India, Dec. 21 -- Years ago, I saw Nelson Mandela's dingy cell in South Africa's Robben Island prison - an equivalent of India's "Kalapaani". It was a 7x9 square-ft, cage-like cell where the 6-ft tall Mandela spent 18 years of his life. In the dark cell that seemed to sap one's energy, he worked out every day, trying to keep himself mentally and physically fit. He spent 27 years in various prisons, living the same life.

Meanwhile, the world saw innumerable ups and downs, but Mandela, in solitary confinement, kept the flame of his struggle alive and intact. Recently, he has been appearing more often in my thoughts. Not because of his sacrifices, struggles or ideals but for the cell where he carried out his prison sentence while trying to ...