In a world beset by terror and hateful ideologies, "the wisdom of pioneering leaders like (Nelson) Mandela should remain as our moral compass", according to Extenal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Speaking on Monday at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit here, she declared, "We Indians consider Mandiba one of our own. We are proud to call him Bharat Ratna, a Jewel of India."

Mandela was awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1990, a rare honour for a non-Indian citizen. The Peace Summit was held on the eve of the High-Level General Assembly session to commemorate the birth centenary of Mandela, who led the successful fight against apartheid in South Africa and ended white minority rule. He later became its president. "We resolve to move beyond words in the promotion of peaceful, just, inclusive and non-discriminatory societies," the world leaders at the summit pledged in a declaration.