Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Important Questions Class 10 First Flight English
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. What was the national anthem for the blacks?
Answer
The National anthem for the blacks were ‘Die stem’.
Question 2. Who was sworn in as second deputy President?
Answer
Mr. de Klerk was sworn in as second deputy President in South Africa.
Question 3. What is the full name of Mr. Mandela?
Answer
The full name of Mr. Mandela is Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Question 4. What could the highest generals have done to the author earlier?
Answer
The highest generals could have arrested the author earlier.
Question 5. How old was the author at the time of the ‘Inauguration’?
Answer
The author was in his eighties at the time of the inauguration.
Question 6. Why did he join African National Congress?
Answer
He joined African National Congress to achieve freedom for all his people.
Question 7. What was Mandela not unmindful of?
Answer
Mandela was not unmindful of ‘Apartheid’.
Question 8. How was the new system different?
Answer
The new system was different because that system recognised the rights and freedom of all people.
Question 9. Who was sworn in as the first Deputy President of South Africa?
Answer
Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as the first Deputy President of South Africa.
Question 10. Where did the ceremony take place?
Answer
The ceremony took place in the Union Buildings of Pretoria.
Question 11. What was the occasion?
Answer
It was the occasion of installation of South Africa’s first democratic government.
Question 12. Who was Zenani?
Answer
Zenani was the daughter of Nelson Mandela.
Question 13. When was that system eradicated?
Answer
The system was overturned in the last decade of the twentieth century.
Question 14. What did Mandela realise?
Answer
Mandela realised that there was no freedom in South Africa for anyone who looked like him.
Question 15. What did he think about freedom?
Answer
He thought that freedom is indivisible.
Question 16. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer
Courage means to Mandela the triumph over fear.
Question 16. What must the people learn
Answer
The people must learn to hate. If they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.
Question 17. What promises did Mandela make to his people in the oath-taking speech?
Answer
In the oath-taking speech, Mandela promised that the country shall not again experience the oppression of one by another.
Question 18. Who took oath first in the ceremony?
Answer
In the ceremony, Mr de Klerk was first sworn in as second Deputy President.
Question 19. Who wrote the autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom”.
Answer
Nelson Mandela wrote his autobiography “Long Walk to Freedom”.
Question 20. What roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings?
Answer
South African jets, helicopters, and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over Union Buildings.
Question 21. What did the smoke trail of Impala jets symbolise?
Answer
The smoke trail of Impala jets symbolised South African flag.
Question 22. Why had world leaders come there?
Answer
The world leader had come there to pay their respect to the newly formed Government.
Question 23. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Answer
Mandela thanks the international leaders for their support for the people of South Africa.
Question 24. What was specific about that system?
Answer
The system was formed on the basis of one of the harshest,’ most inhumane societies the world has ever known.
Question 25. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Answer
Nelson Mandela thinks that to love is natural, because it comes naturally in our hearts.
Question 26. Where did the oath-taking ceremony take place?
Answer
The oath-taking ceremony took place in Union Buildings of Pretoria.
Question 27. What did Mandela want as a student?
Answer
Mandela wanted freedom for himself as a student.
Question 28. What according to Mandela, is ‘true-freedom’?
Answer
According to Mandela, true freedom means freedom not to be obstructed in leading a lawful life.
Question 29. Why was the Mandela pained?
Answer
Mandela was pained as the people who laid their lives for this day could not be present to see.
Question 30. What are two enemies of a person?
Answer
Prejudice and narrow-mindedness are the two enemies of a person.
Question 31. Who accompanied Mandela?
Answer
Mandela’s daughter Zenani accompanied him.
Question 32. What were the colours emitted by a chevron of Impala jets?
Answer
The colours emitted by a chevron of Impala jets were black, red, green, blue and gold.
Question 33. How many years did Nelson Mandela spend in prison.
Answer
Nelson Mandela Spent twenty seven years in prison.
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Why did inauguration ceremony take place in the amphitheatre formed by the Union Building in Pretoria?
Answer
It was the first democratic, non-racial government taking oath in South Africa. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world and thousands of the people of South Africa of all the races to make the day memorable. So, it took place in, the amphitheatre formed by the Union Building in Pretoria.
Question 2. What do you understand by Apartheid’?
