Long Walk to Freedom
A.Say true or false
(a) The ‘inauguration’ was for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.
Ans: True.
(b) Mr. de Klerk was first sworn in as second deputy president.
Ans: True.
(c) The inauguration took place on 10th May, 1992.
Ans: False.
(d) Nelson Mandela had a great respect for a host of great men of character like Oliver Tambos, Walter Sisulus, Chief Luthulis and so on.
Ans: True.
(e) Only one national anthem was sung on that historic day.
Ans: False.
B.Choose the appropriate meaning of the italicised words from the choices given in brackets:
(a) ………. had been pleasantly ‘besieged’ by ……… (felt good/ to be surrounded closely by/ honoured)
Ans: to be surrounded closely by.
(b) ………. our political ‘emancipation’ ………. (curtailment/freedom from restriction/bondage)
Ans: freedom from restriction.
(c) ………. from that ‘profound’ hurt ………. (mild/ superficial/ deep and strong)
Ans: deep and strong.
(d) ………. the ‘transitory’ freedoms ………. (permanent/ lasting for a short time/ ever)
Ans: lasting for a short time.
C.Short questions and answers:-
1.What is ‘apartheid’?
Ans: ‘Apartheid’ is a political system that separates people according to their race which was made by white rule.
2.Who wrote the autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom”?
Ans: Nelson Mandela wrote the autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom”.
3.What is the full name of Mr. Mandela?
Ans: The full name of Mr. Mandela is Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
4.When was the democratic elections held in South Africa?
Ans: ‘The democratic elections’ was first held in the year 1994 in South Africa.
5.Who surrounded the Mandela before the ‘inauguration’?
Ans: Politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world surrounded the Mandela before the ‘inauguration’.
6.Where did the ceremonies take place?
Ans: The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre in the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
7.Why did the leaders gather in South Africa on 10th May, 1994?
Ans: The leaders gathered in South Africa to pay their respects to Mr Nelson Mandela and their new first democratic and non-racial Government.
8.Who accompanied the Mandela on the lovely autumn day/ inauguration day?
Ans: Nelson Madela’s daughter Zenani accompanied him on the lovely autumn day/inauguration day?
9.Who was sworn in as the second deputy president?
Ans: Mr de Klerk was sworn in as the second deputy president.
10.Who was sworn in as first deputy president?
Ans: Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as first deputy president.
11.What were the colours emitted by a chevron of Impala jets?
Ans: The colours emitted by a chevron of Impala jets were — black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African Flag.
12.What did the smoke trail of Impala jets symbolise?
Ans: The smoke trail of Impala jets symbolised the new South African flag.
13.Name the two national anthems sung on that historic day?
Ans: The two national anthems sung on that historic day were – Nkosi Sikelel -iAfrika by the whites and ‘Die Stem’ by the blacks.
14.What happened in the first decade of the twentieth century?
Ans: In the first decade of the twentieth century, the whites in South Africa erected a system of racial domination over the blacks which was known as ‘Apartheid’ system.
15.Who formed the structure of one of the harshest and most inhumane societies?
Ans: The policy of apartheid (system) formed the structure of one of the harshest and most inhuman societies.
16.How old was the author at the time of ‘inauguration’?
Ans: The author was in his eighty years old at the time of the ‘inauguration’.
17.What created a deep and lasting wound in South Africa?
Ans: The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in South Africa.
18.What qualities did the great man viz. Oliver Tambos, Walter Sisulus, Chief Luthulis display?
Ans: The great man viz. Oliver Tambos, Walter Sisulus, Chief Luthulis displayed the qualities of courage, wisdom and generosity, also their sacrifices for their country; and from these characters Nelson Mandela inspired.
19.How many obligations does every man have according to the author?
Ans: According to Mandela in a life of every man has twin obligations — obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children; and he has an obligation to his people, his community, his country.
20.Why could men not fulfill their twin obligations?
Ans: In South Africa, if a man of colour (coloured person) tried to fulfill his obligations to his people, he is isolated and punished. Also, he was prevented from fulfilling his obligations to his family. So, men could not fulfill their twin obligations in South Africa earlier.
21.How many seats were won by Nelson Mandela’s party in the first democratic elections of South Africa?
Ans: Nelson Mandela’s party won 252 seats among the 400 seats in the first democratic elections of South Africa.
22.How many years did Nelson Mandela spend in prison?
Ans: Nelson Mandela spent thirty years in prison.
23.When did Nelson Mandela die?
Ans: Nelson Mandela died in 2013.
D.Short Type Questions :
1.Who was Nelson Mandela? For how many years did he spend in prison?
Ans: Nelson Mandela was a freedom fighter of South Africa and first black President. He spent thirty years in prison.
