Nelson Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom

Q1. Where did the ceremonies take place can you name any public buildings in India that are made
of sandstone?
Ans. The inaugural took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the union buildings in
Pretoria. For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy. In India we have many buildings
which are made of sandstone. They are the Parliament, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Red Fort in
Delhi.

Q2. Can you say how May 10 is an autumn day in South Africa?
Ans. In South Africa, 10th of May was an autumn day, literally as Well as symbolically. In autumn
trees leave old and rotten leaves and after that new leaves with fresh colours are born. .
Symbolically, old and rotten system of apartheid was coming to an end. A new Republic based on
equality of men, colours and races was taking birth on 10 May during the autumn.

Q3. 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. At the beginning of the speech, Mandela calls the apartheid regime based on racial
discrimination as an extraordinary human disaster. The people were deprived of justice, peace and
human dignity. Now the new Republic ensures social justice, equality and human dignity. Never will
South Africa see any exploitation of men by men and racial discrimination.

Q4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Ans. Nelson Mandela thanks the international leaders for sharing a common cause. By participating
in the ceremony, they have supported the new republic where there will be no discrimination based
on race and colour. He thanks the international leaders for sharing a common victory for justice, for
peace and for human dignity.

Q5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Ans. (i) Nelson Mandela sets out many ideals for the future of South Africa. First of all, the hated
regime of apartheid based on racial discrimination which will come to end forever.
(ii) The blacks or any people will not Suffer exploitation and oppression by the white people.
(iii) The new Republic will be based on justice, peace and human dignity. There will be equal
opportunities for all irrespective of the race, colour or sex.

Q1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Ans. Nelson Mandela remembers how the generals of the South African Army and the high police
officers were employed to arrest him and the other leaders of the blacks only some time ago. Now
the same officers bedecked with ribbons and medals were saluting him and showing their loyalty
towards him. The end of the apartheid regime has brought all these changes in them.

Q2. Why were two national anthems sung?

Ans. The Republic of South Africa consists of two major constituents the blacks and the whites. It
was thought necessary to show respect to the sentiments of both these communities. Playing their
two national anthems symbolised their unity. The whites sang ‘ Nkosi Sckelel-I Africa’ and the blacks
sang ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem.

Q3. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country (i) in the first decade; and
(ii) in the final decade, of the 20th century
Ans. After the Boer war, the hated the apartheid, regime was introduced in South Africa it was based
on racial discrimination and segregation. It caused untold sufferings and the most inhumane
behaviour with the blacks in South Africa. However, things completely changed with the end of the
apartheid regime and inauguration of the Republican government led by Nelson Mandela. In the
new set up, all enjoyed justice, peace, equality and human dignity irrespective of their race or
colour.

Q4. What does courage mean to Mandela?

Ans. Courage has a wider and deeper significance for Nelson Mandela. It is not merely limited to
physical acts of bravery and boldness. By courage, Mandela means the victory over fear. It is our
mental strength that helps us in becoming really brave. A brave man is not he who is never afraid
but he who conquers fear.

Q5. What does he think is natural, to love or to hate?

Ans. Mandela thinks that no one is born hating another person because of his race, colour, skin or
religion. People must learn to hate, and if they learn to hate they can be taught to love. Mandela
thinks that love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.

Thinking About The Text

Q1. Why did such a large number of International leaders attend the inauguration? What did it
signify the triumph of?
Ans. Many international leaders attended the ceremonial event wherein Nelson Mandela became
the first black President of South Africa. This was an honouring gesture of unity among the
individuals of the nation and making the country racial free. In short, it was the end of the era of
social segregation. It indicated the win of good over evil, the triumph of the idea of an open minded
society without discrimination on any grounds.

Q2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who
had gone before him?
Ans. Nelson Mandela wants to pay his tribute to all those people who had sacrificed their lives for
the sake of freedom. He believes that he was motivated and inspired by these patriots of Africa.
Moreover he is on the path of fighting over the society to get rid of discrimination.

Q3. 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. Undoubtedly it is true that depths of oppression create heights of character. Nelson Mandela
strongly exemplifies this idea by sharing experiences and struggles of great patriots and heroes who
had intently struggled and sacrificed their precious lives to get the freedom of south Africa. Most of
the prominent strugglers were the Oliver Tambos, the Usuf Dadoos, the Walter Sisulus, the chief
Luthulus and many more. Indeed India also embraces us with glorious victories by Chandra Shekhar
Azad, Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi. Subhash Chandra Bose and many more. Undoubtedly the
cruelty and domination of colonialism created several men of such character.

Q4. How did Mandela’s understanding for freedom change with age and experience?
Ans. Nelson Mandela’s understanding of freedom changed with age and experience. When he was a
young boy, freedom for him was mere running across the fields or to swim fearlessly in the stream.
With the advent of time and age, he sooner or later realised that it was merely a perception and felt
that