Question

What do you understand by the term apartheid? Who fought against it?

Answer 1

Hint: It was started in South Africa by the Britishers and became more stringent after the population registration act. Even Gandhiji faced this problem while practising in Africa.

Complete answer: Apartheid is the racial segregation of people based on white and non-white colour.
-This segregation led to political, economical and social differences also.
-The act of 1960 (population registration act) classified all South Africans as Bantu(black) coloured, or white
-It is based on authoritarian political culture.
-It led to the segregation of public facilities, social events, places of residence etc.
-Several laws also passed under this system like the prohibition of mixed marriages act 1949, immorality act of 1950.
-It sparked international and domestic social movements like Soweto riots, demonstrations at Sharpeville
One of the main leaders who fought against it was Nelson Mandela.
-He was one of the most important leaders of the 20th century.
-He became the first black president.
-He helped organize the ANC youth league in 1944(African National Congress).
-He spread the message of peace, unity and nation-building.
-He is also known as the grandfather of South Africa.
-He always stood against the unfair practices of injustice and put his people and beliefs first.
-Mandela was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1993.
-He followed the Gandhian way of fighting (civil disobedience, boycott, demonstrations)

Note: Mandela was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award. Mahatma Gandhi also started a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid (natal Indian congress ) at the end of apartheid around 10% of whites occupied around 90% of land in Africa.