Answer
‘Apartheid’ is a political system that divides people according to their race. In this system black-coloured people in South Africa were not free even to discharge their personal and social obligations of being parents, sons and husbands, etc.
Question 3. Why could men not fulfil their twin obligations?
Answer
In South Africa, if a coloured person tried to fulfil his obligations to his people, he is isolated and prevented from fulfilling his obligation to his family. So, men could not fulfil their twin obligations.
Question 4. Where did the ‘ceremonies’ take place? Why were the ceremonies so important?
Answer
The ‘ceremonies’ took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre in Pretoria in south Africa. The ceremonies were 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.
Question 5. How had the military general’s attitude changed, and why?
Answer
he military generals had witnessed the extraordinary courage and wisdom shown by Nelson Mandela in freeing South Africa from the bondage of the whites. The military generals, who would have arrested Mandela earlier, have now pledge their loyalty to him. This shows their change in attitude.
Question 6. How was Mandela overwhelmed with a sense of history?
Answer
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 saw that system crumbling. So, he was overwhelmed with a sense of history.
Question 7. What problems hinder each man to fulfil these obligations in South Africa?
Answer
Whenever a native South African tries to fulfil 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 fulfil these obligations.
Question 8. How did the policy of apartheid create a deep and lasting wound in South African blacks?
Answer
No doubt, the policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in South Africa and the blacks. It would take many years to recover from that profound hurt. The racial discrimination unleashed a reign of terror, oppression and brutality on the blacks of South Africa.
Question 9. Why was Mandela overwhelmed with a sense of history and what bad thing happened in the first decade of the 10th century?
Answer
Mandela is overwhelmed with a sense of history and remembers when the hated apartheid policy was introduced in South Africa. After the Boer war, the white people of South Africa patched up their differences. They set up a system of racial domination against the black people of their own race.
Question 10. What did the display of jets and military salute symbolise?
Answer
There was a spectacular show of South African jets and troop carriers over the Union Buildings. The highest generals of the military and police saluted President Mandela. It was a clear demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy, to a free and fairly elected government.
Question 11. What ideals did Mandela set out for the future of South Africa in his speech?
Answer
Mandela set out ideals for the future of South Africa because he had deep feelings for his country and countrymen. He pledged to liberate all the people from poverty, deprivation and discrimination.
Question 12. What was born out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster? Why should humanity be proud of it?
Answer
The apartheid regime was an extraordinary human disaster for the blacks of South Africa. The end of the apartheid laid down the foundation of a non-racial democratic regime in South Africa. This government based on human equality and dignity would be an ideal one of which all humanity will be proud.
Question 13. Where did the ceremonies take place? What had it been for decades?
Answer
The ceremonies of the inauguration of the new government took place at the lovely sandstone amphitheatre in the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The same place had remained the seat of white supremacy for decades.
Question 14. What did Nelson Mandela pledge when he was sworn in as President?
Answer
Nelson Mandela pledged to uphold the Constitution of his country and devote him to liberate his people from the bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations. There would be freedom and justice for all.
Question 15. When did Mandela’s hunger for self-turn into a hunger for freedom for all his people?
Answer
Mandela gradually realized that freedom was curtailed for those people who looked like he did, but not for the whites. Consequently, he joined the African National Congress, and that was when his “hunger for freedom” became a “greater hunger.”
Question 16. How does Mandela define courage and from where did he learn the meaning of courage?
Answer
Nelson Mandela learnt the meaning of courage from great patriots and comrades in the struggle. They risked their lives and stood up to attacks and tortures of the apartheid regime. He learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who doesn’t feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Question 17. Why was it impossible for a man of Mandela’s birth and colour to fulfil the twin obligations?
Answer
In South Africa, no black could fulfil the twin obligations. If a black who tried to live as a human being was punished and isolated. A person who tried to fulfil his duty to his people was separated from his family and was forced to live in secrecy and rebellion.
Question 18. 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
In the first decade of the 20th century, the whites erected a system of racial discrimination against the blacks. They set up the most inhumane system of apartheid where the blacks were denied the fundamental right of freedom. In the last decade of the twentieth century, the system was overturned. The policy of apartheid was uprooted from the land and a new non-racial democratic government was installed to ensure equal rights and freedom to all the people of South Africa.
