Class 10 notes, Nelson Mandela

 

Nelson Mandela Long Walk to freedom

 

1.      At the beginning of his speech, Mandala mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does life mean by this? What is the glorious human achievement” he speaks of at the end.

Ans: In his speech the words mentioned “an extraordinary human disaster” means the discrimination, the unbearable torture of the white. He wanted to say how based on colour the discrimination went on years after years.

 By the word Glorious human achievement he meant about the victory for justice, peace and human dignity. A black person became the president of a country, in such a country where the black persons were not considered as human.

2.       What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Ans:  Mandela has finally won, he felt privileged to be the president of the country after three centuries of white rule. Long years ago South Africans were considered outlaws. He thanked the international leaders for coming to take possession with the people of the country as it a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.

1.      What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?

Ans: He set out an ideology to liberate all the people from the continuous bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering of the black people and discrimination based on colour, gender or origins.

Oral Comprehension Check:

1.      Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any put buildings in India that are made of sandstone?

Ans:  The ceremony took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria.

                    Some of the building in India that is made of sandstone:  The parliament House in New Delhi, Madras High Court in Chennai, The Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar etc.

2.      Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Ans: On this day there was the largest gathering of international leaders on South African’s land. It was for the achievement and celebration of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.

From the other view point we can say- “autumn day” also signifies the geographical scenario as South Africa lies in the southern hemisphere, it experiences autumn in the month of May. Maybe Mandela also meant the going away of discrimination, poverty, harness which his people faced. In this season trees shades their leaves to welcome new leaves same as that Mandela also welcome a new environment of freedom for his people.

 

3.      Why did the military general do? How has their attitude changed and why.

Ans: The highest general of South African defence force and police, their chests bedecked with ribbons and medals from days gone by, saluted him and pledged their loyalty.

      Their attitude changed because if he would look a few years back then he would get arrested now and the military force would never salute him. Now instead of arresting a black they saluted him.

 

4.      What were the two national anthems sung?

Ans: The two nation anthems were  “ Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika” by the whites and  “Die Stem” by the Blacks.

5.      How did Mandela describe the system of government in his country (i) in the first decade and (ii) in the final decade of the twentieth century?

Ans: In the first decade of the twentieth century the white skinned peoples of South Africa patched up their difference and erected a system of racial domination against the dark skinned people of their land. The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most  inhumane societies the world has ever known.

      In the final decade the previous systems no more overpowers,  it is replaced by one that gives reorganization to the rights of freedom to all the people without judging their colour or origin.

6.      What does Courage mean to Mandela?

Ans: Mandela says courage does not need a fearless heart; rather one should be able to conquer that fear.  

 

 

7.      What does he think is natural, to love to hate?

Ans:  For Mandela love come naturally then hate. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes naturally to the human heart.

8.      What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?

Ans:  Mandela mentioned that every man has two obligations- one obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children and the other obligations to his people, his community, his country. In a civil and humane society, each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities.  

9.      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 honorable freedom”?

Ans: Being free meant to him the fun to swim in the clear stream, run through his village, free to roast mealies under the stars and side the broad back of slow moving bulls. As a student he wanted freedom only for himself,  to stay out at night , read what he pleased and go where he choose and as a young man  he wanted to be free to achieving his potential,  earning of his own, marrying and having a family.

      But later he learnt that his boyhood freedom was just an illusion, he discovered as a young man that his freedom was already being taken away and not only he was not free but his whole community was not free. He later realized that it was not only about his individual freedom but of everyone who looked like him.

10.  Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/ Why not?

Ans:  No, Mandela thinks the oppressor is not free. For him a man who takes away other man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.

 

Thinking about the Text:

1.      Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?

Ans: There were a large number of international leaders attending the inauguration to show their respect, to confer glory and hope to the new born liberty. For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy only, but after decades there was a site of rainbow colours and the nation was ready for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government. It was a day of common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.

      It signifies a triumph of liberty to all the people from the continuous bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering and discrimination.

2.      What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African Patriots” who had gone before him?

Ans: By the quoted lines above Mandela wanted to show his gratitude to all the people who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom. Their suffering and courage can never be counted or repaid. He sees himself among the sum of all those African patriots who had struggled for freedom but they played a major role and their contribution should be mentioned. Mandela was pained that he didn’t get an opportunity to thank them and also they were not able to see what their sacrifices had wrought.

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 would agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”. Mandela illustrates it with an example of the African patriots who has sacrificed their life for the freedom of Blacks from the dominations of the whites.           From my point of view I can add example of the struggle with Indian has gone through during the freedom struggle from the hands of the British. 

4.      How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

Ans: Mandela as a boy understood that to be free means running in the fields near his mother’s hut, swimming in the clear stream, to roast mealies under the stars and ride the broad backs of slow- moving bulls. As long as he obeys his father and follows the customs of his tribe he is free.  But with the age going by he experienced that his boyhood freedom was just an illusion, the freedom was already taken away from him. In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being was punished and isolated. A man who tries to fulfil his duty to his people was inevitably ripped from his family and his home and was forced to live a life apart, a twilight existence of secrecy and rebellion. Form his experience he realised that it was not the fight of his own freedom, but it was the freedom of everyone who looked like him.

5.      How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?

Ans- After he realised that the blacks were not free, their freedom are obstructed in a lawful life. He felt the need of freedom not only for himself but also for his whole community. That is why he joined the African National Congress and that is when the hunger for his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his own people. His this hunger transformed him from a young man into a bold one, a law- abiding attorney to a criminal, a family loving husband into a man without a home and a life loving man to live like a monk. His this hunger made him the first Black President of South Africa after more than three centuries of white rule.