The book Higher Than Hope is an authorised biography of which prominent political leader associated with the anti apartheid struggle?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Nelson Mandela

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Books and biographies of major leaders are frequent topics in general knowledge and competitive exams. Higher Than Hope is one such important work, often mentioned in connection with the anti apartheid movement in South Africa. This question checks whether you can correctly identify the political leader whose life and struggle are documented in this book.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The title of the book is Higher Than Hope.
  • The book is presented as a biography.
  • The options include leaders from Africa and India.
  • The learner is assumed to know basic facts about the anti apartheid movement.


Concept / Approach:
The correct approach is to associate the title Higher Than Hope with the life story of Nelson Mandela, the iconic South African leader who fought against apartheid and later became President of South Africa. The book is an authorised biography and focuses on his political struggle, personal sacrifices, and the broader context of the African National Congress. The other options, although important leaders in their own contexts, are not the subject of this particular biography.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the phrase Higher Than Hope is frequently linked in GK notes to Nelson Mandela. Step 2: Recall that the book is written by Fatima Meer and is an authorised biography of Mandela. Step 3: Compare the options and identify which leader is most strongly associated with the anti apartheid struggle in South Africa. Step 4: Confirm that Nelson Mandela is the central figure of that struggle and the subject of this biography. Step 5: Choose “Nelson Mandela” as the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
You can check this by remembering other common biography pairings: Long Walk to Freedom is another well known autobiography by Nelson Mandela himself. Higher Than Hope is a separate biography by Fatima Meer and often appears together with Mandela related exam questions. None of the other leaders listed are consistently linked with this particular title in standard preparatory material or library catalogues, which confirms the match with Nelson Mandela.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sam Nujoma: First President of Namibia and a key independence leader, but not the subject of Higher Than Hope.
Robert Mugabe: Former leader of Zimbabwe, widely known, yet this book is not about him.
V P Singh: Former Prime Minister of India associated with Indian politics and social justice, not with the anti apartheid biography in question.
Julius Nyerere: Tanzanian leader and independence figure, but again not the person profiled in Higher Than Hope.


Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to guess any African leader when you see an unfamiliar book title. Another error is to assume the book may be about a more recently discussed political figure. To avoid this, build a small mental list of important book leader pairs, such as Discovery of India with Jawaharlal Nehru, Wings of Fire with A P J Abdul Kalam, and Higher Than Hope with Nelson Mandela.


Final Answer:
The book Higher Than Hope is the authorised biography of Nelson Mandela.

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