Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom

Question 1.-Where did the ceremonies take place ? Can you name any public
buildings in India that are made of sandstones?
Answer:-The ceremonies took place in the campus of the Union Building of Pretoria,
which were attended by dignitaries and leaders of many nations. In India;
Rashtrapati Bhavan and Red Fort are buildings made of red sandstone.
Question 2.-Can you say how 10th May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Answer:-As South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, may falls in the autumn
season. Thus 10th May is an ‘autumn day’.
Question 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?
Answer:-By ‘an extraordinary human disaster’ Mandela means to state the practice
of apartheid in South Africa. During this there was a racial segregation based on
colour and the blacks suffered a lot. They were not allowed to demand freedom or
any right. Mandela himself did spend many years on infamous ‘Robben Island’ as a
prisoner where he was beaten mercilessly. He considered it as great glorious
human achievement that a black person became the President of a country where
the blacks were not even considered human beings and were treated badly.
Question 4.-What does Mandela thank the international leaders for ?
Answer:-Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the
swearing – in ceremony because not too long ago, the South Africans were
considered outlaws. He thus thanks all of them for having come to witness the
historical ceremony. This was a gesture of international recognition to a newly born
free democratic nation and it could be considered as a common victory for justice,
peace and human dignity.
Question 5.-What ideals does Nelson Mandela set for the future of South
Africa?
Answer:-Nelson Mandela set the ideals of liberating people from bondage of
poverty, deprivation and suffering. He also set the ideal for a society where there
would be no discrimination based on gender or racial origins.
Question 1.-What did the military generals do ? How did their attitude change
and why?
Answer:-The highest military generals of South African defence force saluted
Mandela and pledged their loyalty which was of great significance as during
apartheid era they would have arrested him. The change in their attitude was
because of struggle and sacrifices put in by many heroes of South Africa. This
struggle not only ensured the freedom of a nation struggling with apartheid, bur
brought a change in mindsets of many. He believed that love can also be taught and
human being is naturally inclined towards love rather than hate.
Question 2.-Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer:-One the auspicious occasion of the inauguration two national anthems: one
by the Whites and the other by the Blacks symbolising the equality of the Blacks
and the Whites were sung.
Question 3.-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?
Answer:-(i) In the first decade of the century, the whites erected a system of racial
domination against the blacks, thus creating the basis of one of the harshest and
most inhumane societies the world had ever known.
(ii) In the final decade of the 20th century, the . previous system had been
overturned and replaced by one which recognised rights and freedom of all people
regardless of color of their skin.
Question 4.-What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer:-For Mandela courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory over
fear. According to him brave men need not be fearless but should be able to
conquer fear.
Question 5.-Which does Mandela think is natural, to love or to hate?
Answer:-For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.
Question 1.-What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Answer:-Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his
family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his
community and his country.
Question 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”?
Answer:-Like any other kid, for Mandela freedom meant to make merry and enjoy
the blissful life. Once one becomes an adult, antics of childhood looks like transitory
because most of the childish activities are wasteful from an adult’s perspective.
Once you are adult, you have to earn a livelihood to bring the bacon home. Its only
then when you get an honourable existence in the family and in the society.
Question 3.-Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/why not?
Answer:-Mandela does not think that the oppressor is free because according to
him an oppressor is a victim of hatred who is behind the bars of prejudice and
narrow-mindedness. He realises that both the oppressor and the oppressed are
robbed of their humanity and peace.
Question 1.-Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the
inauguration ? What did it signify the triumph of?
Answer:-To be the part of the inauguration, international leaders showed a gesture
of solidarity from international community to the idea of end of apartheid. It was the
significance of the victory of good over evil and triumph of a tolerant society without
any discrimination.
Question 2.-What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of
all those African patriots”, who had gone before him ?
Answer:-By saying that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots, Mandela
wants to pay his tribute to all the people who have sacrificed their lives for the sake
of freedom. He says that he is grateful to those who had gone before him because
those heroes of past had paved the path of co-operation and unity for him.
Therefore, he could try to come to power to bring equality for his people with their
support.
Question 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 ?
Answer:-I agree with the statement that depths of oppression create heights of
character. Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes of
South Africa like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and others who were inspired to
sacrifice their lives in the long freedom struggle.
India is full of such examples, during our freedom struggle there was a galaxy of
leaders of great characters and the oppression of British rule created and
encouraged people of noble characters like Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, JL
Nehru, Chandra Shekhar Ajad, Sardar Bhagat Singh and many more. If we
compare them with the quality of political leaders India is having today, then Nelson
Mandela seems to be absolutely right;
Question [Link] Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and
experience?
Answer:-With age and experience, Mandela understood the real meaning of
freedom. As a young boy, he thought that he was born free and believed that as
long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in
every possible manner. As he grew older, freedom to raise a family and freedom to
earn livelihood started dominating his thoughts. Gradually he realised that he was
selfish during his boyhood. He slowly understood that it was not just his freedom
that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. It was the freedom from fear
and prejudice. Age and experience widened his perspective of freedom.
Question 5.-How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer:-Mandela realised in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was
being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. This changed the fearfulman to a
fearless rebel.
He sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to fight for a greater cause. He
joined the African National Congress and this changed him from a frightened young
man into a bold one who fought against racial prejudice