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Long Walk To Freedom - Notes
Long Walk To Freedom - Notes
Nelson Mandela was a great hero who gave freedom to the blacks in South Africa. He was born on 18 July 1918 in
the village of Mvezo in Umtata, then a part of South Africa’s Cape province. He fought against the ‘apartheid’ regime
of South Africa which believed in racialism. He spent more than thirty years in South Africa’s prisons. He became
the first Black President of South Africa when his parts came to power in democratic elections in 1994. This
passage forms a part of the autobiography of Nelson Mandela titled Long Walk to Freedom. It is a saga of the
glorious struggle that the Blacks of South Africa waged against the apartheid regime to gain freedom.
Theme of the Story
The lesson pays tribute to those black heroes and patriots who waged a relentless struggle against the apartheid or
the racist regime of South Africa. Here we find a description of the inauguration ceremony held in the Union
Buildings attended by politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries.
Nelson Mandela gives a message of peace and unity of mankind. He foresees a new regime which will be based on
the equality of men and women. He hopes that in the new regime there will be no exploitation of man by man.
There will be no room for racialism and segregation in the new order.
Value Points of the Story
1. The inauguration ceremony of the first non-racial government was held in the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
2. Politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries attended the ceremony.
3. Nelson Mandela was then sworn-in as the President of the Republic of South Africa.
4. For decades South Africa had been the seat for white supremacy.
5. The blacks were considered as outlaws.
6. Their victory over ‘apartheid’ was a common victory for justice, peace and freedom.
7. Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history.
8. The society based on racial discrimination was the harshest and most inhuman society in the world.
9. The decades of oppression and exploitation of the blacks produced heroes like Tambo’s, Sisulu and others in
South Africa.
10. Mandela learned the meaning of courage from such brave comrades who were ready to sacrifice their lives
for the freedom of their people.
11. Every man has twin responsibilities —responsibilities towards his family and for his people and country.
12. If any black tried to live like a free human being, he was punished and isolated from his family and
community.
13. Mandela realised that not only he but his brothers and sisters were deprived of freedom.
14. His desire for the freedom and dignity of his people made him a rebel.
15. He realised that freedom is indivisible.
Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:
1. It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force but a demonstration of the military’s
loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected. Only moments before,
the highest generals of the South African defence force and police, their chests bedecked with ribbons and
medals from days gone by, saluted me and pledged their loyalty.
(a) What type of government was chosen in South Africa?
(b) How was it chosen?
(c) What do the military generals do?
(d) How has their attitude changed and why?
Ans. (a) A democratic government was chosen in South Africa.
(b) It was chosen through free and fair elections.
(c) The military generals saluted and pledged their loyalty in front of Mr Mandela.
(d) A few years ago, military generals had arrested Mr Mandela. Their attitude had changed because the country
had got freedom from the racial dominations.
2. It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that
animated my life that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one that drove a law-abiding
attorney to become a criminal.
(a) What animated the narrator’s/author’s life?
(b) Who is the law-abiding attorney here?
(c) How did `he’ become a criminal?
(d) When and what transformation took place in Mandela?
Ans. (a) The desire for the freedom of his people’s life changed his life.
(b) Nelson Mandela
(c) `He’ became a criminal according to the then prevalent laws because he was fighting for his people’s freedom.
(d) It was his desire for freedom for all that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one and a law-abiding
attorney into a criminal.
3. The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by Union Buildings in Pretoria.
For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of
different colours and nations for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.
(a) Which ceremonies are referred to here?
(b) What does `rainbow gathering mean?
(c) Who led the first non-racial government?
(d) Where did the ceremonies take place?
Ans. (a) Installation of the non-racial government.
(b) Gathering of people from different nations.
(c) Nelson Mandela
(d) The ceremonies took place in the lonely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
4. On that lovely autumn day, I was accompanied by my daughter Zenani. On the podium, Mr. de Klerk was
first sworn in as Second Deputy President. Then Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as First Deputy President.
When it was my turn, I pledged to obey and uphold the Constitution and to devote myself to the well-being
of its people.
(a) Who is the speaker of these lines?
(b) What oath did the speaker take?
(c) In which capacity did the speaker take the oath?
(d) Where did the oath taking ceremony take place?
Ans. (a) Nelson Mandela.
(b) To obey and uphold the constitution and to devote himself to the well-being of the South Africans.
(c) As the President of South Africa
(d) The oath-taking ceremony took place in the sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
5. Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of
one by another.
The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.
(a) What was the wish for the country?
(b) What does the expression — ‘the sun shall never set here’ — imply?
(c) Which experience of oppression is referred to here?
(d) What is this beautiful land the speaker refers to?
Ans. (a) To remain free for ever and no oppressor to rule on them.
(b) That the sun of liberty shall never set and their country should enjoy freedom.
(c) The black is being oppressed by the white people.
(d) South Africa
6. A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular array of South African jets, helicopters
and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings.
(a) What does the expression — ‘a spectacular array’ mean?
(b) Why did the spectators lift their eyes in awe?
(c) What was the occasion of display?
