Class: X

Subject: English
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Date: April 10, 2020
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Summary
This chapter is an extract from the autobiography of Nelson Mandela (born-
18 July, 1918), the first Black President of South Africa. It begins with the
description of their inaugural ceremony which took place on the 10th of
May 1994 where the entire nation along with many international leaders
embraced the victory of a newly and fairly elected government. It involved
speeches by the President and the two Deputy Presidents followed by an
impressive air show of fighter jets and helicopters. Long ago, in the first
decade of the twentieth century, white supremacy introduced the system of
apartheid and made life a living hell for the dark-skinned population. It gave
rise to one of the most inhumane societies of the world. Many people have
struggled and sacrificed for basic human rights. The author expressed his
desire to thank all those freedom fighters who couldn’t live to see this
autumn day. He referred to the citizens as the greatest asset of the country.
It is these people he gathered his courage from. Mandela believes that
courageous is not the man who is fearless, but the man who has overcome
fear. He also mentioned the two responsibilities every human has and how
in order to fulfil his obligation towards the society, his obligation towards
his family was neglected. He became a man of people when he realised that
the idea of freedom was an illusion for him and people like him. It was then
he joined the African National Congress and fought for his rights till he
became the first black President of the nation. According to him, the
oppressor is as much a prisoner as the oppressed. As soon as the former
robs the oppressed of their freedom he, himself gets robbed of his
humanity. Thus, the oppressor too, is not free.

NCERT Question and Answers

1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public
buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Ans. The ceremonies took place in an amphitheatre which was formed by
Union Buildings in Pretoria. In India, we have many public buildings made
of sandstone, some of which are Rashtrapati Bhavan, Red Fort and the
Supreme Court of India in New Delhi.
2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Ans. Since South Africa lies in the Southern Hemisphere, we can say that
May falls in the autumn season.
3. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary
human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious …
human achievement” he speaks of at the end?
Ans. By “an extraordinary human disaster”, Mandela is referring to the
apartheid system that was prevalent in South Africa under the previous
leadership. People of colour were treated unfairly and no human being
deserves that. He stood against the unjust practices and finally won the
democratic elections to become the first black President of South Africa. He
refers to this win as “glorious human achievement”.
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Ans. The author thanked the international leaders for joining and
supporting them in their victory of freedom, justice and human dignity.
Earlier, many nations had cut ties with South Africa because of their
practice of apartheid.
5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Ans. As the newly elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela wanted
to liberate the country of all the unjust practices. He set out ideals for a
country which was free of poverty, discrimination and injustice.
6. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and
why?
Ans. The military generals saluted Nelson Mandela and promised their
support to the newly formed democratic government of South Africa. Their
attitude has changed because earlier they were under the ruke of the white
supremacy. During that rule, they would have arrested Mandela as he was
considered to be a criminal. Now, with the abolition of Apartheid and the
formation of a democratic government, their attitude has also changed.
7. Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans. The two national anthems, one of the Blacks and other of the Whites
were sung symbolising equality and respect for the entire community
irrespective of their colour.
8. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country
(i) In the first decade, and
(ii) In the final decade, of the twentieth century?
Ans. (i) In the first decade of the twentieth century, white supremacy
created a system of racial domination and made life a living hell for the
dark-skinned people. Mandela referred it as one of the “harshest, inhumane
societies” of the world.
(ii) In the final decade of the twentieth century, the system of apartheid has
been changed into one that recognises all humans as equal regardless of
their colour, race or gender.
9. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Ans. To Mandela, “courage” does not mean the absence of fear, but the
victory over it. A man who is courageous is the one who has overcome his
fear to fight all the odds.
10. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Ans. He believes love comes more naturally to humans as opposed to hate.
No one is born with hatred in his heart for another.
11. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Ans. According to Mandela, every person has “twin obligations”, one
towards his family and the other, towards his society.
12. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student? How
does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable
freedoms”?
Ans. As a young boy, and a student, Mandela’s idea of freedom was to be
able to stay out at night, read whatever he desired and go wherever he
chose. On growing up as a man, he realised that these were “transitory
freedoms” he was looking for because their “basic and honourable
freedoms” had been taken away. There was no liberty to have a peaceful
marriage, family and life. Dark-skinned people were deprived of their
fundamental human rights. For them, freedom was an “illusion”.
13. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Ans. According to Mandela, the oppressor is as much a prisoner as the
oppressed. As soon as the former robs the oppressed of their freedom he,
himself gets robbed of his humanity. Thus, he thinks that the oppressor
too, is not free.
14. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the
inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Ans. At the inauguration ceremony, there were a large number of
international leaders to celebrate the end of apartheid system and to display
their support for South Africa. It signified the triumph of justice over
prejudice, courage over fear and right over wrong.
15. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all
those African patriots” who had gone before him?
Ans. Mandela wanted to thank the generations before him who had fought
for justice. He gathered his courage from these brave heroes and it is
because of that, he fought fearlessly for what is right. Thus, he referred to
himself as “simply the sum of all those African patriots” that had gone
before him.
16. Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of
character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own
examples to this argument?
Ans. Yes, I agree that “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”.
Mandela illustrated this idea by the example of all those who had emerged
as great freedom fighters after years of oppression and brutality. Though
unintended, effect of all this was men with extraordinary courage and
strength. One of the greatest examples is of our own country, where our
people were exploited under British rule for about 200 years. As a result of
oppression of such magnitude, India got freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh
and Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
17. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and
experience?
Ans. As a young boy, and a student, Mandela’s idea of freedom was to be
able to stay out at night, read whatever he desired and go wherever he
chose. On growing up as a man, he realised that these were “transitory
freedoms” he was looking for because their “basic and honourable
freedoms” had been taken away. There was no liberty to have a peaceful
marriage, family and life. Dark-skinned people were deprived of their
fundamental human rights. For them, freedom was an “illusion”.
18. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Ans. Once Mandela realized his hunger for freedom, his life changed forever.
It transformed him from a family-man to a man of his people and a
frightened young man into a bold one. He built his entire life around
fighting for the basic fundamental rights for his community. He was more
selfless and virtuous than ever.