Question 19. When and how did Mandela’s hunger for his own freedom becomes the greater hunger for the freedom of his people?
Answer
Mandela realised that not only was he not free, but his people were not free. When he joined the African National Congress, then his hunger for his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people.
Question 20. Freedom is “indivisible”, said Mandela. How were the chains on anyone were the chains on all of his people?
Answer
Mandela thought that he is not more virtuous than the others. He thought that “freedom is indivisible”. The chains on any one of his people were chains on all of them. The chains on all of his people were the chains on him.
Question 21. What unintended effect was produced by decades of oppression?
Answer
The decades of oppression made him a strong person. He set out the goal to liberate the people of South Africa from continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering and other discrimination. He decided to have freedom and justice for all.
Question 22. Why is 10th May 1994 important for South Africa?
Answer
10th May 1994 is important for South Africa because first democratic non-racial government elections were held on this day in the country. Nelson Mandela became the first black president of the country.
Question 23. What did Nelson Mandela remember on the day of the Inaugural Ceremony?
Answer
He remembered the history — the birth Apartheid, its effect on his people and long fight for freedom. He remembered the freedom fighters that suffered and sacrificed for freedom. He also remembered what freedom meant to him at different stages of life and his hunger for freedom.
Question 24. How was that site a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations?
Answer
The end of the apartheid regime was a common victory for peace, justice and human dignity. Leaders and dignitaries of all nations irrespective of their colour, race and religion had gathered there to celebrate that victory. So, the site presented a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations.
Question 25. Who was given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on their own soil?
Answer: Those who were outlaws not so long ago were given the rare privilege. They had the privilege of hosting and welcoming nations of the world on their soul. The blacks were no more outlaws now but enjoyed equality and human dignity.
Question 26. Why did the same generals salute Mandela who would have arrested him not so many years ago?
Answer
In the apartheid regime, Nelson Mandela was a rebel and was in prison for many years. After the end of the apartheid, he was the head of the non-racial democratically elected government of South Africa. The same generals who would have put him in prison not so long ago were obliged to salute the president of the new Republic of South Africa.
Question 27. Why was the apartheid regime in South Africa was one of the harshest and most inhuman systems in the world?
Answer
The apartheid regime was based on the racial discrimination and exploitation of blacks in South Africa. The basic or fundamental rights were only for the whites and the blacks were deprived of these freedoms. Oppression, torture and exploitation of the blacks were common features of the apartheid regime.
Question 28. How did the policy of apartheid and deep oppression produce patriots of extraordinary, courage, wisdom and generosity?
Answer
The policy of apartheid unleashed a reign of terror and oppression on the black people but they could not break their resolution and determination. The deep oppression produced patriot of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity. It produced thousands of Tambos, Sisulus, Sadoos, Fischer’s and Sobukwes of their time.
Question 29. Whose names were particularly taken by Mandela in the inauguration ceremony?
Answer
In the inauguration ceremony, Mandela announced the names of Oliver Tamboo, Walter Sisulus, Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo, Bram Fisher and Robert Sobukwes. These men were of extraordinary courage and wisdom.
Question 30. How can people be taught to love? Which comes naturally to the human heart — love or hate?
Answer
No one is born hating another person because of his colour or race. People are taught to hate. And if they learn to hate, they can be taught to love. Love comes more naturally to the human heart than hatred.
Question 31. Was Mandela born with a hunger to be free? What did freedom mean to him in childhood?
Answer
Nelson Mandela was not born with a hunger to be free. In childhood, freedom has a very limited concept. He felt that he was free to run in the fields, free to swim in the stream near his village and ride the broad backs of slow-moving bulls. As long as he obeyed his father and the customs of his life, he was a free man.
Question 32. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Answer
They obey their masters. They acted under the orders of the whites so far. Today they had shown their loyalty to the democracy. Earlier they arrested Mandela. Today they showed their loyalty to him by saluting him. There was a change in system. The newly elected non-racial democratic government had changed their (military generals) attitude. Now they were not the servants of the whites. They were now in the service of their own people.
Question 33. What, according to Mandela, is ‘true freedom’?
