Unit 2 Nelson Mandela’s long walk to freedom
Question 1
Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Answer 1
The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre. It was formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. These are: the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, North and South Blocks, Parliament House etc.
Question 2
Can you say how 10 May is an âautumn dayâ in South Africa?
Answer 2
It is because of the weather and the dawning of freedom after about 300 years of white rule. It is also important because of the freedom.
Question 3
At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions âan extraordinary human disaster.â What does he mean by this? What is the âglorious ⌠human achievementâ he speaks of at the end?
Answer 3
By this he means the white rule in South Africa over the blacks. It lasted very long. It was really a disaster of white men ruling over the black. âThe gloriousâŚhuman achievementâ is getting political independence from the white rule by the black natives.
Question 4
What does Mandela thank the international leaders for
Answer 4
He thanks the international leaders for coming to take possession with the native people of South Africa. It is a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.
Question 5
What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Answer 5
He sets out the ideals of liberating his people from various bondages. These are of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations.
Question 6
What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Answer 6
The military generals discharge their duties. They owe allegiance to their country. They do their duties as per the military provisions. Their attitude has now changed. They care more for personal gains than their true duties as per the defence rules.
Question 7
Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer 7
Two national anthems were sung as there were two main communities or races. One was of the whites and the other of the blacks. Secondly, the anthem of the whites was the anthem of the old republic.
Question 8
How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country (i) in 1the first decade, and (ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?
Answer 8
- In the first decade of the twentieth century the whites of South Africa patched up their differences. They built a system of racial domination against the black people of their own land.
- In the last decade their system had been overturned forever. It was replaced by another. It recognised the rights and freedoms of all people regardless of their skin colour.
Question 9
What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer 9
By courage Mandela means not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
Question 10
Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Answer 10
He thinks that love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite hate.
Question 11
What âtwin obligationsâ does Mandela mention?
Answer 11
He mentions the twin obligations. One, obligations to his family, his parents, his wife and children. Second, obligations to his people, his community and his country.
Question 12:
What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student? How does he contrast these âtransitory freedomsâ with âthe basic and honourable freedomsâ?
Answer 12:
Like any other boy or student, 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 adultâs 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 13:
Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Answer 13:
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.
# Thinking about the text:
Question 14:
Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration?
Answer 14:
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 15:
What does Mandela mean when he says he is âsimply the sum of all those African patriotsâ, who had gone before him?
Answer 15:
By saying that âhe is simply the sum of all those African patriotsâ, 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 16:
Would you agree that the âdepths of oppressionâ create âheights of characterâ? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?
Answer 16:
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, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Chandra Shekhar Azad, 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 17:
How did Mandelaâs understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Answer 17:
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 18:
How did Mandelaâs âhunger for freedomâ change his life?
Answer 18:
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 fearful man 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.