(d) Why did the inauguration ceremony take place in the amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings?
Ans. (a) A colourful, attractive and impressive display of series (of aircraft).
(b) The display was difficult but perfect.
(c) This was the inaugural ceremony of oath taking by the newly elected non-racial South African democratic
government.
(d) For decades, this had been the seat of white supremacy. Black people were never allowed in that area.
Character Sketch
Nelson Mandela: 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. He is grateful in acknowledging the unimaginable
sacrifices of thousands of black heroes for the freedom of their people. He had a wider vision of humanity. For him,
freedom was comprehensive and couldn’t be divided.
Important Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions- to be answered in about 100 -150 words each
1. Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech used these two words ‘an extraordinary human disaster’ and so
‘glorious a human achievement’. What did he mean by that?
Ans. 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. The coming into power
of non-racial government was a glorious human achievement.
2. What were the difficulties faced by Nelson Mandela in achieving freedom for his people?
Ans. 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.
3. Give the character-sketch of Nelson Mandela.
Ans. Nelson Mandela is a great patriot. He loves his country and countrymen. For him, the greatest wealth of South
Africa is her people.
He has a sacrificing nature. He sacrificed his life of comfort, family and home and plunged into the struggle for
freedom. He believes in equality for all. He opposed the rule of Apartheid for which he was declared an outlaw. He
was oppressed and tortured in jail for several years but he never broke. It shows his traits of tolerance, courage
and perseverance.
4. What different concepts of freedom did Mandela have at different stages of his life?
Or
How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Ans. Mandela had different concepts of freedom at different stages of life. As a boy, he had an illusion about
freedom. He thought he was born free. As long he obeyed his elders he had the freedom to run in the fields swim in
the stream and ride on the back of bulls.
As a student he cared for transitory freedom — freedom to stay out at night, read the books of his choice and go
where he liked.
When he became a young man he yearned for basic and honourable freedoms of achieving his potential, earning
his keep, marrying, having a family and living a lawful life.
Slowly his concept of freedom widened especially when he joined the African National Congress. He realized that
true freedom is not individual freedom but freedom for all.
5. 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.
Ans. 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.
6. Why was Nelson Mandela overwhelmed with a sense of history? Give the birth and finally the burial of
the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Ans. On the day of the inauguration of the Republic, Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history. It
was quite natural for a man who taught against the hated regime for decades. After the Boer war, the white groups
patched up their differences. They imposed the domination of the whites over the majority population of South
Africa. The birth of the apartheid was the birth of one of the harshest and inhumane regimes in the world. It was
based on racial discrimination and oppression. Deep oppression and atrocities produced thousands of black
patriots who were ready to sacrifice their lives for the freedom of their fellow men. The determined struggle of
these black heroes ended in their victory. A democratically elected government headed by President Nelson
Mandela was installed on the 10th of May, 1994.
7. The apartheid regime, the whites created in South Africa, was one of the harshest and most inhumane
societies the world has ever known. Elucidate.
Ans. The apartheid regime symbolised oppression, exploitation and an extraordinary human disaster. The white
regime was based on racial discrimination. The blacks in South Africa were deprived of their rights, equality and
human dignity. After the Boer war, the white groups in South Africa patched up their differences. They imposed a
system of racial discrimination against the black people of their own land. It was one of the harshest and most
inhumane regimes the world has ever known. The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in South
Africa and its people. Thousands of black patriots sacrificed their lives fighting for the rights and freedom of their
people. Thousands of Tambos, Sisulus, Dads, Fishers and Sobukwes suffered deep oppression and tortures but
never gave up their cause. Ultimately, their struggles and sacrifices led the blacks to victory under Nelson Mandela.
Their victory was a common victory of humanity, for peace, for justice and for human dignity.
8. Which twin obligations does Nelson Mandela mention in the lesson? Why were he and the rest of
blacks able to fulfil those obligations?
Ans. 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.
9. How was Mandela’s concept of freedom was different in boyhood and youth than what it was in his
mature age? How were ‘transitory freedoms’ changed into his hunger for the freedom of his people?
Ans. Nelson Mandela was not born with a hunger to be free. In his boyhood, he felt free until he obeyed his father
and tribe. The concept of freedom was limited only to run in fields, swim in the local stream and ride on the slow-
moving bulls. When he was a youth, he realised that his boyhood freedom was an illusion. His freedom had already
taken away from him. He yearned to enjoy ‘transitory freedoms’ like staying out at night, reading and going
anywhere as he pleased. When he joined the African National Congress, only then his own freedom became the
greater hunger for his people. He desired that his people should live their lives with dignity and self-respect. This
hunger for freedom forced him to be a rebel and live in secrecy away from his family.
10. Why does Mandela say that freedom is indivisible? How are the oppressed and the oppressor alike
are robbed of their humanity?
Ans. 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.
11. Describe the contribution of Nelson Mandela in the struggle for independence of the blacks of his
country against the hated apartheid regime.
OR
Draw a character-sketch of Nelson Mandela highlighting his struggle against the apartheid regime for the
human rights of his people.
Ans. 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.