Comrade: special title for Mandela not important

K Balasundaram, a resident of Tamil Nadu and an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi, had written a letter supporting calls that Nelson Mandela should be recognised in the same way as Gandhi is.

8220;Gandhi is known as the Mahatma, which is Sanskrit for 8216;Great Soul8217;. Before this, Natal Indians referred to Gandhi as punyavan Blessed Soul. Mandela is a Mahatma and a punyavan. Yes, Nelson Mandela is Madiba not only to you in South Africa but to us as well,8221; he wrote.

8220;Great souls like Gandhi and Mandela belong to the whole world and their influence has no borders. The title Mahatma should remain with Gandhi and Madiba with Nelson Mandela.

Maharaj, who served as Mandela8217;s Transport Minister in the first post-apartheid Government, responded: 8220;I don8217;t think Mandela is concerned about any titles. He will be happy if people follow the principles of non-racialism, democracy, peace and unity.8221;