford University, B.A. in philosophy, politics and economics at St. Hugh's College
1969-71: She goes to New York for study. Postponing studies, Suu Kyi joins U.N. Secretariat as Assistant Secretary.
1972: January 1. Marries Michael Aris
1973: They return to England for birth of Alexander in London.
1974: Michael assumes appointment at Oxford University.
1977: Birth of second son, Kim at Oxford.
1984: Publishes “Aung San”
1985: Publishes “Let's Visit Myanmar” also books on Nepal and Bhutan
1985-86: Visiting Scholar, Center of Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University
1986: Alexander and Kim take part in traditional Buddhist ceremony of initiation into monk-hood.
1988: Moves her ailing mother to family home on University Avenue in Rangoon.
1989: Suu Kyi continues campaign despite harassment, arrests and killings by soldiers.
1990: Despite detention of Suu Kyi, NLD wins election with 82% of parliamentary seats. SLORC refuses to recognise results.
1990: Suu Kyi granted 1990 Rafto Human Rights Prize.
1991: European Parliament awards Suu Kyi Sakharov human rights prize.
1991: Norwegian Nobel Committee announces Suu Kyi as the Winner of 1991 Peace Prize.
1991: December: “Freedom from Fear” was published.
1992: Suu Kyi announces that she will use $1.3 million prize money to establish health and education trust for Burmese people.
1993: Group of Nobel Peace Laureates, denied entry to Myanmar
1995: SLORC releases Suu Kyi from house arrest after six years of detention.
1999: Her husband, Michael Aris died of cancer.
2000: She was detained again.
2002: Released after two years.
2003: Detained ever since.

Adolf Hitler

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Famous as       Nazi Leader, German Dictator and Chancellor of Germany
Born on               20 April 1889
Born in               Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungry
Died on              30 April 1945
Nationality      Germany




Adolf Hitler, an Austrian-born politician, was the leader of the Nazi Party and a notorious dictator of Germany. Before coming to power as a dictator, he was the Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945 and Head of State serving from 1934 to 1945. As a leader of the Nazi party, Hitler promoted nationalism, anti-semitism, anti-communism through establishing a Fascist dictatorship in Germany and espoused a foreign policy of world conquest. His interpretation of racial subjugation and anti-Jewish policies caused death of million of people in Germany with an estimated 6 million Jews and several other groups of people, including his political opponents. Atrocities committed by him during the war including 'genocide' of Jews, widely known as The Holocaust' put him against the peace and unity in world and eventually led to his downfall after his defeat in the Second World War. The dictator committed suicide with the Russian troops taking over Germany in 1945.

Childhood and Early Life
Hitler was born on 20 April 1889 in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungry to Alois Hitler and Klara Polzl. Of their six children, only Hitler and his younger sister, Paula could survive into adulthood. His father Alois, a custom official by profession, was tremendously violent to his wife and son, and used to beat them often. According to Hitler’s book, “he had a terrible childhood”. The regular whipping and violence committed by his father made him extremely sympathetic to his mother, while having an unfathomable bitterness towards his father. In spite of his father’s constant pressure to pursue a career like his, Hitler dropped out of high school without a diploma, as a revolt against his father. Even after his father’s death on 3 January 1903, he did not show any liking for studies and rather tried to be a painter.

During 1900’s, Hitler lived in Vienna with financial support from an orphan’s house; his mother died of breast cancer on 21 December 1907, at the age of 47. While living in Vienna, Hitler struggled as a painter after having been rejected twice by the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna during 1907-1908. According to Hitler, his anti-Semitism came from having seen an orthodox Jew community in Vienna, a breeding ground of racial and religious prejudice at that time. Hitler held the Jew community responsible for Germany’s collapse and economic problems thereafter. In May 1913, Hitler came into possession of the final part of his father’s estate and moved to Munich. With Germany entering World War I in August 1914, Hitler enlisted in the Bavarian army.

Entry Into Politics
After World War I, Hitler was appointed as a police spy of an Intelligence Commando of the Reichswehr as a mean to infiltrate the German Worker’s Party. Here he came into the contact of its founder Anton Drexler and got impressed with his anti-Jewish socialism and anti-capitalist ideas; Hitler became a member of the party. He was discharged from the Army in 1920 and became an active party member with his highly effective oratory skills and delivered speeches against Marxists, Jews and anti-socialists. After a trust vote in 1921, Hitler was made the chairman of the German Worker’s Part who had changed its name to National Socialists German Worker’s Party. Hitler was arrested and charged with high treason after his attempt to instigate a coup against the government and start a march on Berlin in 1923.

A trial ensued, and he was sentenced to five year’s imprisonment at Landsberg Prison on 1 April 1924 but was released from jail in 1924 after receiving a general amnesty. While in the prison, Hitler wrote his autobiography Mein Kampf (literally 'My struggle'), which is an elucidation of his ideology. The book was published in two volumes in 1925 and 1926. On 25 February 1932, Hitler was granted the citizenship of Germany; thus making him eligible for contesting presidential election against Hindenburg. Even though he failed in his attempt, Hitler emerged as a strong alternative in the German politics. After all attempts of Hindenburg to secure majority in parliament failed, he agreed to appoint Hitler as the Chancellor of Germany, as it was obviously impossible for him to form a government without Nazi’s support.

Chancellor Of Germany
On 30 January 1933, Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany in a ceremony held at Hindenburg’s office. Having gained legislative and executive power, Hitler began his move towards establishing the Nazi’s dictatorship in Germany. Though Nazi party had failed to gain majority in parliament, he blocked all attempts of his opponents to come into power through elections. Hitler’s government further banned Communist Party of Germany and Social Democratic party and forced all other parties to dissolve. On 14 July 1933, Nazi Party was declared the only legal Party in Germany. After the death of President Hindenburg on 2 August 1934, Hitler was made the supreme commander of the military and ultimate power of the nation, whose officers took oath to Hitler’s loyalty.

During Hitler’s rule, Germany witnessed the largest expansion of infrastructure and reached the level of near full employment.  One of the major policies of Hitler was racial purification, based upon the ideas of Arthur de Gobineau - misinterpretation though - meaning survival of the fittest. The policy caused deaths of thousands of physically disabled, mentally retarded and ill people, who-in Hitler’s opinion were unworthy of life, and a burden to their nation. The Holocaust was seen as the only way out to eliminate the Jews from their land. Though Hitler always denied any mass killing conducted by the Nazis’, there are evidences, which clearly show the involvement of Hitler in the executions.

The Second World War
As Germany went on gaining strength, Hitler finally ended the informal alliance that existed between Germany and China since the 1920s. He thus paved the way for Japan to become Germany's new ally. In an answer to this Chinese Premier Chang Kai-Shek cancelled all of the Sino-German economic agreements, thereby depriving the Germans of raw materials such as tungsten which came from China earlier. In early 1938, Hitler forced Austria into amalgamation with Germany and made a victorious entry into Vienna on 14 March.