2.Where did the ‘ceremonies’ take place? Why were the ceremonies so important?
Ans: The ‘ceremonies’ took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre in Pretoria in South Africa. The ceremonies was so important because these were meant for the celebration of victory of the South African natives over the ruling whites and for the installation of South Africa’s first ever democracy.
3.Who were other persons who took oath along with Nelson Mandela?
Ans:-The persons who took oath along with Nelson Mandela were Mr de Klerk and Thabo Mbeki.
4.What spectacular show was displayed by the South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers on this important ceremony?
Ans: South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings in Pretoria. A chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag.
5.How was Mandela overwhelmed with a sense of history?
Ans: In the first decade of the twentieth century and before Mandela’s birth, the whites in South Africa had erected a system of racial domination known as ‘apartheid’. In the last decade of the twentieth century, when Mandela was in his eighties, he had won as president of South Africa. He had overturned the all rules of apartheid forever and made a new government of non racial and democratic rules.
6.How did Mandela describe the system of government in his country in the final decade of the twentieth century?
Ans: Mandela described the system of government in his country in the final decade of the twentieth century as one that recognises the rights and freedoms of all people, irrespective of the colour of their skin.
7.What did Mandela think of the patriots of Africa and of himself?
Ans: Mandela thought that the freedom of South Africa had come through the sufferings and courage of the patriots. He said that he was simply the sum total of all those patriots. He regretted/was very sorry for having not been able to thank them.
8.How did the policy of apartheid affect his country?
Ans: The policy of apartheid left a lasting wound on South Africa. It was one of the harshest and most inhumane policies the world had ever seen. The rights and freedoms of the South African natives had been taken away by this policy of the ruling whites.
9.What is the view of Mandela about the wealth of his country?
Ans: Mandela was of the view that/According to Mandela, the greatest wealth of his country is its people which are finer and truer than the purest diamonds. He also compares with the wealth of minerals and gems, but he considers the people of their country are the greatest wealth of any other wealth.
10.What should people learn so that they can be taught to love?
Ans: People should learn to hate the bad things so that they can be taught to love. Because love is come automatically/more naturally than the hate from every man’s heart.
11.How does Mandela look at his own people?
Ans: Mandela had seen his own people risking and giving their lives for an idea. He had seen the men stand up to attacks and tortures (amani/asanti) without breaking, showing a strength and resilience that defies the imagination.
12.What problems hinder each man to fulfill these obligations in South Africa?
Ans: Whenever a native South African tries to fulfill his duty to his people, he is ripped from his family and forced to live an isolated life. He is isolated even if he tries to live as a human being. So, it is very difficult in South Africa to fulfill these obligations.
13.What problems were faced by Mandela in the beginning in placing his people above his family?
Ans: In the beginning, in attempting to serve his people, Mandela found that he was prevented from fulfilling his obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband.
14.What did Mandela yearn for as a young man in Johannesburg?
Ans: As a young man in Johannesburg, Mandela yearned for the freedoms of achieving his potential, of earning his keep, of marrying and having a family.
15.What did he perceive about his brothers and sisters?
Ans: Mandela perceived that not only he was not free, but also his brothers and his sisters were not free. So, he thought that if their people would have no freedom then this would also happen with him.
16. What changed Mandela as a young man into a bold one?
Ans: Mandela’s desire for the freedom of his people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect changed him into a bold one.
What is the viewpoint of Mandela about ‘freedom’?
Ans: Mandela’s viewpoint on ‘freedom’ is that it is indivisible. The chains on anyone of his people are the chains on all of them and also encloses him.
Long Walk to Freedom
Comprehension Check:
1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Ans-: The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union
Buildings in Pretoria.
The Parliament House in New Delhi, the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi are some examples of Indian public buildings those are made of sandstone.
2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Ans:- 10 May is an 'Autumn day' in south Africa because on that day apartheid system was overturned forever in south Africa and established a democratic and non-racial government for the first time in South African soil.
3. a)At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? b)What is the “glorious … human achievement” he speaks of at the end?
Ans:-At the beginning of Mendela's speech, he mentioned “an extraordinary human disaster" It's means the bondages of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender inequality and other discriminations of his country during the white rule and under the apartheid system.
At the end of his speech, he mentioned ‘Glorious...human achievement’, It's means the establishment of South Africa’s first democratic and the non-racial government after the three centuries white ruled.
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Ans:- Mandela thanked the international leaders for their possession with the people of his country. Also, he thanked for having come to witness the first black president and the first non-racial government of South Africa.
