What did the military generals do ? How did their attitude change and why?

In Nelson Mandela's autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom," he recounts an incident involving military generals during his time in prison on Robben Island. Initially, the military generals treated Mandela and his fellow prisoners with disdain and hostility, adhering strictly to their roles as custodians of the apartheid regime. They enforced harsh rules and regulations, subjected the prisoners to rigorous physical labor, and showed little regard for their dignity or well-being.

However, over time, Mandela noticed a gradual change in the attitude of some of the military generals. This change was attributed to Mandela and his fellow prisoners' steadfast commitment to their principles and their refusal to be broken by the harsh conditions of their imprisonment. Mandela and his comrades conducted themselves with dignity, discipline, and resilience, earning the respect of even some of their captors.

As Mandela and his fellow prisoners continued to engage in dialogue and build relationships with the prison guards and authorities, some of the military generals began to display a more humane and compassionate attitude. They started to treat the prisoners with greater respect and empathy, recognizing their shared humanity and the injustices of the apartheid system.

The change in attitude among the military generals can be attributed to Mandela's leadership and his unwavering commitment to reconciliation and forgiveness. Mandela believed in the power of dialogue and engagement to bring about change, and he demonstrated this through his interactions with his captors. By appealing to their sense of common humanity and engaging them in meaningful dialogue, Mandela was able to gradually influence their attitudes and foster a more humane treatment of the prisoners.