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H-275, H-463 Shakur Pur, Near Masjid, I-10-11, Shakur Pur, Near Bansal Book Depot Delhi-34
F-379-380, Shakur Pur, Near Sai Baba Chawk, Delhi-110034.

CHAPTER 2
NELSON MANDELA : LONG WALK time before. Now the same officer bedecked with
ribbons and medals were saluting him and showing their
TO FREEDOM loyalty towards him. The end of the apartheid regime has
brought all these changes in them.
Q.1 Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any Q.7 Why were two national Anthem sung?
public buildings in India that are made of sandstone? Ans The Republic of South Africa consists of two major
Ans The inaugural ceremony took place in the lovely sandstone constituents: the blacks and the whites. It was thought
amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. In necessary to show respect to the sentiments of both
India we have many buildings which are made of the these communities. Playing their two national anthems
sandstone. They are the Parliament, the Rashtrapati Bhavan symbolised their unity. The whites sang ‘Nkosi Sckelel-i
and the Red Fort in Delhi etc. Africa’ and the blacks sang ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem.
Q.2 Can you say how May 10 is ‘an autumn day’ in South Africa? Q.8 How does Mandela describe the system of government
Ans In South Africa, 10th May was an autumn day, literally as well in his country (1) in the first decade; and (2) in the final
as symbolically. In autumn trees leave old and rotten leaves decade, of the twentieth century?
and after that new leaves with fresh colours are born. Ans during the first decade of the 19th century the system
Symbolically, the old and rotten system of apartheid was of government in South Africa was based on racial
coming to an end. A new republic based on equality of men, discrimination and segregation the blacks were treated
colours and races was taking birth on the 10th may during the inhumanly which cost untold suffering and inhuman
autumn behaviour with black people in South Africa.
Q.3 At the beginning of the speech, Mandela mentioned an However, this thing completely changed in the last
extraordinary human disaster. What does he mean by this? decade of 20th century when the South Africa got
What does he mean by this? What is the glorious human independence from white supremacy, there was also end
achievement he speaks of at the end? of apartheid regime. In the new set-up, all enjoyed
Ans At the beginning of his speech, Mandela calls the apartheid justice, peace, equality and human dignity irrespective of
regime based on racial discrimination as “an extraordinary their race or colour.
human disaster”. The people were deprived of justice, peace Q.9 What does courage mean to Mandela
and human dignity. Now, the new republic ensures social Ans ‘Courage’ has a wider and deeper significance for
justice, equality and human dignity. Never will South Africa Nelson Mandela. It is not merely limited to physical acts
see any exploitation of men and racial discrimination. of bravery and boldness. By courage, Mandela means the
Q.4 What does Mandela thank the international leaders for? victory over fear. It is our mental strength that helps us
Ans Nelson Mandela thank the international leader for sharing a in becoming really brave. A brave man is not who is
common cause. By participating in the ceremony, they have never afraid but he who conquer his fear.
supported the new republic where there will be no Q.10 What does he think is natural, to love or hate?
discrimination based on race and colour. He thanks the Ans Mandela thinks that no one is born hating another
international leaders for sharing a common victory for justice person because of his race, colour, skin or religion.
for peace and for human dignity. ‘People must learn’ to hate and if they learn to hate they
Q.5 What ideals does he set out for the future of the South can be taught to love. Mandela thinks that love comes
Africa? more naturally to the human heart than hate.
Ans. Nelson Mandela sets out the following ideals future for Q.11 What twin obligation does Mandela mention?
South Africa : Ans. Mandela mentions that in life every man has twin
 He abolished the system of apartheid from the country obligations - Obligations to his family, to his parents, to
forever. his wife and children; and he has an obligation to his
 Any people black or coloured will not suffer exploitation people, his community, his country. In a civil and
and oppression by the white people. humane society each man is able to fulfil those
 The new republic will be based on justice, peace and obligations according to his own inclinations and
human dignity. There will be equal opportunities for all abilities.
irrespective of their race, sex or colour. Q.12 What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy and as
Q.6 What do the military general do? how has their attitude a student? How does he contrast these transitory
changed, and why? freedoms with the basic and honourable freedom?
Ans Nelson Mandela remembers how the general of the South Ans. Mandela realised that his boyhood freedom was an
African army and the high police officer were employed to illusion. As a student he wanted freedom only for
arrest him and the other black revolutionaries only some
 MOHIT KUMAR 9717984876

H-275, H-463 Shakur Pur, Near Masjid, I-10-11, Shakur Pur, Near Bansal Book Depot Delhi-34
F-379-380, Shakur Pur, Near Sai Baba Chawk, Delhi-110034.
himself. They were the transitory freedom of beingstudent
able wanted freedom only for himself. It meant the
to stay out at night, read what he pleased and gotransitory freedoms of giving and moving out freely. When
anywhere he chose. Later on, Mandela realised that the he grew up into an adult his hunger for freedom grew
basic and honourable freedom were related to the freedom more for the freedom of his people.
of his people to live their lives with human dignity and self- Q.18 How did Mandela’s hunger for freedom change his
respect. life?
Q.13 Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/why not? Ans Mandela’s hunger for freedom changed his life. The
Ans No, Mandela thinks that both: the oppressor and the desire for the freedom of his people, to live their lives
oppressed are not free. According to Mandela the oppressed with dignity and self-respect , animated his life. It
is the prisoner of the oppressor and the man who takes away transformed him from a frightened young man into a bold
another man's freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked one. It drove a law abiding lawyer to become criminal, a
behind the bars of prejudice and narrow mindedness. So the family-loving husband into a man without a home, that
oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their forced a life-loving man to live like a monk.
humanity.
Q.14 Why did such a large number of international leaders
attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Ans A large number of international leaders attended the
inauguration ceremony of the new republic. The inhuman
regime of apartheid was universally hated and condemned.
After a long struggle, the black won a glorious victory under
Nelson Mandela. The end of racial discrimination and
segregation was a common victory for justice for peace and
for the human dignity. Therefore, the presence of so many
international leaders conferred glory and hope to the newly
born liberty.
Q.15 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 doesn’t forget the selfless struggle and
sacrifices of the black heroes against the hated regime of
apartheid in South Africa. He gratefully acknowledges the
sufferings and courage of thousands of his people before
him. Their sacrifices can never be counted and repaid.
Mandela feels that he is simply the sum of all those African
patriots who has gone before him. He only carried forward
the work and struggle for freedom to its logical end.
Q.16 Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create
the “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate
this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?
Ans To every action there is always an equal and opposite
reaction. The depth of oppression always creates heights of
character. Oppression and brutality of the apartheid regime
couldn’t extinguish the flame of freedom in the blacks.
Oppression and atrocities produced leaders and fighters likes
Tambos, Siscelus, Dadoos, Fishers and Solbukwes before
Mandela.
The Indian struggle for freedom also produced heroes
and patriots like Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Chandra
Shekhar Azad and Shubhas Chandra Bose etc.
Q.17 How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with
age and experience?
Ans Mandela’s understanding of freedom constantly changed
with the age and experience. As a child freedom meant to
him to run in the fields, to swim in the stream, the roast
mealies under the stars, etc. As he grew a few he as a