5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Ans:- He set out the ideals of removal the bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender inequality and other discriminations. He also promised that he would never again allowed the oppressions of one by another. Thus, he pledged to his country people to save the freedom of everybody with non racial and as democratic rules.
6.What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Ans:-The highest generals of the South African defence force and police saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty to their new president with their chests bedecked with ribbons and medals.
Few years ago, the highest military generals would be arrested Mandela. But, that day, they saluted and praised their loyalty. Because, on that day, Mandela was their president. As a police officer or general, their duty was that they should respect their country's president on that day. So that is why, their attitude had changed on the that day.
7.Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans:-On the day of the inauguration, two national anthems were sung. One national anthem was sung by the whites and another by the blacks. The two national anthems symbolised the new democratic and non racial government and also symbolised the equality of blacks and whites and the truly liberal society of a new nation.
8.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?
Ans :- Nelson Mandela describes the system of government in his country….
(i) In the first decade of the twentieth century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before Mandela’s birth, the white-skinned peoples of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark-skinned peoples of their own land. The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world has ever known. (ii) In the last decade of the twentieth century, the apartheid system had been overturned forever and replaced by one that recognised the rights and freedoms of all peoples, regardless of the colour of their skin.
9. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Ans:- According to Mandela, courage means not the absence of fear instead of triumph over the fear.For him, a brave man is called a brave man who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers the fear.
10. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Ans:- Nelson Mandela thinks that love comes more naturally to the human heart than the hate. He also says that people must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.
11. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Ans:- In his autobiography, “A Long walk to Freedom’, Nelson Mandela mentions that in a human life, every man has twin obligations. One is to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children. The other obligation is to his people, his community and his country.
12.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:- As a boy, Mandela thought that he was born free with freedom everywhere. He thought that he was free to run in the fields near his mother’s hut. He was free to swim in the clear stream that ran through his village. He was free to roast mealies under the open sky or the stars. At last, he thought that he was free to ride on the broad backs of slow-moving bulls.
As a student, he wanted freedom for himself. He expected to have “transitory freedom” of being able to stay out at night in everywhere. Again, he wanted to read what he pleased. At last, he wanted to go where he chose that the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.
As a young man, he expected to yearn for the basic and honourable freedoms. At first, he wanted the freedom of achieving his potential. 2ndly, he needed of earning his keep. 3rdly, he expected the freedom of marrying. At last, he expected to have a family.
According to Mandela, the freedom of the boyhood days and as a student, these are the transitory(অস্থায়ী) freedoms. Because, these freedoms are the only freedoms for himself and only for a short time. But, in contrast he mentions that, “the basic and honourable freedoms” are related with his family. At first, he wants the freedom of achieving his potential. 2ndly, he needs of earning his keep. 3rdly, he expects the freedom of marrying. At last, he expects to have a family. Thus, he contrasts the “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”.
13.Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Ans:- : No. According to Mandela, the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. He mentions that a man who takes away another man’s freedom then he is a prisoner of hatred and locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. So, the oppressor is not free when he takes away someone freedom. For him, the oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.
14.Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of fear?
Ans: Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South African soil In 1994.So, more than 140 countries of international leaders attended on the inauguration day to take possession with the new non-racial and democratic government.Also, they gathered to pay respect to the new government and to give some support.
It signified the triumph of justice, peace and human dignity with a non-racial and democratic government. It was also a common victory for overturned the apartheid system.
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 mentioned the statement, “Simply the sum of all those African patriots’ in his autobiography. He used the quoted statement to mean the sacrifices of his predecessors for their freedom and their country. Those former patriots had struggled to install freedom for their people and country. So, in the inauguration day, he realized that the victory had happened only for the sum of all the sacrifices and struggles of all the African patriots.
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 agree that the “depths of oppression” creates “heights of character”.
Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great patriots of South Africa who sacrificed their lives in the long freedom struggle. In that situation or unintended effect creates African Patriots with unimaginable heights of characters. Thus, he mentions the ‘depths of oppression’s that effect to create the ‘heights of character’.
16. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Ans :- During the boyhood days, Mandela meant the freedom on personal level like running, swimming, roast mealies and riding on the slow moving bulls. As a student, freedom meant to stay out at night, read everything and go everywhere as he pleased. But, after gaining experience, the freedom meant for everybody of his people for him. After that, ‘the hunger for freedom’ changed Mandela’s mind and he became a bold one.
17.How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Ans :- Mandela mentioned during his boyhood and as a student, freedoms meant only for himself and transitory freedoms. As he joined the African National Congress, his hunger freedom became greater for his country and his people. This transformed him a frightened young man to bold one. Then, he became a criminal. At that situation, his thinking turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home and forced a life-living man to live like a monk. Thus, Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ had changed his life.
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