Strong in his will and withstanding all his challenges, Hitler ordered his allies to start preparing plans for the invasion of Czechoslovakia, which thereby increased the tension in Europe. The famous May Crisis of 19-22 May 1938 in Europe was a terror caused by rumors that Czechoslovakia would be attacked during the municipal elections there. This led to a word of warning from London that a German move against Czechoslovakia could be dangerous. Though plans had already been drafted in April 1938 for an attack on Czechoslovakia in the near future, the May Crisis backfired resulting in Hitler’s political defeat and thus making him the prey of his own trap. This was enough to make him understand that expansion without attacking Britain was impossible, and attacking Britain was a dangerous game that could hit back and create disaster.

After the fall of Poland to Germany and the end of the so called Phoney War in part of north-western Poland; Hitler instructed the two Gauleiters to Germanize the area. After taking-over of Poland, another major clash surfaced between different factions. Expelling the entire Jewish population of Europe into Africa and reducing the remainder of the Polish population to a leaderless laboring class, Hitler went on making Europe into a danger zone. As time passed he went on going from step to step ordering bombing raids on England. This is famously known in history as the Battle of Britain and Hitler’s planned attack. The process began by striking the Royal Air Force bases and radar stations protecting South-East England. Hitler then ordered the bombing of British cities, including London, Plymouth and Coventry, mostly at night.

The Road To Fall
On 22 June 1941, three million German troops attacked the Soviet Union, thereby breaking the non-aggression pact that was signed between Hitler and Stalin two years back in 1939. Many historians are of the view that this attack was a part of the dreams of World Conquest that Hitler had formulated in 1920’s. This, in course, came as a hope for Winston Churchill; Hitler gave in private for Barbarossa, namely that Winston Churchill who wanted the Soviet Union to enter the war on the Allied side. Hitler's declaration of war against the United States on 11 December 1941, put him against a noxious union including the world's largest empire (the British Empire), the world's greatest industrial and financial power (the United States), and the world's largest army (the Soviet Union).

In late 1942, German forces were defeated in the second battle of El Alamein, which strongly hit Hitler's plans to seize the Suez Canal and thereby the Middle East. Situation became worse with the progress of the Battle of Stalingrad that ended with a destruction of German 6th Army in February 1943. On 6 June 1944, the Western armies landed in northern France, making it one of the largest victories of European army. It was by this time that defeat became inevitable, leading to the end of Hitler’s rule in Germany.

The Last Days
By late 1944, the Red Army had forced the German troops back into Central Europe and the Western Allies continued to progress into Germany. It was then Hitler realized that Germany was doomed. He ordered complete destruction of Germany’s infrastructure' before it’s captured by the enemies; preparing the entire Germany go along with him in his dreadful end. In April 1945, the Soviet forces attacked the suburbs of Berlin. Hitler disposed his follower’s advice to take shelter in the mountains of Bavaria, and rather decided to die in the capital. On 20 April, Hitler celebrated his 56th birthday in the Fuehrer’s shelter without much anguish.

As days went on, the Red Army intensified its attack on Berlin increasing woes for Hitler and his aides. The violent death of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on 28 April added further added fuel to fire and suddenly 30 April 1945, after intense fighting, when Soviet troops were within a block or two of the Reich Chancellery, Hitler committed suicide. He shot himself in the mouth while simultaneously biting into a cyanide capsule. His mistress Eva Braun, whom he had married a day before also committed suicide along with him. Their bodies were secretly buried by the German troops before the Red Army captured Berlin on 2 May 1945.



Adolf HitlerTimeline:

1889 - Adolf Hitler was born on 20 April
1903 - His father died on 3 January
1907 - His mother died on 21 December
1933 - Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany on 30 January
1933 - Nazi Party was declared the only legal Party in Germany on 14 July
1934 - Hitler was made the supreme commander of the military on 2 August
1939 - Non-aggression pact was signed between Hitler and Stalin
1941 - Three million German troops attacked the Soviet Union on 22 June
1941 - Hitler declared war against the United States on 11 December
1942 - German forces were defeated in the second battle of El Alamein
1943 - The Battle of Stalingrad ended the destruction of German troops
1944 - The Western armies landed in northern France on 6 June
1945 - Soviet forces attacked the suburbs of Berlin
1945 - Italian dictator Benito Mussolini died on 28 April
1945 - Hitler committed suicide along with his wife Eva Braun
1945 - The Red Army captured Berlin on 2 May

Yasser Arafat

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Famous as          1st President of the Palestinian National Authority

Born on                  24 August 1929

Born in                  Cairo, Egypt

Died on                  11 November 2004

Nationality          Palestinian Territories

Works & Achievements PLO Leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner

Yasser Arafat was a leader of the state of Palestine and 1st President of the Palestinian National Authority. The leader is also known as the Chairman of the Palestine liberation Organization who founded the secular political party Fatah in 1959, stepping in as its leader. Mainly known for his anti-Israeli stance, Arafat pushed the country in to a long war with Israel in the name of self-determination. While he is portrayed as a martyr in his own country Palestine, Arafat is also condemned for his attacks on Israeli civilians. The tension between these countries finally began subsiding with the acceptation of UN Security Council resolution 242 in 1988, and he eventually succeeded in managing the uneasy balance between militancy and diplomacy in the Middle East. Arafat made the mistake of supporting Saddam Hussein during the Kuwait crisis of 1990 and paid the price of political isolation in the Gulf. In 1994, Yasser Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin.

Childhood

Yasser Arafat was born on August 24, 1929 in Cairo, the capital city of Egypt. His father Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini, a Gazan, was a spice, incense and grocery merchant. His original name was Mohammed Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini. Arafat was the fifth among the seven children born to Husseini His mother, Zahwa Abul Saud, was from Jerusalem and a religiously devoted woman. She died from a kidney ailment in 1933. Following the death of his mother, Arafat and his bother Faithi supposedly spent the next four years with his uncle in Jerusalem. Arafat had a deteriorating relationship with his father and when he died in 1952, Arafat did not even attend the funeral.

Revolutionary Activities

Arafat entered the Cairo University (then, University of King Faud I) in 1947 and studied of Judaism and Zionism. It was during his college years that Arafat adopted the name Yasser, which means “easygoing” in Arabic. At the same time, Arafat became an Arab nationalist involved in the Palestinian cause. He began to procure weapons into the territory. During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Arafat left the University and, along with other Arabs, sought to enter Palestine to join Arab forces fighting against Israeli troops. Before the Arabs were defeated by Israel in 1948, Arafat was a leader in the Palestinian effort to smuggle arms into the territory. In 1949, when the situation was in favor of the Israel's troops Arafat returned to Cairo.