Answer
When Mandela was a boy, freedom for him meant to run freely in the fields and to swim in the streams. As a young man, he wanted basic and honourable freedoms, eg. to earn his living, too many and to have a family. According to Mandela, true freedom means freedom not to be obstructed in leading a lawful life.
Question 34. What were the two anthems sung on the day of oath-taking ceremony?
Answer
On the day of oath-taking ceremony, the two anthems were sung. ‘Nkosi Sikelel-i-Afrika’ was for the whites and ‘Die stem’ was for the blacks. ‘Die stem’ was the old anthem of the country.
Question 35. Why did Nelson Mandela feel that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity and hence, both of them must be liberated?
Answer
Nelson Mandela rightly believes that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity. A man who takes away another’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred. He is locked behind the bars of prejudice and hate. A person can never be free if his freedom is taken away. Hence, the oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.
Question 36. What pained Nelson Mandela on becoming the President of South Africa?
Answer
Nelson Mandela was sad for not being able to thank those African patriots who had fought for independence and sacrificed their lives for it. This pained him that they were not able to see what their sacrifices had brought.
Question 37. What ideals does Mandela set out for the future of South Africa in his speech?
Answer
The ideal Mandela set out for the future of South Africa in his speech was to liberate the people of South Africa from continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations.
Question 38. What did the generals and police officers do on that day?
Answer
The generals and police officers were also there. They were in their uniform. They had ribbons and medals on their chests. They saluted Mandela with great respect. Mandela was the first black President of South Africa. Although, many years ago, they might have arrested him.
Question 39. Why was the 10th of May, 1994 a red-letter day in the history of South Africa
Answer
10th of May 1994 was a red-letter day in the history of South Africa. It was the day when the hated regime of apartheid came to an end. A new democratically elected non-racial government under Nelson Mandela was to be sworn in. Many international leaders and dignitaries came to pay their respect to the new government.
Question 40. Who were the persons sworn in on the 10th of May? What did Mandela pledge to obey?
Answer
Mr. de Klerk was first sworn in as second Deputy President. Then Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as first Deputy President. Then, in the end, Mr. Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the President of the Republic of South Africa. He pledged to obey and uphold the constitution and devote himself to the well being of the Republic and its people.
Question 41. After achieving political emancipation what does Mandela want to do in South Africa?
Answer
South Africa and the blacks have achieved their political emancipation. Mandela pledges to liberate his people from the bondage of poverty, want, suffering, gender and other discriminations. South Africa will never ever experience the oppression of one by another. He wishes the reign of freedom will never die in South Africa.
Question 42. What is the meaning of courage to Mandela?
Answer
According to Mandela, courage was not the absence of fear, but triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Mandela learned the true meaning of courage from his comrades in the struggle.
Question 43. What did the playing of two national anthems symbolise?
Answer
On the historic day of the inauguration ceremony of the Republic of South Africa, two national anthems were played. The whites song `Nkosi Sikelel-i-Africa’ and the black sang ‘Die Stem’. Neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem they once despised. They would soon know the words by heart.
Question 44. Why does Nelson Mandela call himself simply the sum of those African patriots who had gone before him?
Answer
Nelson Mandela gratefully acknowledges the sacrifices of thousands of his people who fought against the apartheid regime. Their suffering and courage can never be cemented or repaid. Mandela humbly believes that he was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before him.
Question 45. How did South African jets, helicopters and troops demonstrate?
Answer
It was a very special day for all. South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation. They flew over the Union Buildings. It was a show of military’s loyalty to the country and its democracy.
Question 46. What is the greatest wealth of a country according to Nelson Mandela?
Answer
South Africa is rich in minerals and gems. But minerals and gems are not the greatest wealth of a nation. Mandela thinks that the greatest and real wealth of a nation is its people. They are finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
Question 47. What did Mandela think about the oppressor and the oppressed?
Answer
Mandela thought about the oppressor and the oppressed that both are robbed equally. A mail who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred. In the same way, if his freedom is taken away, they both are without freedom. So both of them must be liberated.
Question 48. What are the twin obligations every man has in life?
Answer
Mandela thinks that every man has twin obligations in life. The first is his obligation to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children. The second duty is his duty to his people, his community and his country. Each man has to fulfil these two obligations according to his position and abilities.
Question 49. What were the transitory freedoms that Nelson Mandela yearned for as a young man? Why did he feel that his boyhood freedom was an illusion?