Assignment for Self Assessment

Question 1.
10th May dawned bright and clear. For the past few days 1 had been pleasantly
besieged by dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before
the inauguration. The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international
leaders on South African soil. The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone
amphitheater formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. For decades this had been the
seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different
colours and nations for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial
government. [CBSE2015]
(a) Who were coming and for what before the inauguration?
(b) What happened on the inauguration?
(c) Find out the word that means the same ‘commencement’ from the passage.
(d) Find the word from the passage which means ‘an open space surround by sloping
land’.

Question 2.
We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be
host to the nations of the world on our own soil.
We thank all of our distinguished international guests for having come to take
possession with the people of our country of what is after all a common victory for
justice, for peace, for human dignity.
We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all
our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and
other discrimination.
(a) What does ‘we’ refer in the first line of the passage?
(b) What did the people of South Africa achieve at last?
(c) The word ‘bondage’ means …… in the passage.
(d) Give a synonym of ’emancipation’.

Question 3.
The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people.
All of us will spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt.
But the decades of oppression and brutality had another, unintended, effect, ‘ and that
was that it produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the
Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of our time-men of such
extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their like may never be known again.
Perhaps it reguires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My
country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always
known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
(a) What did the policy of apartheid create?
(b) According to Mandela, what is the greatest wealth?
(c) Find out the word in the passage which means ‘large-heartedness.’
(d) Pick out the word from the passage which means to treat somebody/something
cruelly and unfairly.

Question 4.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave
man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. No one is born
hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his
religion. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to
love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the
grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would
see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, – perhaps just for a second, but it was
enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be
hidden but never extinguished.”
(a) How does Mandela define the brave?
(b) Which was the grimmest time for Mandela?
(c) Find a word similar in meaning to ‘victory’.
(d) Explain Man’s goodness is flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.

➢ Answer the following briefly:

1. What freedom meant to Mandela in childhood? [CBSE 2015]
2. What are the ideals which Mandela set for the future of South Africa in his
swearing- in ceremony?
3. What did Mandela think for oppressor and oppressed? [CBSE 2011]
4. What do you understand by Apartheid’?
5. Describe the effect of the policy of apartheid on the people of South Africa.
6. What did Mandela realise about his brothers and sisters? [CBSE 2012]
7. Why was Nelson Mandela changed into a bold man?

➢ Answer the following in detail:

1. Describe the views of Mandela for the black people who fought and sacrificed their
likes for the country’s political independence?
2. Describe the obligations which the author is talking about and also describe his
feelings for them?
3. Describe the value of freedom for the human beings and how it is important for
the growth of civilisation and humanism as described in the lesson ‘Nelson
Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom’. [CBSE2014]