Yes, I agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”.Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes of South ** who sacrificed their lives in the long freedom struggle. India is full of such examples. During our freedom struggle ,there was a galaxy of leaders of great characters. Probably the oppression of British rule created so many men of such characters. If we compare this with the quality of political leaders India is having today, then Nelson Mandela seems to be absolutely right.