Answer
Nelson Mandela felt that his boyhood freedom was an illusion. His freedom had already been taken from him. Then he began to hunger for it. At first, he wished the transitory freedoms of staying out. Later on, he yearned for basic needs of earning, marrying and having a family.
Question 50. What did Mandela say about the future of the country in his speech?
Answer
In his speech, Nelson Mandela said, “I see a bright future of the country. Now no one will experience the oppression by another. It will make much progress. All people shall be free to do what they like.”
Question 51. What animated Mandela’s life and transformed a frightened young lawyer into a bold criminal?
Answer
It was the desire for the freedom of his people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that animated his life. It transformed a frightened young man into a bold one. It drove a law-abiding attorney to be a criminal. It turned a family loving husband to live like a monk.
Question 52. How did ‘hunger for freedom’ change Mandela’s life?
Answer
In the beginning of his life, Mandela was not aware about freedom. Later, Mandela found that his freedom had been taken away from him. As a student, he wanted freedom only for himself but slowly his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people. This changed him completely.
Question 53. What are the ‘twin obligations’ referred to by Nelson Mandela?
Answer
According to Nelson Mandela, every man has two obligations in life. The first obligation is to his family, to his parents, wife and children. Secondly, he has an obligation to his country, people, and community.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Summarise the chapter ‘Nelson Mandela -Long walk to Freedom.
Answer
The chapter was taken from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography ‘Long Walk to Freedom. Nelson Mandela spoke about a historic occasion, ‘the inauguration’ after becoming the first Black President of South Africa. The inauguration ceremony took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria today. It was attended by politician and dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world. After a long period of White domination, South Africa had become a democratic republic. Mandela called it a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity. He also called it a glorious human achievement. He pledged to liberate all his people from the continuing bondage of poverty, derivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. He fought for the freedom of his people. The British rulers of South Africa followed the policy of apartheid, which discriminated the Black from the White people. Mandela called it an extra ordinary human disaster. He believed, the deeper the oppression, the higher the character. From his comrades he learned that courage meant not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. According to him every man had twin obligations- obligations to his family and obligation to his people, his country. He found no difference between the oppressor and the oppressed. He called both of them prisoners. One was imprisoned behind the bars; the other was imprisoned behind bars of hatred. He was an enthusiastic young boy who wanted to enjoy freedom. He wished the sun of freedom to shine on his country and countrymen forever.
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
Freedom had different meanings for Mandela at different stages. As a boy, freedom for him meant to run freely in the fields and to swim in the stream. As a student he wanted freedom to stay out at nights, to read what he liked, later he realised that this freedom was an illusion. He found that all the black brothers and sisters were in chains. There was no freedom for a respectful life. Their freedom was curtailed at every stage. He wanted the basic and honourable freedom of achieving his potential of earning his keep, of marrying and having a family. He believed that freedom is indivisible. Everyone has to be free.
Question 3. What does Nelson Mandela refer to as “an extraordinary human disaster”?
Answer
Nelson Mandela refers to the apartheid policy of the white race against the black people as “an extraordinary human disaster”. White people snatched freedom from the coloured people of South Africa to whom the country belonged. The black people were subjected to oppression for long. They were not even allowed to discharge their obligations to their own families, community and their country. White people had no compassion for them and oppressed their own people and put them in prison. If they had some freedom, it was curtailed. The black people lived the life of a slave.
Question 4. Describe the views of Mandela for the black people who fought and sacrificed their likes for the country’s political independence?
Answer
Mandela always said that the political freedom was the result of sacrifices of thousands of the black people who fought for that. He said that it could not be repaid. He thought himself as the sum of all of those African patriots. He regretted that he could not thank them. He cursed the policy of apartheid that wounded the people of his country, which would take centuries to heal. He also said that the oppression and brutality of the white people produced great freedom fighters like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Luthuli, Dadoo, Fischer, Sobukwe and many more. They were the men of courage, wisdom and large heartedness. They really suffered a lot for the political freedom of the country.
Question 5. Describe the value of freedom for the human beings and how it is important for the growth of civilisation and humanism as described in the lesson ‘Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’.
