Archbishop Desmond Tutu

In News 

• Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a veteran of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid died aged 90.

Image Courtesy: theguardian.com

About Archbishop Desmond Tutu

• Early Life: 
  • He was born in 1931 in Klerksdorp, Transvaal. His father was a teacher, and he himself was educated at Johannesburg Bantu High School and in 1954 he graduated from the University of South Africa. 
• Career
  • He worked as a teacher and recalled how the system of educating blacks infuriated him. 
  • He quit teaching in 1957 to join the church and was ordained as a priest in 1961. 
  • In 1975 he was appointed Dean of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Johannesburg, the first black to hold that position. 
  • He was named the first Black Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986.
  • He is an honorary doctor of a number of leading universities in the USA, Britain and Germany.

• Contributions 
  • He is regarded as a contemporary anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela and became the face of the moment outside the country.
  • He was one of the driving forces behind the movement to end racial segregation and discrimination by the white minority government in South Africa from 1948 till the year 1991.
  • He spearheaded grassroots campaigns around the world that fought against apartheid. 
  • He has been regarded as an outspoken human rights activist who highlighted and spoke out on a range of issues around the world including climate change, Israel-Palestine conflict, among others.

• Awards to honour him:
  • He was awarded the Nobel prize in 1984 for his role in the struggle to abolish the apartheid system. 
    • The prize highlighted the non-violent manner in which he fought against the system.

Source: IE