L E W IS H E LF Biography A N D N E L S O N M A N D E L A T H E U N C O N Q U E R A B L E S O U L C A M P F IR E Lewis Helfand KALYANI NAVYUG MEDIA PVT LTD New Delhi SSiittttiinngg aarroouunndd tthhee CCaammppffiirree,, tteelllliinngg tthhee ssttoorryy,, wweerree:: ILLUSTRATOR SANKHA BANERJEE COLORISTS PRADEEP SHERAWAT & DEBU PAYEN LETTERER BHAVNATH CHAUDHARY EDITOR ASWATHY SENAN PRODUCTION CONTROLLER VISHAL SHARMA COVER ART SANKHA BANERJEE DESIGNER JAYAKRISHNAN K. P. Published by Kalyani Navyug Media Pvt. Ltd. 101 C, Shiv House, Hari Nagar Ashram, New Delhi 110014, India ISBN: 978-93-80741-16-1 Copyright © 2011 Kalyani Navyug Media Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Campf ire, an imprint of Kalyani Navyug Media Pvt. Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in India at Rave India Lewis Helfand was born on April 27, 1978 in Philadelphia, and grew up in nearby Narberth, Pennsylvania. Although interested in cartoons and animation from a young age, Lewis turned to writing by the time he was twelve. After fi nishing high school, he remained in the Philadelphia area with the intention of pursuing a degree in English. Four years later, with a degree in Political Science and a passion for comic books, Lewis began working for local publishers, proofreading books and newspaper articles. By the age of twenty-four, Lewis had been editing phone books for a year and a half, and felt no closer to his lifelong goal of writing comic books. So one day he decided to quit his job. Lewis then spent the next two months working day and night to write and draw his fi rst comic book, Wasted Minute. It tells the story of a world without crime where superheroes are forced to work regular jobs. To cover the cost of self-publishing, he began working odd jobs in offi ces and restaurants, and started exhibiting at local comic-book conventions. With the fi rst issue received well, he was soon collaborating with other artists, and released four more issues over the next few years. Outside the fi eld of comic books, Lewis works as a freelance writer and reporter for a number of national print and online publications. He has covered everything from sports and travel to politics and culture, for magazines such as Renaissance, American Health and Fitness, and Computer Bits. Lewis is one of Campfi re’s most prolifi c writers, having adapted many Western classics, written several biographies, and scripted the original titles 400 B.C. and Photo Booth. February 1985. It has now been more than twenty years since Pollsmoor Prison, South Africa. Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison. Two decades behind bars. All because he stood up for justice when millions were denied equal rights and the world looked away. Would you have the courage to stand up and speak for those who needed a voice? Would you have the strength to do what you believed was right... no matter what the consequences? Mandela! Your wife and lawyer are here to see you. 5 Would you sacrifice everything... even if you knew it was not just you who would suffer? It’s wonderful to see you, Winnie. It’s been so long. I know. I’ve missed you so much, Nelson. The prison authorities wouldn’t allow us to visit you until now. And thank you It’s a privilege, for coming along, Mr. Mandela. Have you Mr. Ayob. decided what you will do about President Botha’s offer? No politics, please. You can discuss only family matters here. You know the prison rules! We are discussing an offer the president of South Africa made to me in front of Parliament. If that is a problem, I suggest you contact the president himself. 6 Days after that meeting in prison, Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zindzi read out his response to the offer. President Botha has offered to release my father from prison if he is willing to renounce the armed Well, my father struggle—to speak out against has a message for those still fighting for the President Botha: only freedom of our nation. free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts. South Africa was still a nation where black To Nelson Mandela, true freedom meant Africans were not free to vote in elections. They much more than being released from prison. were not even free to live where they wanted. If you have spent years dreaming of your freedom, would you have the strength to turn it down? A decision like that would require tremendous strength, born from a lifetime of sacrifices. 7 Mandela’s lessons about strength and sacrifice had begun in Mvezo, South Africa. It was a small village located hundreds of kilometers from the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg. Born in the Madiba clan of the Xhosa nation on July 18, 1918, Mandela was given the name Rolihlahla, which roughly means ‘troublemaker’. Little did they know what kind of ‘trouble’ he would go on to cause. His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, never went to school and did not know how to read or write. Do you know that I am the new chief of Mvezo, Rolihlahla? It is my job to serve as a counselor to the kings. That will be your job, too, someday. But he was a brilliant speaker, and was soon given a high rank by a local king. 8 A few weeks later, Mandela’s father received a visit from The local magistrate a disgruntled man. has received a complaint against you over your ruling on the ownership of an ox. He has ordered you to appear before him to settle the matter. Tell the magistrate that I am very busy and can’t come now. anddimsM okapbinghegisadstki,er aawnntteye. rissAe wla le nabxd’slap ocerektchs tApeeford rn gitcsooaev n aewsnr,san ewsmv eceeronn nt ttso hoi dtefehf cierceh iawdiel shf.sit e The magistrate stripped Mphakanyiswa of his role as chief, and took away much of his wealth, land and cattle. Mandela’s father was left with his four wives and a dozen children to care for. We will be there soon. And we will survive. Mandela’s mother, Nosekeni Fanny, chose to leave Mvezo with him and her daughters. They walked to her family home in the village of Qunu, forty-eight kilometers away. 9