Answer
Everybody whether human or other creatures wants to live free as freedom is natural to all living beings. The value of freedom is better known to that human being who has not tasted it till he gets it. A person who is chained with the limits and not allowed to perform his duties freely, values freedom more than anyone else. For instance the value of freedom is known better to Mandela who remained behind the bars most of his life. Think about a bird or animal which is caged as they have the habit of living with full freedom but in the cage they are not free and their conditions are very pitiable. Similarly, life becomes a hell if we are deprived of freedom. There is no growth of civilisation as it grows only when one has freedom. Similarly, humanism grows in the atmosphere of freedom.
Question 6. What differences came in Mandela’s opinion about the meaning of freedom, when he was a little boy and w hen he became young?
Answer
There were many differences in Mandela’s opinion about the meaning of freedom, when he was a little boy and when he became young. While he was a little boy, the meaning of freedom was to run in the fields and to swim in the streams.When he became young, he realised that his freedom was an illusion. Now he had realised that not only his freedom, but also others freedom had been seized. So he felt a hunger for freedom now. He wanted that all the people of his country should live with self-respect. They must do what they liked.
Question 7. “I was not born with a hunger to be free.” What was the result of his hunger for freedom?
Answer
When Nelson Mandela was a young boy, he didn’t know anything about freedom. His hunger for freedom began when he saw his people being punished under the policy of apartheid. It was clear to him that his boyhood freedom was just an illusion. Then he had come to know that he and his countrymen had no freedom.
They could not say anything freely. Now Mandela’s hunger for freedom had increased. Although, as a student, he wanted freedom only for himself but after growing up, he started to think maturely about the freedom. He saw that in South Africa everybody’s freedom was curtailed. Thus the result of his hunger for freedom was the freedom of the country.
Question 8. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?
Answer
Mandela’s hunger for freedom forced him to join African National Congress to eradicate the system of apartheid. Before him thousands of the patriots had sacrificed their lives.
Mandela does not take the entire credit. He calls himself simply the sum of all those African patriots who had laid the path towards the achievement of success. He continued the movement started by them. He was only a part of that movement.
Question 9. What Mandela think about the patriots? Can they be repaid?
Answer
Nelson Mandela thinks that the freedom and democratic government have all come only due to the great sacrifices of thousands of patriots. They were those men who did not care about their lives and died for their people and country. They can’t be repaid. He thinks himself the sum of all those who had sacrificed their lives. Now he regrets that he was not able to thank them. According to Mandela, the policy of apartheid greatly wounded the people. It was hard to recover. It would take much time. These great patriots were Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Luthuli, Dadoo, Fischer, Sobukwe, etc.
Question 10. Discuss the scene of the inauguration ceremony? Who took oath in the ceremony? Why is the inauguration called a historic occasion for South Africa?
Answer
It was the bright and clear day of 10th May, 1994. The inauguration ceremony took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria. The most famous world leaders and representatives gathered there. The generals and police officers were also there. They had medals and ribbons on their chests. South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. First of all Mr. de Klerk, then Thabo Mbeki and then Nelson Mandela took the oath.
Question 11. Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech used these two words ‘an extraordinary human disaster’ and so ‘glorious human achievement’. What did he mean by that?
Answer
The extraordinary disaster was the rule of Apartheid in South Africa. This disaster of racial discrimination brought oppression, deprivation, cruelty and suffering for the black people of South Africa. Blacks were not allowed to visit the places reserved for the whites. They led a life of humiliation.
At last on 10 May 1994, after more than three centuries of white rule, Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress Party won the elections. Nelson Mandela became the first black President of South Africa.
Question 12. What ideas does Mandela have about courage, love and hate?
Answer
According to Mandela, he learnt the meaning of courage from his comrades. They struggled very hard for the freedom of the country. They did not care for their lives. They sacrificed everything for their people and country. They did not break before the brutality of the oppressors. They showed their full strength. So Mandela learned courage from them. To him, courage means not the absence of fear but the victory over it. The brave man is one who conquers fear. No man is born hating another man due to colour or religion. Love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate. According to Mandela, both the oppressor and the oppressed are the prisoners of hatred. No one can become happy after taking away other’s freedom.
Question 13. What are two obligations that Mandela described in this lesson? What was the reason that he was not able to fulfil those obligations?
