Class X English

First Flight
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Notes

INTRODUCTION

This lesson is an excerpt from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography and it takes the readers back to
May 10, 1994 when Mandela was sworn in as the first black President of Democratic South
Africa.

It is an account of the atrocities and oppression inflicted by the white rulers on the black natives
in South Africa. In this lesson Mandela shares a few of his bitter experiences during his freedom
struggle, as well as overwhelming emotions that he experienced when finally a democratic era
was ushered in after years of struggle. He also pays homage to the bravehearts of South Africa
who made it possible for Africa to see this day of independence.

DETAILED EXPLANATION

Inauguration Ceremony

• 10 May was a golden day in the history of South Africa because Nelson Mandela had
become the first black President of South Africa.
• A large number of leaders from more than 140 countries around the world had come to
witness this historic moment.
• This inauguration ceremony took place in a lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the
Union Buildings in Pretoria. This building had been the seat of white supremacy over the
decades but on this particular day it was filled with people of all colours and races from
different nations.
• Mr. Mandela was accompanied by his daughter Zenani and his swearing in was preceded
by Mr. De Klerk who was sworn in as Second Deputy President and Thabo Mbeki who
was sworn in as First Deputy President.
• Mandela promised to bring up a society of which all humanity would be proud and he
also swore to devote himself to the well being of the Republic and its people.
• He also expressed gratitude to all the dignitaries and world leaders from different
countries who had come to pay him their respect as well as to celebrate the victory of
justice, peace and dignity.
• He closed his address with the wish that freedom reigned supreme and South Africa be
blessed by God forever.
A Rare Honour

• During Mandela’s oath taking ceremony, South African jets, helicopters and troop
carriers flew over the area in perfect formation not only to show pinpoint precision but
also the loyalty of the military to the newly formed democratic government. At that time
the highest military generals saluted him and Mandela pointed out the shift in their
attitude. These decorated officers who had just saluted to him as their new President and
pledged their loyalty to his government, would have arrested him not many years back.
• On that symbolic day, two national anthems were played- the new anthem ‘Nkosi Sikelel-
iAfrica’ by the whites and ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem of the Republic, by the blacks in
order to show the solidarity of the blacks and the whites. Mandela knew that the two
groups had once despised each other’s anthem but would soon memorise both. It was,
indeed, a historic day in the history of South Africa.

Nelson Mandela shares glimpses from the past

• On this occasion Nelson Mandela remembers the days of the past when whites had
dominated the black natives of South Africa and this policy was known as the policy of
racial discrimination or apartheid.
• However, in the last decade of the century, all this has been overturned and now the
South Africans enjoy equal rights and freedom, irrespective of the colour of the skin.

Mandela pays homage to freedom fighters

• On this special occasion of inauguration ceremony, Nelson Mandela pays a special

homage to the freedom fighters and praises their supreme sacrifice; patriots like Oliver
Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo, Bram Fischer and Robert Sobukwe
as men of uncommon courage, wisdom and generosity. He also states that his people are
much greater wealth than the minerals and gems found in his country.
• He further says that he has learned the real meaning of courage and selflessness from
such patriots. He has learnt that courage is not the absence of fear but triumph over it.

Gems of wisdom shared by Mandela

• Nelson Mandela shares some gems of wisdom in his speech. First and foremost, he says
that being white or black is not a token of goodness and superiority. The colour of the
skin does not decide whether we are superior or inferior.
• Secondly, he remarks that every individual has twin obligation; one is personal obligation
to his friends and family and the other is obligation to his community and country. He
goes on to say that every man must fulfil both these obligations according to his
circumstances and abilities.
 • He also says that people should love rather than hate as love comes most naturally to
human beings. Their natural goodness is reflected in the gesture of showing love towards
others.

Nelson Mandela’s perspective of Freedom

• Nelson Mandela’s idea of freedom kept on evolving as he grew up. As a child, he used to
think that running in the fields, swimming in the clear stream, riding on the backs of slow
moving bulls and staying out at nights was freedom.
• When he grew up a little, he wanted freedom of livelihood for himself and his family. But
he soon realised that it was all illusion. He then joined the African National Congress as
his hunger for the freedom of his people to be able to live their life with dignity and self
respect became greater than the hunger for his own freedom.
• This desire for freedom of his people transformed him from a frightened young man into
a bold one, a law abiding person into a criminal in the eyes of law and a family loving
man into a homeless man.
• Mandela wanted the oppressor and the oppressed both to be liberated as he believed that
the man who took away the freedom of others was a prisoner of hatred, prejudice and
narrow-mindedness and was thus robbed of his humanity. Freedom, according to him,
was indivisible.

MESSAGE

• Nelson Mandela conveyed that freedom is an individual’s birth right.

• Oppression is condemnable, whether it is inflicted or tolerated.
• People all over the world are equal and deserve respect.
• Love and compassion are innate and natural whereas hatred is acquired.
• Courage is not the absence of fear but it actually lies in overcoming fear. It helps ordinary
people do extra ordinary things.
• Freedom is indivisible.