As the world bowed in sombre obeisance on the demise of Nelson Mandela on Friday, India’s leading percussionist, Sivamani saddened at the loss, recounted his one and only meeting with South Africa’s iconic anti-apartheid struggle leader.
In the year 1997, Sivamani had been invited to play at the inauguration ceremony of South Africa’s Robben Island prison that was being converted into a museum. Ascribing this unforgettable meeting to God’s answer to his prayers, Sivamani in a telephonic conversation from Mumbai told The Pioneer: “I was fascinated by Madiba (Nelson Mandela was affectionately known by his clan name, Madiba). A day before my performance I told Mandela’s security officers that I wanted to meet him briefly. However, I was refused and told that he would have a very busy schedule. That night, I prayed. I actually requested God to somehow make me meet him. The next day, I played with my prayer in mind. My performance was a big success. Mandela began to walk towards the helicopter when he caught sight of me standing at a short distance, teaching African drummers to play Indian beats. He turned and walked straight towards me! I was awestruck. He shook hands with me, said that he was very happy with my drumming and blessed me.
“He was even more delighted when I told him that I was an Indian. The beloved statesman said that he had learnt a lot from Mahatma Gandhi. He told me that as a young man, he had known about Gandhi’s movement directed against the racist Government and had been very influenced by the man. He had said that Gandhi’s passive resistance and satyagraha had motivated him as effective political tools of use by unarmed people against a powerful opponent.
“I felt very proud that a great leader from my country who also fought against racism had inspired a great soul like him. That meeting was nothing short of a miracle. I am convinced that my prayers to God had been answered. “I am feeling a big sense of loss that the colossus of humanity is no more. I am blessed that I touched his hand.”
Sivamani’s photo with Mandela remains his favourite picture till date. “Just being close to him was a blessing. Thus, this picture of that day will remain most treasured.” Sivamani feels that it was providence that he got invited to the momentous music festival. The drummer narrated: “In 1994, I had gone to South Africa for a concert. I visited a music store there and was unable to resist my urge to play, so I began drumming in the shop itself. A man in the store came up to me and asked for my business card. This person was famed composer Jonathan. To my surprise, four years after this incident, I got a call from him. He said that he had lost my card but found it while wondering how to trace me as he wanted me to play at the inauguration ceremony of South Africa’s Robben Island Prison Museum. I believe it was my luck that all this happened the way it did. I feel lucky and chosen that I got to meet the great Nelson Mandela.”
The musician who is known to create mesmerizing music from any object went on: “I was at Robben Island for ten days and it was very cold there. During my stay I met jailors who told me the story of how there was a network developed to send messages from the prison to the outside world. Before my performance, I also visited Mandela’s prison cell. The room was so small that a man could barely lie down. I went inside and saw a gunny bag-like sheet rolled neatly, that he must have used to keep himself warm. There was also a thin mat on the floor that served as a mattress. It appeared that the prison authorities purported to kill the free will and spirit of these men. My admiration for Madiba grew even more after this visit. He was one of the greatest men our world will ever have.”