Answer
In the lesson, Mandela described two obligations that everyone had to perform.
One obligation is for the family, children and wife and second obligation is for the country and community. But due to apartheid policy in South Africa, Mandela was not able to fulfil his obligation. Although men could fulfil these obligations according to their capacities and abilities. But in South Africa it was impossible for the blacks. When Mandela tried to fulfil them for his family, he was cut off from his family. He was forced to live the life of separation. When he tried to serve his country, he was put into prison. Thus, Mandela was not able to fulfil his obligations.
Question 14. India is a country of unity in diversity—there are different languages, traditions, dresses, castes and cultures. Do you find any sort of discrimination in India?
Answer
India is a very big country. It has different languages, traditions, dresses, castes and cultures. Even then India has unity in diversity. Its Constitution gives equality to every citizen. There is no place for colour prejudice in it. In India everyone has a right to get education to appear in competitions and to live at any place. There is no discrimination among Indians on the basis of caste, creed and colour. Indians can live in any state and they can marry in any caste. There is no colour discrimination in India.
Question 15. What were the difficulties faced by Nelson Mandela in achieving freedom for his people?
Answer
In his endeavour to get freedom for his countrymen from the rule of Apartheid, Nelson Mandela had to undergo many hardships and suffered a lot. This great patriot had to sacrifice the comfort of his home and loving family. He was declared an outlaw for demanding equality for all his fellow black Africans. He was punished, isolated and put into jail. He and his comrades were oppressed and tortured beyond tolerance. He suffered hunger, oppression and injustice but kept the flame of independence burning in his heart. His undaunted courage, persistent struggle and unparallel sacrifice bore fruit and South Africa got freedom from the rule of Apartheid on 10 May 1994.
Question 16. What does courage mean to Mandela? How did he learn the meaning of courage? What do you get about courage, love and hate from this chapter?
Answer
In this chapter, Nelson Mandela says that he learnt the meaning of courage from the comrades. They were freedom fighters. They did not care about their lives. He had seen those people who had sacrificed their life for the country.
He learnt that courage was not the absence of fear, but triumph over it. In other words, the brave man is one who conquers fear. In Mandela’s opinion, no man is born to hate another man on the basis of skin, colour or religion. Love comes more naturally to the human heart than from its opposite. Both the oppressor and the oppressed are the prisoners of hatred. They take away each other’s freedom.
Question 17. 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
Yes, it is true that the depths of oppression create heights of character. Nelson Mandela illustrated this argument by giving examples of some people of extraordinary courage and wisdom. This period of struggle to end apartheid produced people like Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, Bram Fischers and so on in the soil, of South Africa. Nelson Mandela himself was a product of the same conditions. The hunger for freedom changed his life. The history of India is full of such characters. Mangal Pandey, Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai and so on were the people of extraordinary courage produced by the depth of oppression in India.
Question 18. The inauguration ceremony symbolised a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity against the most hated apartheid regime based on racial discrimination. Comment.
Answer
The inauguration ceremony of the installation of a democratically elected government in South Africa was of great historical importance. After the Boer war, the white ‘peoples’, patched up their differences. They imposed the domination of the whites through the apartheid based on racial discrimination. The inauguration ceremony attracted worldwide recognition. International leaders and dignitaries from more than 140 countries assembled at the amphitheatre in the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The whole world hailed it as a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity. The grand struggle of the black patriots against the most hated regime of apartheid succeeded. There was a spectacular display of jets and the salute by the bedecked generals with ribbons to President Mandela. It showed the military’s loyalty to democracy. The playing of the two national anthems symbolised a new regime based on equality irrespective of race and colour.
Question 19. What were Mandela’s opinions about the first and last decades of the twentieth century?
Why does he say on the day of the inauguration that he was overwhelmed with a sense of history? .
Answer
On the day of the inauguration, the speaker’s mind went back to history. He remembered the first decade, when the whites ruled over South Africa and they made a discrimination against the blacks. They built a system of racial discrimination against the blacks. Their behaviour was full of cruelty. They meted out inhuman treatment to the blacks. But now in the last decade of this century, this cruel system was overturned. Now a new system replaced it. It was the first democratic government of South Africa. Now there will be no discrimination on the basis of colour.
That is why, on the day of the inauguration, he was overwhelmed with a sense of history.