After returning to University, Arafat studied civil engineering and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. In 1956, Arafat was called to duty to fight with Egyptian forces during the Suez Crisis. He served as a second lieutenant in the Egyptian Army during the crisis. After the Suez War, Arafat settled in Kuwait. He first employed in the department of public works and eventually set up his own contracting firm. There he developed friendships with two Palestinian nationals Abu Iyad and Abu Jihad. They were both official members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.

Foundation of Al-Fatah

In 1958 Arafat, along with his friends founded “Al-Fatah”, an underground network of secret cells, which later advocated armed struggle against Israel. Fatah dedicated itself to the liberation of Palestine by an armed struggle and at the end of 1964 Arafat left Kuwait to become full-time revolutionary, organizing raids into Israel from Jordan.

In order to act independently, Arafat refused to accept donations from the major Arab heads. However, he did not want to alienate them, and sought their support by avoiding alliances with groups loyal to some other ideologies. To establish the groundwork for Fatah's financial support, Arafat sought contributions from the wealthy Palestinians working in the Gulf States. Interestingly, the businessmen and oil workers of the Gulf region contributed generously to the Fatah organization.

In 1962, Fatah had approximately three hundred members, but none were fighters. Fatah's manpower increased further after Arafat decided to offer much higher salaries to members of the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA), the regular military force of the Arab League in 1964.

Fatah emerged as the most powerful and best organized of the groups and Arafat became the chairman of the PLO executive committee. The PLO was no longer a puppet organization of the Arab states, but an independent nationalist organization, based in Jordan

Disturbed by the activities of Arafat and his men, Jordan King, Hussein, expelled the PLO from his country. Arafat then sought to build a similar organization in Lebanon. Because of Lebanon's weak central government, the PLO was able to operate virtually as an independent state. 

Munich Massacre

During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, “Black September”, a Palestinian militant group, kidnapped and killed eleven Israeli athletes. The incident came to be known as “Munich Massacre”. The Black September, as reported by some noted historians, was a branch of Fatah used for paramilitary operations. In 1973–74, Arafat directed the PLO to withdraw from acts of violence outside Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

To investigate the Munich Massacre, the Israeli government launched the Operation Bayonet. It ordered its intelligence agecy, Mossad to hunt down those known to have been involved. In 1979, the Mossad had assassinated at least eight PLO members including Ali Hassan Salameh, a commander of Yasser Arafat's personal security squad.

A 1973 United States Department of State document, declassified in 2006, concluded that the Khartoum operation was planned and executed with the full knowledge and personal approval of Yasser Arafat. The “Khartoum diplomatic assassinations” were the killing of three Western diplomats held hostage between 1 March 1973 and 3 March 1973 in the Saudi embassy in Khartoum, capital city of Sudan. They were murdered by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September. Arafat denied any involvement in the operation and insisted it was carried out independently by the “Black September” group.

In 1973, the PLO was inducted into the Arab League at Rabat summit and also declared the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Arafat became the first representative of a non-governmental organization to address a plenary session of the UN General Assembly. During the Lebanon war, Arafat aligned the PLO with the Nasserist Lebanese National Movement led by Kamal Jumblatt. Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, fearing a loss of control in Lebanon, sent members of the Tigers Militia against PLO.

In February 1975, the militia gunned down prominent pro-Palestinian leader, Ma'arouf Sa'ad. Retaliating against the attack, the DFLP, PLO and LNM attacked the town of Damour, killing over 330 people. Arafat and Abu Jihad, who did not support the attack in Damour, blamed themselves for not managing to prevent the carnage.

On March 11, 1978, around ten Fatah fighters hijacked a bus and sprayed gunfire inside and at passing vehicles on the road connecting Haifa with Tel Aviv. The brutal incident killed thirty-seven civilians. The Civil War ended and Arafat was sent to exile in Tunis.

Peace-Process

The policymakers in the United States recognized that agreement on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations wasn’t possible until the Arab states took steps toward peace with Israel. In 1991, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker persuaded Israel and her neighbors to attend a regional peace conference. During the 1991 Madrid Conference, for the first time ever, Israel conducted open negotiations with the PLO. But they did not reach any consensus.

Thereafter, Israelis and PLO began negotiating over the issue and ultimately reached an agreement to give the Palestinians self-rule in Gaza and Jericho, followed by autonomy in other parts of the territories. On September 13, 1993, officials of both Israel and Palestine signed the Declaration of Principles in Washington, D.C. In 1994, Yasser Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin.

In 1994, Arafat moved to the PNA controlled Gaza City and became the President and Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority. In July 1994, the PNA was declared the official government of the Palestine. Yasser Arafat established an executive committee of twenty members and empowered himself with liberty to replace and assign mayors and city councils. Arafat appointed himself chairman of the Palestinian financial organization, created by the World Bank to control most aid money towards helping the new Palestinian entity. Arafat also formed Preventive Security Service, the police force of the state of Palestine.

Controversies and Last Days of life

In August 2003, the International Monetary Fund, in an audit claimed that Arafat had diverted $900 million in public funds to a special bank account controlled by Arafat and the PNA Chief Economic Financial adviser. Former Middle East negotiator for the United States of America, Dennis Ross, had once said that Arafat was "walking-around money". A major controversy erupted between officials of the PNA and Suha, Arafat’s wife, when officials from the PNA traveled to France to see Yasser. Suha accused that they were trying to bury Yasser alive.

On October 25, 2004, Yasser Arafat was admitted to the hospital after he vomited during a meeting. His condition continued to decline and he was flown to a French hospital jet to in Clamart, Paris. On November 11, 2004, the doctors pronounced the death of Yasser Arafat. The exact cause of his illness is still unknown.

Yasser ArafatTimeline:

1929: August 24- Birth of Yasser Arafat in Cairo.

1933: His mother passed away

1947: Studies Judaism and Zionism

1948: Arafat left university during the Arab-Israeli war

1952: Death of his father

1956: Posted at Suez Canal representing the Egyptian forces.

1958: Arafat founded the Al-Fatah

1972: Arafat accused of executing the Munich Massacre

1973: Accused for the Khartoum Diplomats Assassination.

1991: Madrid Conference to resolve the Palestine issue

1993: Officials of Israel and Palestine signed the Declaration of Principles

2004: November 11, Arafat passed away in a hospital in Cambart, Paris.

Ronald Reagan

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Famous as       Former President of the United States

Born on         06 February 1911

Born in         Illinois, US

Died on         05 June 2004

Nationality United States

Works & Achievements Contributed towards ending of the Cold War

Ronald Reagan was the fortieth President of the United States and thirty third governor of California. A short time film actor and director, Reagan was originally a member of the Domestic Party before he switched to the Republican Party in 1962, at the age of 51 and was subsequently elected the governor of California in 1967. He ran for, and failed twice in his bid for Presidency before finally winning it in 1980 and took charge in January 1981. During his first term of presidency, Ronald gained attention and appreciation both from within and outside the country for his bold political and economical policies, famously known as 'Reaganomics'. He was reelected in a landslide victory in 1984 and this time he focused his attention on foreign matters, namely, the ending of the cold war, opposition to the communist Soviet Union and revelation of Iran-Contra affair. The former president died of the Alzheimer's disease in 2004 after a long period of suffering.

Childhood

Ronald Reagan was born on 6 February 1911 in Illinois. His family lived in several towns and cities in Illinois, including Monmouth, Chicago and Galesburg until 1919, when they returned to Tampico. Reagan moved to Dixon in late 1920, where he attended Dixon High School and while studying there he developed interest in sports, acting and storytelling. His first job was as a lifeguard at the Rock River, near Dixon, in 1926. After High School, Reagan attended Eureka College, where he was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, majored in economics and performed excellently in sports, particularly in Football.

After graduating from Eureka in 1932, Reagan worked at various radio stations as an announcer. In 1937, he appeared on the large screen for the first time in the movie, Love is on the air. By the end of the 1939, he had already appeared in 19 films. Reagan was first elected to the board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild in 1941. Reagan led SAG through eventful years that were marked by labor-management disputes, the Taft-Hartley Act, House Committee on UN-American Activities (HUAC) hearings and the Hollywood blacklist era.

Marriages and Children

Ronald Regan had two marriages. He married his first wife Jane Wyman, an actress, on 26 January, 1940, at the Wee Kirk o’ the Heather Church in Glendale, California. The couple had two children, namely Maureen and Christine and adopted a third, Michael. However, the marriage proved to be unhappy and following regular bouts of arguments and conflicts, Wyman filed for divorce in 1948 which was finalized in 1949. Ronald was the only U.S. President to have been divorced.

Nancy Davis, an actress met Reagan in 1949 and the two got married on 4 March 1952. The couple had two children, Patti and Roni. Their affection for each other was known to everyone and observers described their relationship as real, intimate and close. Nancy Davis remained his last love until his death in 2004.

Governor of California (1967-1975)

Initially a Democrat, Reagan formally switched to the Republican Party in 1962. California Republicans were impressed with his political views and charisma, and eventually he was nominated for Governor of California in 1966. He was elected and was sworn in on 3 January 1967. Shortly after the beginning of his term, he froze all government hiring and tax hikes to balance the budget. Ronald Regan became a controversial figure after the People’s Park Protest, held on 15 May 1969. Reagan sent the California Highway patrol to quell the protest, and the incident became known as ‘Bloody Thursday’. During his tenure as Governor, he strongly advocated the Republican ideal of less government regulation of economy.

Presidency (1981- 1989)

Ronald Regan had failed in his run for presidency 1976 before he finally became President in 1981. During his campaign for presidency, his speech emphasized on the dangers of nuclear war and the threat posed by the Soviet Union. Though he lost the nomination in 1976, he received appreciation and support from across the country. The 1980 presidential campaign was conducted during the ongoing Iran Hostage Crisis. His campaign stressed some of his fundamental principles: lower taxes to stimulate the economy, less government interference in people’s lives and a strong national defense. Reagan won the election and Republicans captured the senate for the first time since 1952, while the Democrats remained a majority.

First Term (1981-1985)

Reagan served two terms as President beginning From1981 till 1989. Till date, he is the oldest man elected to the office of presidency. His first inaugural address was held on 20 January 1981 that began in a dramatic manner. As Reagan was giving his inaugural address, 52 U.S. hostages held by Iran for 444 days, were set free. During his first term, Reagan expanded military to insure national defense. Reagan, as President, believed in individual freedom and pursued the policies that revitalized the U.S. economy, brought domestic changes and contributed to the end of the Cold War. On March 30, 1981, Reagan, along with his press secretary James Brady and two others were shot by John Hinckley, Jr. The bullet passed his left lung, missing his heart by less than one inch. The bullet was removed after an emergency operation and he was released from the hospital on 11 April. The assassination attempt had a great influence on Reagan’s popularity, which rose to 73% after the incident.

Reaganomics

Reagan entered office with the mandate to revitalize the stagnating economy of U.S. He implemented the supply-side policy seeking to stimulate the economy with large tax cuts and promoted the proposed tax cuts as potentially stimulating the economy enough to expand with tax base. His economic policy became a subject of debate with a mixed view of supporters and critics. During his presidency, federal income tax rates were lowered and GDP recovered strongly after 1982 recession. Sixteen million new jobs were created while inflation significantly decreased. However critics argue that his policy made wealthy become wealthier and he was indifferent to the struggle of the poor. Some economists, such as Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman and Robert A. Mundell argue that Reagan’s tax policies invigorated America’s economy and contributed to the economic boom of 1990s.

Second Term (1985- 1989)

Reagan was sworn in for the second term on 20 January 1985, at the White House. During his second term, Reagan declared more militant policies in the War on Drugs and promised to fight for drug free schools and workplaces using stronger law enforcement and creating public awareness. On 27 October 1986, he signed a drug enforcement bill to fund the War on drugs and specified a mandatory minimum penalty for drug offenses. First Lady Nancy Reagan made War on Drugs his main priority by founding Just Say No awareness campaign. In 1986; Reagan signed the Immigration reform and Control Act. The act made it illegal to knowingly hire or recruit illegal immigrants, making it mandate for employers to attest to their employees’ immigration status. He granted amnesty to approximately 3 million illegal immigrants who entered the United States prior to January 1982.

In 1986, Iran- Contra war became the largest political scandal during the 1980s. The International Court of Justice ruled that the U.S. had violated the international law, ‘not to intervene in the affair of other states’. Though the investigating Committee failed to give evidence that the President was aware of the mismanagement of the funds, Ronald’s popularity declined rapidly in less than a week. He was criticized for his disengagement from managing his staff and making the diversion of funds possible. The scandal resulted in fourteen indictments within Reagan’s staff and eleven convictions.

End of the Cold War

Till 1980s, Regan supported anti-Communist movements worldwide and describing the USSR as an ‘Evil Empire’. He recognized the change in the direction of the Soviet leadership with Mikhail Gorbachev and shifted to diplomacy, with a view to encourage the Soviet Leader to pursue substantial arms agreements. Reagan believed that allowing freedom to speech and more democracy in the Soviet Union would lead to reform and the end of Communism. Ronald Regan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF Treaty) at the White House in 1987.

Alzheimer Disease and Death

In August 1994, at the age of 83, Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, an incurable neurological disorder which ultimately results into total memory loss, callusing brain cells to die. The disease destroyed Reagan’s mental capacity, while he remained active. He was only able to recognize a few people other than his wife, Nancy. Reagan died at his home in Bel Air, California on 5 June, 2004. The then President George W. Bush declared 11 June a National Day of Mourning and international tributes came in from around the world. On 9 June, Reagan’s body was flown to Washington, where he became the tenth U.S. President to lie in State. On June 11, 2004 a state funeral was conducted in the Washington National Cathedral, and presided over by President George W. Bush. 

