Chapter 2: Nelson Mandela

1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name

any public buildings in India that are made of
sandstone?
Ans: The Union Building of Pretoria was the place where
the ceremonies took place. The Parliament House in New
Delhi, the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, the Supreme
Court of India in New Delhi, and the Madras High Court in
Chennai are all notable sandstone monuments in India.
2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South
Africa?
Ans: South Africa lies in the Southern Hemisphere. Hence,
the autumn season falls in May. It was the day of South
Africa’s largest gathering, with many international leaders
in attendance to witness the installation of the country’s
first non-racial democratic government.
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: “An extraordinary human disaster” meant that the
native Africans and the coloured people had to suffer a lot
due to discrimination done by the British government. It
was a glorious achievement, not only for the Africans but
also for the people around the world. A coloured person
became the President after the country was exploited for
many years. In South Africa, the government ensured
liberty not only to the black citizens but also to the
whites.
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Ans: While addressing everyone in his speech, Mandela
thanked all the international leaders who came to witness
this glorious moment. He felt privileged to gather
international support for his country. It also helped him
bring to light the issues that Africans faced at the hands
of the British. Mandela becoming the President of Africa
was not only their victory but the victory of justice, peace,
and human rights across the globe.
5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South
Africa?
Ans: Mandela wanted to work for the upliftment of
everyone. He tried to address the finer details that would
make Africa a progressing nation in the long run. He
focused on the alleviation of poverty and suffering. He
also wanted his nation to be free from racial
discrimination and a safe place for blacks, white and
coloured individuals.

Oral Comprehension Check (pg. 21)

1. What do the military generals do? How has their
attitude changed, and why?
Ans: The military earlier arrested and disrespected the
Blacks. But after Mandela became the President of South
Africa, the highest military generals of South Africa
saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty towards the
new emerging Africa.
2. Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans: Nelson Mandela wanted to make Africa a safe and
equal country for everyone and promote universal
brotherhood. So, on the day of the inauguration one
national anthem was sung by whites and the other by
blacks.
3. How does Mandela describe the systems of
government in his country
(i) In the first decade
Ans: In the first decade the racial discrimination between
the blacks and white, the whites set themselves on higher
pedestal and created grounds for one of the gravest racial
discrimination the world had ever known. The dark
skinned were treated as inferior in their own land and
were denied even basic human rights.
(ii) In the final decade of the twentieth century?
Ans: In the final decade of twentieth century the racial
discrimination was eradicated and was replaced by equal
rights for all, irrespective of their colour.
4. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Ans: Mandela’s definition of courage did not mean
absence of fear but victory over fear. A man should not be
fearless. He should acknowledge the fear and gather
courage to fight against it.
5. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Ans: It is natural for the human heart to love than to hate,
according to Mandela.

Oral Comprehension Check (pg. 24)

1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Ans: Mandela mentions that every man shoulders
responsibility first towards his family, wife, children, and
parents and towards his nation and community.
 2. 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: Like any other kid for Mandela also the freedom
meant the freedom to make merry and enjoy a blissful life.
He was allowed everything till the time he followed the
rules laid out by his father and the tribe. After growing up
he realized freedom had a more deeper meaning and
value than he actually thought. It meant equality and
honour for all. As an adult you will have to make sure
there is food for the family and honour of the family is
held high.
3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why
not?
Ans: An oppressor, according to Mandela, is not free
because he becomes a prisoner of hatred, imprisoned by
prejudice and narrow-mindedness. They are stripped of
their humanity, and the privilege of being human is taken
away from them.

Thinking about the Text 24

1. Why did such a large number of international leaders
attend the inauguration? What did it signify the
triumph of?
Ans: The Britishers ruled over various countries around
the world and exploited them for their own gains. Nelson
Mandela became the President of South Africa, after so
many years of oppression, signified their win against the
oppressors. The presence of international leaders at an
important event signifies their appreciation of the
struggle that Africa went through. It showed that all the
nations around the world were standing in unity with
Africa.
2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply
the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone
before him?
Ans: Mandela was inspired by the passion of individuals
and freedom fighters, who had in their hearts a desire to
free their country from the shackles of British oppression.
He believed that those patriots who died before him paved
this path for him and without their sacrifice, this would
not have been possible. He held their sacrifice as well as
the other citizens who sacrificed themselves for the nation
at a pedestal. He wanted to pay his tribe for all the lives
that were a part of this freedom struggle and work
towards what they imagined future Africa to be.
3. 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 believe that “depths of oppression” create
“heights of character.” It is when we face adverse
situations, we realize the potential we hold. Adverse
situations help us to come out of our bubble and discover
the strength that lies deep within us. Nelson Mandela
never thought as a child that he would fight for the
freedom of the citizens and nations. He was ready to
sacrifice himself for the freedom of his nation. He served
around 27 years in prison and then became the first
President of independent South Africa.
4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change
with age and experience?
Ans: Since Mandela was a part of an African tribe, he was
shouldered with responsibilities from a noticeably early
age. As a young boy, Mandela was concerned about his
own freedom. He considered himself to be free since he
wasn’t imposed with any restrictions. He was just asked to
abide by his father’s and communities’ rules. As he grew
up and developed a better understanding of the world, he
realized how selfish his view of freedom was. He
understood that it’s not only his freedom that matters but
also other fellow black members and the residents of the
country. It was after this realized he stepped into politics,
to achieve this aim.
5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his
life?
Ans: Realization about the importance of the freedom of
the country hit Mandela when he was young. He valued his
freedom but eventually realized that if the citizens of his
country aren’t free then his freedom holds no importance.
He held in his heart a desire for non-racial society and
wanted everyone to have equal rights, irrespective of
them being black or white. His own hunger for freedom
soon grew into hunger for the freedom of his own people
and he joined the African National Congress which acted
as a stepping stone into his political career.