Question 20. What ideas did we get about freedom, the oppressor and the oppressed from this lesson? How did Nelson Mandela get hunger for freedom?
Answer
According to Mandela, both the oppressor and the oppressed need freedom. Not only the oppressed is without freedom, but also the oppressor. He is the prisoner of hatred, only his level of thinking encourages him to snatch others freedom. It is all due to his narrow mindedness. It is an obvious idea that the oppressed has no freedom. Nelson Mandela had hunger for freedom, when he knew that his freedom had been snatched. His idea for freedom was an illusion. He saw that his brothers and sisters were without freedom. His hunger for freedom encouraged him to join the African National Congress.
Question 21. Nelson Mandela was the hero of South Africa’s freedom movement. Comment.
Answer
Nelson Mandela was a true hero of South Africa’s freedom movement. His conscience encouraged him to demand a respectful and unique life for all. His soul cleared him about the twin obligations for everyone. He was always determined to fulfil them. He performed his obligations for his family as well as for his community. Although he was prevented from doing so, yet he did not stop and got discouraged.
Question 22. Why does Mandela say that freedom is indivisible? How are the oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity?
Answer
Nelson Mandela believes that freedom is indivisible. His hunger for his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people. He couldn’t live his life with dignity and self-respect if his own people were bound in chains. The chains on any one of his people were the chains on all of them. The chains on all of his people were the chains on him. Mandela realised that the oppressor must be liberated as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred, prejudice and narrow mindedness. He is not truly free if he is taking away someone else’s freedom. Surely, he is not free when his freedom is taken away from him. Thus the oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.
Question 23. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Answer
A large number of international leaders attended the installation ceremony of first democratic non- racial government in South Africa. It was the end of apartheid in South Africa. It was a common victory for justice, for peace and for human dignity. The international community supported the cause of South Africa. It signified the triumph of humanity against oppression, fear and discrimination. Both the oppressor and the oppressed were liberated.
Question 24. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer
Nelson Mandela was not born with a hunger to be free. With time and experience he discovered that the boyhood freedom was only an illusion. He found that as a young mem his freedom had already been taken away from him. His people and community were denied the fundamental right of living a dignified life.
This made him hungry for freedom. Ha joined the African National Congress. This desire for the freedom transformed him from a frightened young man into bold one, a law-abiding person to a criminal, a family-loving person to a man without a home. This desire forced a life-loving man to live the life of a monk.
Question 25. Draw a character-sketch of Nelson Mandela highlighting his struggle against the apartheid regime for the human rights of his people.
Answer
Nelson Mandela was the tallest of all the black heroes who waged a relentless fight against the racial-regime in South Africa. He suffered untold sufferings and tortures in prison but led the country to install the first democratically elected government in South Africa. Nelson Mandela was not born with a hunger to be free. Later on, he realised that his boyhood freedom was an illusion. He also realised his concept of freedom in his youth was also ‘transitory’ and was limited to his personal freedom.
Only when he joined the African National Congress, his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people. Only then, a frightened young lawyer was transformed into a bold `criminal’. A family-loving husband was forced to lead the life of a monk in secrecy. Nelson Mandela is grateful in acknowledging the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of black heroes for the freedom of their people. Modestly, he realises that freedom is indivisible. He realised that he could not lead a free and honourable life if his people were in chains.
Nelson Mandela had a wider vision of humanity. For him, freedom was comprehensive and couldn’t be divided. It shows his greatness that both the oppressor and the oppressed should be liberated. Both of them alike are robbed of their humanity.
Question 26. Which twin obligations does Nelson Mandela mention in the lesson? Why were he and the rest of blacks able to fulfil those obligations?
Answer
Nelson Mandela that every man has twin obligations in life. The first obligation of a man is to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children. He has another obligation also. He has an obligation to his people, his community and his country. Every man is to do his duty according to his situation and strength.
But in South Africa, it was impossible for a man like Mandela or other blacks to fulfil those obligations. If a man tried to live as a human being, he was punished and isolated. If any person in South Africa tried to do his duty to his people, he was forcefully separated from his family and his home. He was forced to lead a life of secrecy and rebellion. Nelson Mandela placed his people above his family. In attempting to serve his people, he was prevented from fulfilling his obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband.