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| NELSON MANDELA |
A: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
By Nelson
Rolihlahla Mandela
This chapter has been taken from Nelson Mandela's book of the same name 'Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.' It provides us with a glimpse of the early life of Nelson Mandela, his education, 27 years in prison and the pains he had suffered in his young age.
The chapter recounts his
fight for freedom for his own people who were tortured by the whites.
In this chapter, Mandela
gives two contradictory pictures of his country - one, in which the blacks were
tortured and suffered quietly and second, the blacks will be free to live a
life of their own.
CHARACTERS:
Nelson Mandela - Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa who fought for the equal rights of the blacks. He suffered a lot of pain for the freedom of his own people.
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| NELSON MANDELA |
Zenani - Zenani was the daughter of Nelson Mandela
who accompanied Mandela in his inauguration day. She was very much close to
him.
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| NELSON MANDELA AND HIS DAUGHTER ZENANI |
Mr de
Klerk - Mr
de Klerk was the second Deputy President of South Africa.
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| MR de KLERK |
Mr Thabo
Mbeki - Mr
Thabo Mbeki was the first Deputy President of South Africa.
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| MR THABO MBEKI |
NCERT & SEBA Class X Solutions
SUMMARY
It was 10th May, the day of oath with a
splendid and gleaming sun. Nelson Mandela was supposed to take a vow as the
first black President of South Africa. A large number of leaders all from
around the globe had accumulated there to be the witness of the swearing-in
ceremony of Nelson Mandela as the first black President. The inauguration
ceremony occurred in a big open building in Pretoria.
Mandela was joined by his daughter Zenani. Mr
de Klerk was the first person who made a vow as the second deputy President
followed by Mr Thabo Mbeki who swore as the first Deputy President of South
Africa. Nelson Mandela pledged to obey and maintain the Constitution and to
commit himself to the prosperity of the people. He additionally vowed to make
the country liberated from poverty, hardship, suffering and all kind of
segregation.
At the point when Mandela had made the vow,
South African planes showed military power. It additionally indicated
the dedication of the military to democracy. The highest military generals
saluted him. He recounted that they would have arrested him many years before.
It was followed by the playing of two national anthems. the whites sang 'Nkosi
Sikelel' the old song and the blacks sang 'Die Stem' the new song which marked
the end of the ceremony.
Nelson Mandela memories about days passed by
which will soon be the part of history where the whites had framed a system of
racial dominance against the blacks. It was the basis of the harsh societies
which is now overturned. He says that the policy of apartheid made a profound
and enduring wound on his country and its people.
On the auspicious day, Mandela lamented the
loss of thousands of individuals and remembered their sacrifices for freedom
from discrimination. He thought of himself as the sum of each one of those
African loyalists who yielded their lives before him. He was pained that he was
unable to express gratitude towards them.
He recalled great freedom fighters who were
the men of exceptional courage, wisdom and generosity. He said that the nation
is plentiful in minerals however its most noteworthy wealth is its people.
The author says that being white or black is
not the token of your goodness or superiority. No one is born hating others,
people should love one another which comes without force as it is natural. It
is men's essential goodness.
A man has to perform duties to his family,
community and country which he didn't see in his country before he pushed
himself to fight for the blacks. a black man was punished if he tried to live
like a human being and forced to live apart from his own people. So, he was not
allowed to perform his duties to his family.
As a kid, Mandela had distinctive meaning for
being free as he wanted to run in the fields and wanted to remain out at night.
As he grew older, he wanted the freedom of livelihood for himself and his
family. But soon he understood that such an opportunity was just an illusion.
He realised that his brothers and sisters who looked like him were not free, so
he joined the African National Congress. His hunger for freedom for his people
became great. He desired everybody ought to be given the option to carry on
with his existence with dignity and respect. He wanted the oppressor and the
oppressed to be freed. As nobody is free in the event that one is taking
another person's freedom. Just such sentiments can bring genuine opportunity
for everybody.
WORD MEANINGS:
PAGE 16
apartheid - a policy of racial segregation.
autobiography - the life story of a
person written by himself.
amphitheatre - large open theatre.
dignitaries - eminent persons.
oppression - torture.
jubilant - joyful, happy.
PAGE 17
dawned - came out.
besieged - surrounded.
decades - the period of ten years.
supremacy - being superior.
installation - placement.
non-racial - not involving racial factors or racial discrimination.
PAGE 18
uphold - to keep up.
well-being - state of cheerfulness.
glory - grace.
outlaws - those who do not observe laws or rules.
rare privilege - uncommon right.
distinguished - very famous.
possession - control.
emancipation - freedom from restriction; liberation.
bondage - slavery.
deprivation - state of not having one's benefits.
discrimination - state of being treated differently.
glorious - beautiful, grand
PAGE 19
awe - respect and fear.
spectacular array - attractive display.
troop carriers - vehicles carrying soldiers.
pinpoint precision - complete/perfect order.
demonstration - show.
bedecked - decorated.
unmindful - not knowing.
chevron - a pattern like V.
trail - line.
symbolised - was like a symbol.
despised - hated.
overwhelmed - overflowed.
patched up - finished.
erected - built.
racial domination - control due to race.
structure - constructing or arranging according to plan.
harshest - most stern.
inhumane - not humane.
PAGE 20
unimaginable - which can't be thought of.
sacrifices - offering something valuable for slaughter.
wrought - done.
generation - single stage in family history.
profound - deep and strong.
brutality - cruelty.
unintended - not thought of.
PAGE 21
generosity - large-heartedness, kindness.
minerals - metals etc. taken from the earth.
torture - to treat cruelly, to make one suffer physically.
resilience - ability to deal with any hardship, elasticity.
defies - (here) that can't be explained.
conquers - gets the victory.
grimmest - saddest, serious.
pushed to our limits - (here) pushed to the wall.
glimmer - a little shine.
humanity - humanism.
extinguished - put out.
obligations - duties.
humane - (here) kind.
PAGE 22
inclinations - natural tendencies, leanings.
attempted - tried.
isolated - made lonely.
inevitably - unavoidably.
ripped - (here) taken away.
twilight existence - (here) a little life.
secrecy and rebellion - having secrecy and opposition.
roast mealies - bake maize corns.
abided - obeyed.
transitory - not permanent.
yearned - desired deeply.
obstructed - hindered.
curtailed - reduced.
PAGE 23
dignity - respect, grace
animated - (here) gave life.
law-abiding attorney - the lawyer who obeys
rules.
virtuous - full of virtues.
oppressor - one who oppresses others.
bars - rods.
prejudice - hatred, bias.
narrow-mindedness - state of having narrow beliefs
about religion etc.
NCERT & SEBA Class X Solutions
1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?
Answer: The ceremonies took place in the campus of the Union Building of Pretoria, which was attended by dignitaries and leaders of many nations.
In India; Rashtrapati
Bhavan and red Fort are buildings made of red sandstone.
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| MANDELA TAKING OATH AS THE PRESIDENT |
2. Can you say how 10th
May is an 'autumn day' in South Africa?
Answer: Tenth May is an 'autumn day' in South Africa in light of the fact that on
this day there was the largest gathering of international leaders on South
African soil for the establishment of South Africa's first democratic,
non-racial government.
3. At the beginning of
his speech, Mandela mentions 'an extraordinary human disaster'. What
does he mean by this? What is the 'glorious human achievement' he speaks of at
the end?
Answer: By 'an extraordinary human disaster' Mandela intends to express the
practice of apartheid in South Africa. It was the act of politically-sanctioned
racial segregation. During this, there was racial isolation based on colour and
the blacks endured a great deal. They were not permitted to demand freedom or
any right. Mandela himself did spend many years on infamous 'Robben island' as
a detainee where he was beaten cruelly.
He thought of it as a glorious human achievement
that a black person became the President of a nation where the blacks were not
by any means considered human beings and were treated badly.
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| PRACTICE OF APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA |
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| PRACTICE OF APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA |
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| LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA UNDER APARTHEID |
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders
for?
Answer: Mandela felt extremely favoured to invite the international leaders at the swearing-in ceremony because, in the not so distant past, the South Africans were viewed as bandits. He thus thanks every one of them for having come to witness the historical ceremony. This was a gesture of universal acknowledgement to a newly born free democratic nation and it could be viewed as a common victory for justice, harmony and human respect.
5. What ideals does Nelson Mandela set for the
future of South Africa?
Answer: Nelson Mandela sets the ideals of liberating freeing individuals from the subjugation of poverty, hardship and suffering. He likewise sets the ideal for a perfect society where there would be no discrimination dependent on gender or racial origin.
6. What did the military generals do? How did their
attitude change and why?
Answer: The highest military generals of South African Defence Force saluted Nelson Mandela and vowed their reliability which was of incredible significance as during apartheid era they would have captured him. The change in their attitude was because of the struggle and sacrifices put in by many heroes of South Africa. This struggle not just guaranteed the freedom of a country fighting against apartheid yet, in addition, acquired a change attitudes of many.
7. Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer: On the auspicious occasion of the inauguration two national anthems were sung: one by the whites and the other by the blacks for symbolising the equality of the blacks and the whites.
8. How does Mandela describe the systems of the
government in his country (i) in the first decade, and (ii) in the final
decade, of the 20th century?
Answer: (i) In the first decade of the 20th century,
the whites erected a system of racial domination against the blacks, thus
creating the basis of one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world
had ever seen.
(ii) In the final decade of the 20th century, the previous system had bee overturned and replaced by one which recognised the rights and the freedom of all people regardless of colour of their skin.
9. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer: For Mandela, courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory over it, According to him, brave men need not be fearless but should be able to conquer fear.
10. Does Mandela think is natural, to love or to
hate?
Answer: Mandela thinks love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.
11. What ‘twin obligations’ does Mandela mention?
Answer: Mandela makes reference to that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his family, parents, wife and children; the subsequent 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’?
Answer: Like some other child, for Mandela freedom intended to make merry and enjoy the blissful life. When one gets grown-up, antics of childhood looks like transitory because most of the immature activities are wasteful from a grown-up's point of view. Once you are an adult, you need to earn a livelihood to bring the bacon home. It is at exactly that point when you get an honourable presence in the family and in the general public.
13. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free?
Why/Why not?
Answer: Mandela doesn't imagine that the oppressor is free in light of the fact that as per him, an oppressor is a victim of disdain 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 harmony.
14. Why did such a large number of international
leaders attend the inauguration? What it signifies triumph of?
Answer: To be the part of the inauguration,
international leaders indicated a gesture of solidarity from the international
community to the idea of the end of apartheid. It was the significance of the
triumph of good over evil and the victory of a tolerant society with no
segregation.
NCERT & SEBA Class X Solutions
15. What does Mandela mean when he says he is
‘simply the sum of all those African patriots’, who had gone before him?
Answer: By saying that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots, Mandela wants to pay his tribute to all the individuals who have sacrificed their lives for freedom. He says that he is grateful to those who had gone before him because those heroes of the past had cleared the way of participation and solidarity for him. Hence, he could attempt to come to power to bring equality for hs people with their support.
16. Would you agree that the ‘depths of oppression’
create ‘heights of character’? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add
your own example to this agreement?
Answer: 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.
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| OLIVER TAMBO |
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| WALTER SISULU |
India is full of such examples. During our freedom struggle, there were a
galaxy of leaders of great characters and the oppression of British rule
created and encouraged people of noble characters like Lala Lajpat Rai, Sardar
Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, Chandrasekhar Azad and many more. If
we compare them with the nature of political leaders India is having today,
then Nelson Mandela is by all accounts totally right.
17. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom
change with age and experience?
Answer: With age and experience, Mandela
understood the genuine importance of freedom. As a little youngster, he thought
he was born free and believed that as long as he complied with his father and
maintained the traditions 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 diminished, however the freedom of all blacks. It was freedom from fear
and prejudice. Age and experience widened his point of view on freedom.
18. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change
his life?
Answer: Mandela acknowledged in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. This changed the dreadful man to a bold revolutionary. He yielded the comforts of settled family life to fight for a more noteworthy reason. He joined the African National Congress and this transformed him from a frightened young man into a bold one who fought against racial partiality.
19. Why did the inauguration ceremony take place n 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 the dignitaries from in excess of 140 nations around the world and a huge number of the individuals of South Africa all the races to make the day memorable. So, it took place in the amphitheatre formed by the Union Building.
20. What promise does Mandela make in the beginning
of the opening of his oath-taking speech?
Answer: Mandela thanks all the global leaders and guests as he considers it an event of delight and triumph for justice. He promises that the nation will not again experience the oppression of one by another. He also vows to make the country liberated from poverty, deprivation and segregation.
21. What do you understand by ‘apartheid’? Describe
the effect of the policy of apartheid on the people of South Africa.
Answer: ‘Apartheid’ is a political framework that divides individuals according to the race. The strategy of apartheid could not be viewed as blessed for the individuals of South Africa. It made the separation and a profound injury in the nation and the individuals.
22. What did Mandela think for the oppressor and
oppressed?
Answer: Mandela consistently believed that both oppressor and oppressed are denied of their humankind. The oppressor is a prisoner of hatred while oppressed has no trust in humanity, so both of them should be freed. He always desired people to live with dignity and respect.
23. Could everyone fulfil the obligations personal
or social in South Africa?
Answer: No, everyone in South Africa was not allowed to fulfil his/her obligations because of the colour of the skin. Only white people permitted to do as such but the black people were not free. If a black person at any point attempted to fulfil his/her obligation, he/she was punished and isolated for being a rebellion. Even they were punished who attempted to live as a human being.
24. What freedom meant to Mandela in childhood?
Answer: During youth, the significance of freedom for Mandela was quite limited. He considered it to be free to run in the fields, to swim in the clear stream, free to roast mealies and ride the board backs of slow-moving bulls. He wanted to stay out at night. It was transitory freedom.
25. What did Mandela realise about his brothers and sisters?
Answer: Nelson Mandela realised that the
freedom, he felt in his youth was just a was only an illusion. He
realised that his brothers and sisters who looked like him were not free, so he
joined the African National Congress. His hunger for freedom got incredible for
the freedom of the people of his nation. He wanted them to live their lives
with dignity and respect.
NCERT & SEBA Class X Solutions
26. What do you think about the obligations which
the author (Nelson Mandela) is talking about and also describe his feeling for
them?
Answer: In the chapter, the author (Nelson
Mandela) has talked about two obligations for every man. The first obligation
is towards his family, parents, his wife and children. The second is towards
his community and his nation. Being a social individual one needs to fulfil
these obligations. But being a black coloured person in South Africa, a man was
not allowed to play out his obligations and got punished if he attempted.
Being a child, the author never thought of such
obligations however after he did as such, he fought for the people and the
nation to be free and enjoy their freedom of performing their duties personal
and social.
In our daily life, we all have to go through such obligations as well where we have to serve our family and nation both. Man is a social person and to live in a society we all have to follow some rules where we are bound to do our duties towards our beloved and nation.
27. Describe the value of freedom for 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
creature wants to live free. The value of freedom is better known to that human
being who has not tasted it until he gets it. A person who is chained with the
limits and not permitted to play out his obligations freely, values freedom
more than any other person.
For example, the value of freedom is known better to
Mandela who remained behind the bars most of his life. Consider a bird or
animal which is caged as they have the propensity for living with full freedom
but in the cage, they are not free and their conditions are very pitiable.
Similarly, life becomes 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 an atmosphere of freedom. As if a man is
free to do his duties, he can produce better results. An oppressed person
always commits mistakes and unable to perform well, so freedom is important for
the growth of civilisation and humanism.
