To speak of Nelson Mandela in mortal terms is trying to eclipse the shadow of a person who showed that it was easier to rebuild a nation using love and peace rather than hate and war. Honouring the same spirit of the late South African president, Google on Friday released its latest doodle celebrating the 96th birth anniversary of the charismatic leader. The interactive doodle showcases different stages of Mandela's life, along with quotes from his autobiography, The Long Walk to Freedom.
Nelson Mandela, better known as 'Madiba' and 'Tata' amongst his South African supporters, was born July 18 1918 as Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela to the Thembu royal family. He died last year on December 5 after suffering from pulmonary infection - he was 95 years old then. Mandela, who was also a boxer in his younger days, first became a part of the ANC (African National Congress) and rose to prominence during the ANC's Defiance Campaign in 1952. He started his law practice in 1949, and was majorly involved in helping set free those members of the ANC convicted by the state.

Mandela was unsuccessfully persecuted by the state up until the time he co-founded the armed wing of the ANC - Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation). He was arrested for a sabotage campaign against the apartheid government in 1962 - then convicted, tried and sentenced to life imprisonment. Nelson Mandela first served time at Robben Island, then at Pollsmoor prison and fi.