Ronald ReaganTimeline:

1911- Ronald Reagan was born on 6 February.

1920- Moved to Dixon for study.

1926- His first job as a life guard.

1932- He graduated from Eureka College.

1937- He appeared on the large screen for the first time.

1941- Reagan was first elected to the board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild.

1940- He married Jane Wyman on 26 January.

1949- Jane Wyman divorced Reagan.

1952- He married Nancy Davis on 4 March 1952.

1962 - Reagan switched to the Republican Party.

1967- He was elected Governor of California and was sworn in on 3 January.

1969- People’s Park Protest was held on 15 May.

1981- He became the President of United States.

1981- His first inaugural address was held on 20 January and U.S. hostages were freed by Iran.

1981- He was shot by John Hinckley, Jr. on March 30.

1985- Reagan was sworn in for the second term on 20 January 1985.

1985- Reagan was sworn in for the second term on 20 January 1985.

1986- Reagan signed the Immigration reform and Control Act.

1986- On 27 October 1986, Reagan signed a drug enforcement bill.

1986- Iran- Contra war became the largest political scandal.

1987- Ronald Regan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF Treaty) at the White House.

1994- Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

2004- Reagan died at his home in Bel Air, California on 5 June.

2004- 11 June was declared a ‘National Day of Mourning’ and a state funeral was conducted in the Washington National Cathedral.

Patrick Henry

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Famous as 5th & 6th Governor of Virginia, Orator, Revolutionary leader, Prominent promoter of American Revolution and Independence
Born on 29 May 1736
Born in Studley, Hanover County, Virginia
Died on 06 June 1799
Nationality United States
Works & Achievements Brought Virginian Independence, Spread and Greatly promoted Republicanism, Active opponent of the government corruption and Bearer of the popular thoughts on American Revolution and Independence




Patrick Henry was one of the leading figures of American Revolution and a prominent political founder who saw the formation of initial Independent United States. Henry is known for being the most prominent revolutionary leader who raised his voice against the government corruption and atrocities against people of America. Patrick went on to liberate his homeland, Virginia and became the first and sixth Governor of Virginia in the new era of the post-colonial. Being an active promoter of Republican thoughts which included new age thoughts on people's sovereignty, liberty and American civic thought Henry was a founding father of the revolution and independence of America. Henry will always be remembered for his popular speech where he urged people with his "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" Patrick's journey in educating people and making them rise against their endangered rights is noteworthy. Henry is also known for his leading role in moving the anti-federalists in Virginia to oppose the United States Constitution which as Henry felt, went against the freedoms of individuals and states' rights.

Patrick Henry Childhood
Patrick Henry was born on 29 May 1736 in Studley, Hanover County, Virginia which was under British America at that time. Henry’s father John Henry had immigrated from Aberdeenshire, Scotland where he had studied in King's College, Aberdeen. John had immigrated in the 1720s and settled in Hanover County, even marrying Sarah Winston Syme (who was also of English origin) in 1732. So Patrick descended from a high class having ancestors from middle rank of the Virginia gentry.

Henry spent his childhood educating himself in local schools for some years. As he grew up he was tutored by his father. Henry failed in business which led him to marry soon. Henry married Sarah Shelton in 1754 having six children with her. Henry’s father gifted the couple with a big Pine Slash Farm which was more than a kilometre in its area and six slaves as their wedding gift. Henry started his early days as a planter. Henry’s home was destroyed in fire in 1757. Henry reattempted to start another business which failed again. In 1760 Henry decided to take up law as his career.

Early Career
Henry stood for his first legal case as a lawyer in 1763 with a case which later came to be known as “Parson's Cause”. With this case Henry stood apart and earned a name for himself as a lawyer. This case made Henry place an argument on whether the tobacco price setting, which was paid to clergy for their services should be done by the colonial government or by the Crown. Henry fought his case leaving aside legal terms and niceties. Henry won the case setting an example and initiating a new dawn.

Political Career
In 1765 Henry got to start a new role in his career. He was appointed into the House of Burgesses which was the legislative body of the Virginia colony being elected from Louisa County. Henry was elected in order to fill an empty assembly seat. During Henry’s arrival in Williamsburg the legislature had already started its session. Henry fast became a notable figure by introducing the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions. This act was proposed by Henry after just 9 days of swearing.

Henry started to make his presence felt by debating and persuading the House members to pass his Virginia Stamp Act. He was instrumental in standing against the conservative House members. Henry’s move was regarded as the most prominent anti-British American political action taken at that point. Henry showed his loyalty to the king but his impact making speeches formed the base for the American Revolution. Henry’s proposals were based on principles that were well-established British rights. The most notable speech given by Henry was, “Caesar had his Brutus; Charles the First his Cromwell; and George the Third ....may he profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it!” With time Henry’s speech became more famous and legendary. However there is much confusion as to what his exact words were. The records of Henry’s speech are in the sole accounts of the eyewitnesses.

Role in the American Revolution
Henry took up the Virginian cause in order to create committees of correspondence to coordinate the reaction of the colonies to the British government. This action was in response to the pleas placed before by Massachusetts in order to create colony committees. It was in March 1773 when Patrick Henry along with Thomas Jefferson and Richard Henry Lee moved the Virginia House of Burgesses to make resolutions in order to formulate a standing committee of correspondents. With Henry’s leading role committees were set up by each colony which made way for the formation of the First Continental Congress in 1774. Henry was elected to this Congress.

On 23 March 1775 Henry made his very famous speech in the House of Burgesses which was held in Saint John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. The House took much time to decide whether to appoint military forces to confront the ever increasing British military forces. It was Henry who decided to give his verdict in favour of military mobilization. According to Henry's first biographer, William Wirt (who accounted Henry’s speech at the House 42 years later) Henry had stated “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, Give me Liberty, or give me Death!” to which the crowd had jumped up and shouted (according to Wirt’s record) “To Arms! To Arms!”.

Henry was appointed as the colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment in August 1775. American war of Independence had started out around this time with Henry leading a militia to fight the Royal Governor Lord Dunmore’s forces to fix a dispute over gunpowder. This was a major event in the American Revolution and is known as the Gunpowder Incident. After taking the office of the first post-colonial Governor of Virginia Henry led Virginia during the war and played an integral role in leading his army to fight against the Cherokee Indians who were allied with the British forces, in his several expeditions.

Henry lived in his huge 10,000-acre (40 square km) Leatherwood Plantation in Henry County, Virginia during the war. His first cousin Ann Winston Carr and her husband Col. George Waller also lived with Henry in the plantation during the latter’s part stay during the war. While staying at the plantation from 1779 to 1784 Henry had 75 slaves working under him and he grew tobacco in his farm. Henry enjoyed warm friendship with Joseph Martin who worked as an agent (as Henry’s directive) in the Cherokee nation and with him Henry took part in investing in real estate. The name Henry County was named for Martin in the later years.

Henry along with James Madison got elected as founding trustees of Hampden-Sydney College in November 1775. The college was opened for classes on 10 November 1775.  Henry made major contribution in achieving passage for the College's Charter in 1783. His action got delayed due to the ongoing American Revolution. Henry possibly wrote the Oath of Loyalty towards the newly formed Republic which got included in the charter. Henry’s seven sons attended Hampden-Sydney College.


Personal Life
Henry married Sarah Shelton in 1754 having 6 children with her. In 1771 Henry and his wife moved to their Scotchtown estate along with their children: Martha (Patsy), Anne, Elizabeth (Betsy), John, William, and Edmund (Neddy). Sarah got diagnosed with a mental problem which increased with time. It was Henry’s friends and his physician, Dr. Thomas Hinde who advised Henry to shift Sarah to a public hospital in Williamsburg. The grim conditions of the hospital made Henry shudder and he built a private, two-room apartment for her in the basement of Scotchtown. Henry made sure to have everything Sarah needed for right living, windows, fireplace and a nice bed. It was Henry or perhaps a slave who took care of Sarah. Sarah died in 1775 without being given a proper funeral service or a Christian burial because she was proclaimed as “possessed by the devil” during the time’s ill notions about the illness.

On 25 October 1777 Henry got married to his second wife Dorothea Dandridge having eleven children from this marriage.

Post Revolution Role
As the revolution came to an end Henry got elected again as the governor of Virginia from 1784 to 1786. He refused to attend the Constitutional Convention of 1787 as he felt that there were still people who supported the British monarchy. Henry opposed everything that went against basic people and state’s rights. He openly criticised the United States Constitution. He was in the forefront in leading the Virginia opposition as he felt that the constitutional ratification was evil giving federal government too much power and a possibility of the presidency taking a shape of the monarchy. Henry became a renowned Anti-federalist and pressurized the adoption of the Bill of Rights to incorporate it in the amended new Constitution. All his measures made Henry stand in opposition to James Madison.

Henry represented the Virginia convention of 1788 and became a part of the U. S. Constitution’s ratification. Henry opposed voted against ratification. In 1789 election Henry was elected to become the elector of the Campbell District. Henry’s district had Bedford County, Campbell County, Charlotte County, Franklin County, Halifax County, Henry County, Pittsylvania County, and Prince Edward County which are areas covering the region between Danville and Lynchburg in the south of Virginia. 10 electors who voted gave one of their two votes for George Washington, 5 gave their other vote for John Adams, 3 cast theirs for George Clinton, 1 cast his vote for John Hancock and 1 cast his for John Jay. Out of all the candidates Clinton was a leading Anti-federalist figure joining hands with Henry.

In 1795 American President George Washington invited Henry to take up the post of Secretary of State which was rejected by Henry because of the latter’s opposition to Washington's Federalist policies. Gradually Henry’s views and ideas started changing due to his realization of the radical nature of the French Revolution which he saw declining and feared that the same thing would come down upon his beloved America. By late 1790s, Henry started supporting Federalist policies of Washington and Adam.


Later Years and Death
In 1798 Henry was elected by John Adams as a special emissary to France but Henry’s health failure stalled the process. Henry showed strong support for John Marshall and got elected to the Virginia House of Delegates as a Federalist after being urged by George Washington to stand for the post. Henry was about to take his seat in the state legislature but he died three months before this as he was suffering from stomach cancer. Henry died on 6 June 1799.



Patrick HenryTimeline:
1736 – He was born on 29 May
1754 - Henry married Sarah Shelton
1757 – Henry’s plantation home was destroyed in fire
1760 - Henry decided to take up law as his career
1763 – He represented his first legal case as a lawyer which later came to be known as “Parson's Cause”
1765 - Henry was appointed into the House of Burgesses which was the legislative body of the Virginia colony being elected from Louisa County
1771 - Henry and his wife moved to their Scotchtown estate along with their children
1773 - In March Patrick Henry along with Thomas Jefferson and Richard Henry Lee moved the Virginia House of Burgesses to make resolutions in order to formulate a standing committee of correspondents
1774 - With Henry’s leading role committees were set up by each colony which made way for the formation of the First Continental Congress and Henry was elected to this Congress
1775 - Sarah died without being given a proper funeral service or a Christian burial because she was proclaimed as “possessed by the devil”
1775 - On 23 March Henry made his very famous speech in the House of Burgesses which was held in Saint John's Church in Richmond, Virginia
1775 - Henry was appointed as the colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment in August
1775 - Henry along with James Madison got elected as founding trustees of Hampden-Sydney College in November
1775 - Sydney College was opened for classes on 10 November.
1777 - On 25 October Henry got married to his second wife Dorothea Dandridge
1783 - Henry made major contribution in achieving passage for Hampden-Sydney College's Charter
1784 to 1786 - Henry got elected again as the governor of Virginia
1787 - He refused to attend the Constitutional Convention as he felt that there were still people who supported the British monarchy
1788 - Henry represented the Virginia convention and became a part of the U. S. Constitution’s ratification. Henry opposed voted against ratification
1789 - Henry was elected to become the elector of the Campbell District
1790s – By late 1790s Henry started supporting Federalist policies of Washington and Adam
1795 - American President George Washington invited Henry to take up the post of Secretary of State which was rejected by Henry
1798 - Henry was elected by John Adams as a special emissary to France but Henry’s health failure stalled the process
1799 - Henry died on 6 June after suffering from stomach cancer

Nelson Mandela

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Famous as Anti-Apartheid Activist, President of ANC and Former President of South Africa
Born on 18 July 1918
Born in Transkei, South Africa
Nationality South Africa
Works & Achievements Nobel Peace Prize (1993), Struggle Against the Apartheid Regime, Leadership of Civil Rights Movement In South Africa




Nelson Mandela was the most significant black leader who stood against racism and apartheid in South Africa, while many in the world were silent. He dreamt of a democratic and free society in which people live together in harmony with equal opportunities. His words, ''the struggle is my life'', give a glimpse of the determination he fought with against apartheid and racism in South Africa, the goal he had set almost four decades back. Mandela has held numerous positions in the ANC: ANCYL secretary (1948); ANCYL president (1950); ANC Transvaal president (1952); Deputy national president (1952) and ANC president (1991). Despites several roadblock and barriers in his path, Mandela succeeded in bringing quality and justice to his people for which he was awarded the honorary Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Childhood & Education
Nelson Mandela was born in the Transkei on the 18 July 1918. He lost his father, who was a councilor- at the age of nine when he died of tuberculosis. Hearing the elder’s stories of his ancestors’ bravery during the wars in defense of their fatherland, he dreamed of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people. He was the first member of his family to attend a school and was given the English name ‘Nelson’ by his teacher. After receiving primary education at a local mission school, he enrolled at the University College of Forte Hare for the Bachelor of Arts Degree where he met Oliver Tambo and the two became lifelong friends.

At the end of the first year of the college Nelson became involved in a boycott by the Students’ Representative Council against the university policies, and was told to leave the college. Then he went to Johannesburg to complete his BA via correspondence and entered politics while studying there by joining African National Congress in 1942. After completing his B.A. he started with his law studies at the University of Witwatersrand. During this period Mandela lived in Alexandra Township, north of Johannesburg. Later, when he was in prison, Mandela studies for a Bachelor of Laws from the university of London external programme. Mandela has honorary degrees from more than 50 international universities and is chancellor of the University of the North.

Political Activities
Mandela’s approach was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. Nelson Mandela was elected as the secretary to the youth leadership in 1947. The ANCYL aimed at the attainment of full citizenship, direct parliamentary representation for all South Africans. The policy making process paid special attention to the redistribution of the land, trade union rights, education and culture. Mandela as an important co – author of the policy document aspired to free and compulsory education for all children, as well as mass education for adults. When the ANC launched its Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws in 1952, Mandela traveled to places to discriminatory legislation as Volunteer-in-Chief. Though Mandela had constantly advised their followers to avoid violence, he was charged and brought to trial for his role in the campaign.

Following which he was convicted of contravening the suppression of communism act and given a suspended prison sentence. He was also prohibited from attending gatherings and confined to Johannesburg for six months. In 1952 Mandela and his followers prepared an organizational plan that would enable the leadership of the movement to maintain dynamic contact with its members without recourse to public meetings. The plan was called M-Plan, which was named after him. Apart from it, during early fifties Mandela played vital role in leading the resistance to the Western Areas removal and to the introduction of Bantu Education. In the late fifties he made efforts to curb the exploitation of labour, the pass laws, the nascent Bantustan policy and the segregation of the open universities.

In1961 Umkhonto we Sizwe(translated as Spear of the Nation, also shortened as MK), was formed with Mandela as its commander in chief. He coordinated a sabotage campaign against military and government targets, and made plans for a possible guerilla war if sabotage failed to end apartheid. He left the country unlawfully and traveled abroad addressing the conferences and was warmly received by top leaders of many countries. During this trip Mandela, anticipating an inevitable armed struggle, began to arrange guerrilla training for members of Umkhonto we Sizwe.

Mandela also raised funds for MK abroad, and arranged for paramilitary training, visiting various African governments. Initially committed to a non-violent mass struggle, Mandela explains the move to embark on armed struggle as a last resort, when government left him no choice. Increasing repression and violence from the state convinced him that many years of non violent protest against apartheid had achieved nothing. Soon after his return to South Africa he was arrested for illegal exit from the country. Mandela decided to conduct his own defense. He was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment.


Life Imprisonment
He was convicted for crimes that occurred while he was spearheading the struggle against apartheid. Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to the notorious Robben Island Prison, a maximum security prison on a small island near Cape Town, where he spent nearly 18 years of his 27 years sentence. In April 1984 he was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town and later to the Victor Verster Prison near Paarl from where he was eventually released. While in prison, throughout his life sentence Mandela turned down offers for remission of sentence in exchange for accepting the bantustan policy and renouncing violence.

Mandela refused the offer releasing a statement that he can not accept personal freedom when the organization of the people remains banned. He stood by his statement that Prisoners cannot enter into contracts-Only free men can negotiate. During his years in prison he gained acceptance as the most significant black leader in South Africa and became a potent symbol of equality and freedom for his opposition to apartheid, while the apartheid government and countries sympathetic to it condemned him and ANC as terrorists and communists. He spent almost 27 years in jail for this with many of those years on Robben Island. He flatly refused to compromise on his political position to obtain his freedom.

Release and Presidency of South Africa
On 2 February 1990, State president F.W. de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC announcing his release from prison.He was released on Feb 11, 1990, and the event was broadcast live all over the world. On the day of his release Mandela made a speech to the nation in which he declared his commitment to bring peace to the black majority and give them right to vote in elections. He made clear that the armed struggle was yet not over. Following his release, Mandela returned to the leadership of the ANCF and between 1990 and 1994 his party multi-party negotiation led to the first multi-racial elections.

In 1991, the ANC held its first national conference in South Africa after its unbanning, in which Mandela was elected as the President of the ANC. while his lifelong friend and colleague, Oliver Tambo, became the organisation's National Chairperson. In 1994 he became the first democratically elected state president of South Africa with the National Party's de Klerk as his first Deputy and Thabo Mbeki as the second in the Government of National Unity.

Family and Retirement
Mandela has been married three times, has fathered six children, and has twenty grandchildren and a growing number of great-grandchildren. His grandson is Chief Mandla Mandela. Mandela became the oldest elected President of South Africa when he took charge in 1994. He was 77 years old that time and decided not to contest for the second time. Nelson Mandela took retirement from Public life in June 1999. He currently resides in his birth place - Qunu, Transkei

A life devoted to justice
Nelson Mandela has received more than hundred awards over the past four decades for his struggle for democracy, equality and learning. He never answered racism with racism. He won international respect for his advocacy for reconciliation of white and black. Leading a life that symbolizes the triumph of the human spirit over man’s inhumanity to man, Nelson Mandela accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 on behalf of South Africans who suffered and sacrificed so much to bring peace to the world. His life is an inspiration to all oppressed and deprived and to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.




Nelson MandelaTimeline:
1918- He was born at Qunu, near Umtata.
1944- He helped found the ANC Youth League.
1952- Mandela was elected national volunteer-in-chief of the 1952 Defiance          Campaign.
1960- The ANC was banned after the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, and      he was detained until 1961 when he went underground to lead a campaign for a new national convention.
1960- Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the ANC, came into existence.
1962- Mandela left the country for military training in Algeria and to arrange training for other members.
1962- On his return he was arrested for leaving the country illegally and was convicted and jailed for five years.
1990- He was released from the Robben Island prison.
1994- He became the first democratically elected State President of South Africa on 10 May 1994
1999- Nelson Mandela retired from Public life in June 1999. He currently resides in his birth place - Qunu, Transkei

Margaret Thatcher

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Famous as and Only Woman Prime Minister of United Kingdom
Born on 13 October 1925
Born in Grantham, England
Nationality United Kingdom
Works & Achievements Revitalizing Britain's Economy, Suppression of Trade Unions




Margaret Thatcher is the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and was the first woman to lead a major political party in the country. She acted upon many important positions and took major responsibilities as the leader of the Conservative Party before she eventually elected to the premiership in 1979 after which she was reelected for the second and third time consecutively. During her tenure as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher took an uncompromising stand against the trade unions, opposed the Soviet Union and established economic policies of Free Markets, entrepreneurialism and reduced State intervention in the country's economy. Though she was reelected for a third term in 1987, her popularity had begun to decline by the end of her third term as a result of her views on European community and Community Charge Plan, that many people could not stomach. Even so, Thatcher still remains a revolutionary figure who revitalized Britain's economy, impacted the trade unions, transformed UK into a fast growing economy and established the country as a world power.

