Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher, born on October 13, 1925,

was a British politician who served as Prime
Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to
1990. She was the leader of the Conservative
Party and the first woman to hold the office of
Prime Minister in the UK. Thatcher's tenure as
Prime Minister was marked by her conservative
policies, commitment to free-market capitalism,
and her confrontations with trade unions, which
earned her the nickname "Iron Lady."
Thatcher's government pursued a program of economic reform that became known as
Thatcherism, which aimed to reduce the role of the state in the economy, privatize state-
owned industries, deregulate financial markets, and curb the power of trade unions. Her
policies were controversial and divisive, leading to significant social and economic changes
in Britain during the 1980s.
Internationally, Thatcher played a prominent role in Cold War politics, developing a close
relationship with US President Ronald Reagan and supporting his anti-communist policies.
She was a staunch advocate for free-market principles and was influential in shaping global
economic policies during her time in office.
Thatcher's leadership style was characterized by her strong convictions, forceful rhetoric, and
unwavering determination. Despite her popularity among conservatives, her policies also
generated significant opposition, particularly from the left-wing and marginalized
communities affected by her government's austerity measures.
After resigning as Prime Minister in 1990, Thatcher remained active in public life, writing
books, delivering speeches, and participating in various initiatives. She passed away on April
8, 2013, but her legacy continues to be a subject of debate and analysis, with supporters
crediting her with revitalizing the British economy and critics accusing her of exacerbating
social inequalities.
 Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel is a German politician who

served as Chancellor of Germany from
2005 to 2021. She was the first woman to
hold the office of Chancellor in Germany
and one of the most powerful leaders in
Europe during her tenure.
Merkel was born on July 17, 1954, in
Hamburg, West Germany. She was raised
in East Germany and trained as a physicist before becoming involved in politics after the fall
of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Merkel joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party and
quickly rose through the ranks.
In 2005, Merkel became Chancellor of Germany after leading the CDU to victory in the
federal elections. She was re-elected in 2009, 2013, and 2017, making her one of the longest-
serving leaders in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Merkel's leadership style was characterized by pragmatism, cautious decision-making, and a
focus on consensus-building. She played a key role in managing various crises during her
time in office, including the global financial crisis, the European debt crisis, and the refugee
crisis.
Internationally, Merkel emerged as a leading figure in the European Union and played a
central role in shaping EU policies on issues such as economic governance, migration, and
climate change. She also maintained a strong relationship with the United States, particularly
during the presidencies of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
Merkel announced in 2018 that she would not seek re-election as Chancellor and stepped
down from the CDU leadership in 2021. She was succeeded by Armin Laschet as leader of
the CDU and by Olaf Scholz as Chancellor of Germany.
Throughout her career, Merkel has been praised for her leadership, pragmatism, and
commitment to European integration. However, she has also faced criticism for her handling
of certain issues, including the eurozone crisis and the refugee crisis. Nonetheless, she
remains one of the most influential political figures of the 21st century.
 Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid

revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist
who served as President of South Africa from 1994
to 1999. He was the country's first black head of
state and the first elected in a fully representative
democratic election. Mandela is widely regarded as
one of the greatest political figures of the 20th
century and an icon of freedom and equality.
Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in the village of
Mvezo in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. He became involved in anti-colonial
politics as a young man and joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1943, becoming
increasingly active in the struggle against apartheid, the institutionalized system of racial
segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government.
In 1962, Mandela was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in
anti-apartheid activities. He spent 27 years in prison, much of it on Robben Island, where he
became a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement and an international rallying point for those
advocating for his release.
Mandela was released from prison in 1990 following intense domestic and international
pressure. He subsequently led negotiations to dismantle apartheid and establish multiracial
elections in South Africa. In 1994, Mandela won the country's first fully democratic
elections, becoming President of South Africa and leading the country's transition to majority
rule and reconciliation.
As President, Mandela pursued policies aimed at national reconciliation and economic
development, focusing on rebuilding a racially divided nation and addressing the legacy of
apartheid. He also played a key role in promoting peace and stability in Africa and around the
world.
After leaving office in 1999, Mandela remained active in public life, championing causes
such as HIV/AIDS awareness and human rights. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
1993 for his role in ending apartheid and promoting reconciliation in South Africa.
Nelson Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013, but his legacy continues to inspire
people around the world in their struggles for justice, equality, and human rights. He is often
remembered for his commitment to forgiveness, reconciliation, and the pursuit of a better
future for all.
 Gandhi

Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi was India’s

most important political and spiritual
leader. He is honored in India as Father of
the Nation. His non-violent protests led to
independence for India from the British.
His beliefs and actions have inspired civil
rights movements across the globe. He is
an icon of world peace. His birthday,
2nd October, is commemorated worldwide
as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Gandhi was born in Gujarat, Western India, in 1869. He grew up surrounded by religious
traditions of compassion, vegetarianism, and tolerance for all people. He got married at the
age of 13. When he was 19, he went to London to study law. He returned to India to practice
as a lawyer but was hampered by British officials, so he accepted a job in South Africa.
In South Africa, Gandhi faced discrimination and hardship wherever he went. He was treated
as a third-class citizen by white people. This awakened in him questions about social justice
and the role of the British in India. He returned to India in 1915, ready to put to work the
concept of passive resistance he developed in South Africa.
Between 1916 and 1945, Gandhi worked hard to set India free from British rule. He started
by leading protests against British taxes and landlords, and walked across India encouraging
non-cooperation with the British. Throughout this time, he preached non-violence. This
meant that when he and his followers were injured by the British, they did not fight back.
They resisted but were not violent. In response, Gandhi was arrested and imprisoned for
creating unrest. This approach made the British look terrible in the media, and people around
the world put pressure on Britain to stop the violence. Gandhi's fame spread all over the
nation. Tragically, he was assassinated in 1948. However, two years later, India became an
independent republic.
 Martin Luther King

Born as Michael King Jr. on January 15, 1929, Martin

Luther King Jr. was the middle child of Michael King
Sr. and Alberta Williams King. (Father and son both
changed their names when Martin Luther King Jr. was a
boy.) The King children grew up in a secure and loving
household.
Martin Luther King Jr. entered school at age 5 and
skipped two grades in high school. In 1944, at age 15,
he entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
King was a popular student but not motivated, and he
floated though his first two years.
In 1948, King attended the Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. He
graduated first in his class in 1951 and was elected student body president.
While working on his doctorate at Boston University, he met Coretta Scott, a singer and
musician. They were married in June 1953 and had four children. In 1954, King became
pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama.
On December 1, 1955, 42-year-old Rosa Parks boarded a bus to go home from after a day at
work. In the South, at that time, public transportation was segregated, meaning blacks and
whites had to sit separately. The bus driver demanded that Parks and several other African-
Americans give up their seats to white people. Three other African-American passengers
gave up their places, but Parks remained seated. The driver asked her again to give up her
seat and again she refused. Parks was arrested and jailed.
Led by King, the African-American community boycotted Montgomery and refused to ride
the bus. The bus boycott would last more than 380 days. Montgomery's African-American
community had to endure long walks to work, threats and violence. In early 1957, the city of
Montgomery gave in and ended segregated public transportation.
On August 28, 1963, King's huge demonstration at the nation's capital, called the March on
Washington, drew more than 200,000 people. It was here that King made his famous "I Have
a Dream" speech. It emphasized his belief that someday all men could be brothers. It included
the famous lines, "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where
they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
King's actions strongly affected public opinion. All over the country people began
questioning the nation's segregation laws and the unfair way African-American citizens were
treated. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act outlawed segregation in public places. That same year
Martin Luther King received the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1968, King was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee. His death sparked riots across the
country. In 1969, his killer, James Earl Ray, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in
prison.