Nelson Mandela was born in 1918 in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. He became actively involved in politics in the 1940s, joining the African National Congress (ANC), a political organization committed to ending apartheid, a system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1994.
Mandela played a leading role in anti-apartheid activism and was arrested several times for his activities. He spent nearly three decades in prison, eventually becoming an international symbol of the struggle against apartheid.
After his release from prison in 1990, Mandela negotiated with the South African government to dismantle apartheid, leading to the first multiracial democratic elections in South Africa in 1994. Mandela became the first black president of South Africa and served from 1994 to 1999.
2.Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869 in Porbandar, India. He was a lawyer, politician, and social activist who became the foremost leader of the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century.
Gandhi advocated for civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance as a means to achieve political and social change. He opposed British rule in India and led several high-profile civil disobedience campaigns, including the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Gandhi's life and teachings have influenced movements for civil rights and nonviolent resistance around the world. He remains a highly revered figure both in India and internationally.
3.The Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. He is considered an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in 1935 in Amdo, Tibet.
The Dalai Lama has spoken out against Chinese rule in Tibet and advocated for Tibet's independence. He has also promoted interfaith dialogue and world peace.
The Dalai Lama has received numerous awards for his work, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. He continues to be a vocal advocate for human rights and nonviolence.
4.Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai was born in 1997 in Mingora, Pakistan. She became an advocate for girls' education in the Swat Valley, a region controlled by the Taliban.
Yousafzai spoke out publicly about the importance of education for girls, which angered the Taliban. In October 2012, a Taliban gunman shot her in the head as she was returning home from school. Yousafzai survived and went on to become a global symbol for the fight for girls' education.
Yousafzai has received numerous awards for her work, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She continues to speak out for girls' education and women's rights.
5.Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai was born in 1940 in Nyeri, Kenya. She was the first woman from East and Central Africa to receive a doctorate degree. Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, an environmental NGO that focused on planting trees, sustainable development, and women's rights.
Matthai campaigned for the conservation of nature, the planting of millions of trees, and democratic political reform. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, becoming the first African woman to be awarded the prestigious prize.
Wangari Muta Maathai died of ovarian cancer in 2011. The Green Belt Movement she founded continues its work and remains a respected organization, focusing on social and gender rights, poverty eradication, and the protection of the environment.