Childhood and Education
Margaret Hilda Roberts was born on 13 October 1925 in the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire. Her father Alfred Roberts owned two grocery shops in Grantham and was active in local politics and religion serving as an Alderman and Methodist lay preacher. After attending Hunting tower Road Primary School and Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School, she applied for a scholarship to attend Somerville College, Oxford. She went to Oxford in 1943 and studied Natural Science specializing in Chemistry. She was elected as President of the Oxford University Conservative Association in 1946. She studied crystallography and received a post graduation B Sc. degree in 1947. In 1950, she took the degree of Masters of Arts. After graduation, Margaret Thatcher moved to Colchester to work as a research chemist for BX plastics. During this period she joined the local Conservative Association. She was also a member of Association of scientific Workers and in 1949, she moved to Dart ford to stand for election as a Member of Parliament.

Political Career
She was the youngest ever female Conservative candidate, when she contested for the safe labor seat in Dart Ford in 1950 and 1951 elections. Though she could not win the seat, her campaign attracted high media attention. While active in the politics, she married a wealthy businessman Denis Thatcher in 1951 and qualified as a barrister in 1953 with specialization in Taxation. In the same year she gave birth to her twin children, Carol and Mark.

Before being elected as a Member of Parliament in 1959 election, she had faced several rejections in the past. Within 2 years, in 1961, she was promoted to the front bench as Parliamentary Undersecretary at the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance. She moved to the Shadow Treasury in 1966 where she opposed Labor's mandatory price and income control, which she believed would distort the economy. Thatcher was also against the Government’s high tax policy, as she was of view that low taxes work as an incentive and motivation to work hard.

In 1967, she was selected by the Embassy of the United States in London to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program. Later that year, Thatcher was moved and joined the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Fuel spokesman and shortly after the 1970 general election she was promoted to Shadow transport and after that, Education.

Prime Minister of United Kingdom (1979-1990)
Thatcher became the Prime Minister on 4 May 1979, with the mandate to reverse the economic decline and to reduce the role of state in the economy. She vowed to reduce the government’s excessive interference in economy, which she believed was a hurdle in its growth. Her political policies emphasized on reducing the state intervention, free markets and entrepreneurialism. She took new economic initiatives and began her economic reforms by increasing interest rates and introducing budget cuts. She cut the budget on social services like health care, education and housing, and placed legal restrictions on trade unions. By 1983, the economic growth of UK was stronger and the term ‘Thatcherism’ came to refer the ideologies and policies of Margaret Thatcher and her uncompromising approach of achieving political goals. After the election of 1983, the Conservative majority expanded and Margaret Thatcher continued to enact her economic policies.  

The Falklands
On 2 April 1982, a ruling military in Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, a British overseas territory that Argentina had claimed after 1810 dispute. The Thatcher government recaptured the islands and the salvagers were deported to Argentina. Argentina surrendered on 14 June and the operation was deemed as a success for the Thatcher government and resulted in a greater support for the government. The lasting effect of the Falklands compounded with the economic recovery in early 1983 was seen in the 1983 election, when the Conservative party won 42% of the votes.

Trade Unions
Margaret Thatcher was committed to curb the power and influence of trade unions by privatizing mines and pits. Her reforms instigated Violence and protests from the mine workers, but were successfully combated by the government. In 1984, National Union of Mineworkers ordered a strike against the legislation imposed on them to curb their power. Violent clashes broke out in many places in which a number of people were injured and arrested. After a year of striking, The National Union gave up without a deal.
European Community
Thatcher was opposed to the proposal from the European Community for a federal structure and increasing centralization of decision making. She was not against the Britain’s membership in the European Community, but she believed that it should be limited to ensuring free trade and effective competition. On the contrary to the European approach to governing, she was a supporter of smaller government and deregulatory trends. Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe, who was a great supporter of her, tried to persuade Thatcher to agree to the proposal, which she refused. Margaret felt that the membership will constrain the UK economy. A split emerged over the European policy within the Conservative Party and eventually Geoffrey resigned from his position of Deputy Prime Minister.

Economic Changes during 1987-1990
Thatcher introduced a new system to raise revenue; she replaced the local government taxes with a Community Charge or ‘Poll tax’. Property taxes were made uniform and the same amount was charged to every individual resident and the residential property tax was replaced with a head tax whose rate would be established by local governments. As a result the Prime Minister’s popularity declined in 1989. Unrest mounted in the country as Margaret refused to compromise on the tax. Several protest meeting were held, resulting in a number of riots, the most serious of which occurred at Trafalgar Square, London on 31 March 1990.

Fall from Power
In 1990, The Conservative Party began to split on the issue of European                                                                                                    Community, as Margaret Thatcher remained firmly opposed to British membership in the European Monetary system. Apart from it, opposition for her tax policy made her politically weak and vulnerable. Her combative personality and uncompromising approach to overrule other’s opinion contributed to the discontentment in the party members. On 1 November 1990, Geoffrey Howe, once her great supporter, resigned from his position as Deputy Prime Minister and his resignation speech on 13 November in the House of Commons led to the downfall of the Margaret Thatcher’s Government in UK. On 22 November an announcement was made informing that she would not be contesting the second ballot. She was the only Prime Minister of the 20 centaury to serve three times.

Life after Parliament
Margaret Thatcher became a member of the House of Lords in 1992. She had already been honored by the Queen as the ‘Order of Merit’, one of the UK’s highest distinctions in 1990. After leaving the House of the Commons, she authored her memoirs in two volumes: The Path to Power and The Downing Street years. From 1993 to 2000 served as Chancellor of the College of William and Mary in Virginia. She was also Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, the UK’s only private university. She was widowed on 26 June, 2003. In February 2007, she became the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to be honored with a statue in the House of Parliament while still alive.



Margaret ThatcherTimeline:
1925- Margaret Thatcher was born on 13 October.
1943- Went to Oxford.
1946- She was elected as President of Oxford Conservative Association.
1949- Moved to Dart Ford to contest for Member of Parliament.
1961- She was promoted to the front bench as Parliamentary Undersecretary at the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance.
1979- Margaret Thatcher became the Prime Minister of UK on 4 May.
1990- Protest against the Poll Tax policy was held at Trafalgar Square, London on 31 March.
1990- Geoffrey Howe resigned from his position of Deputy Prime Minister.
1990- Resignation of Margaret Thatcher was announced.
1992- Margaret Thatcher became a member of the House of Lords in 1992.
1993- Served as Chancellor of the College of William and Mary in Virginia 1993 to 2000.
2003- Sir Denis Thatcher Died on 26 June.
2007- She became first Prime Minister honored with a statue in the House of Parliament, while still alive.