28. What did
Mandela realise about his brothers and sisters?
Answer: Mandela realised that his brothers and sisters were not free in their own nation because of their colour. The freedom of everyone in his society was diminished.
29. What animated Mandela’s life?
Answer: The desire for the freedom of his people animated Mandela's life.
30. What does the expression ‘the sun shall never
set here’ imply?
Answer: The expression 'the sun shall never set here' means that the sun of freedom will never set and everybody will enjoy freedom and justice.
31. What does the expression ‘a spectacular
array’ mean?
Answer: The expression 'a spectacular array' means a colourful, attractive and impressive display of aircraft.
32. Why was Mandela overwhelmed?
Answer: Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed because he was successful in introducing the first democratic, non-racial government in South Africa.
33. What is South Africa rich in?
Answer: South Africa is rich in minerals and gems.
34. Who is a real brave man?
Answer: A real brave man is he who conquers his fear.
35. Is hating another person because of his colour,
background or religion instinctive nature of humans?
Answer: No, nobody is born hating someone else due to his colour, background or religion.
36. How did the guard show a sign of humanity to
Mandela when he was in prison?
Answer: When Mandela was in jail, one of the guards urged him to keep on his fight for freedom. He wished that one day he would make progress.
37. What unintended effect was produced by decades
of oppression?
Answer: The decades of oppression made Mandela a strong individual. He set out the goal to free the people of South Africa from continuing subjugation of poverty, deprivation, hardship and other discrimination. He decided to have freedom, equality and justice for all.
38. Why was the 10th of May, 1994 a red-letter day
in the history of South Africa?
Answer: Tenth 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 installed. Many global leaders and dignities came to offer their appreciation to the new government.
39. What was born out of the experience of an extraordinary
human disaster? Why should humanity be proud of it?
Answer: The apartheid system was an extraordinary human disaster for the blacks of South Africa. The end of the apartheid set out the establishment of a non-racial democratic system in South Africa. The new government based on human equality and dignity would be a perfect one of which all mankind would be glad.
40. What did the display of jets and military salute
symbolise?
Answer: The display of jets and military salute symbolised the military’s loyalty to democracy, to a free and fairly elected government.
41. 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 fear and mistreatment on the dark people however they could not break their goals and determination. The profound oppression created nationalist of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity. It produced patriots like Tambos, Sisulus, Sadoos, Fischer’s, Sobukwes and thousand others of their time.
42. What is the greatest wealth of a country
according to Nelson Mandela?
Answer: According to Nelson Mandela, the greatest and real wealth of a nation is its people. They are finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
43. Give the character sketch of Nelson Mandela.
Answer: Nelson Mandela is an extraordinary
nationalist. He loves his nation 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 dives into the fight for freedom. He has a belief in equality for all. He opposed the rule of Apartheid for which he was declared a bandit. He was mistreated and tortured in prison for quite a long while however he never broke. It shows his traits of resilience, courage and determination.
44. Why was Nelson Mandela overwhelmed with a sense
of history? Give the birth and finally the burial of the apartheid regime in
South Africa.
Answer: On the day of the inauguration of the
Republic, Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history. It was very
natural for a man who fought against the despised system for a long time. After
the Boer war, the white groups patched up their disparities. They forced the
domination of the whites over the majority population of South Africa. The
introduction of apartheid was the birth of one of the harshest and inhumane
systems on the planet. It was based on racial separation and oppression.
Profound oppression and atrocities produced a large number of black patriots
who were prepared to sacrifice their lives for the freedom of their fellow men.
The determined struggle of these black heroes ended in their triumph. A
democratically chosen government headed by President Nelson Mandela was
introduced on the tenth of May, 1994.
SOME MORE QUESTIONS
1. Which party did Nelson Mandela join?
Answer: Nelson Mandela joined African National Congress.
2. When did Nelson Mandela become the President?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa on 10 May 1994.
3. Where did the inauguration ceremony take place?
Answer:
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Union Buildings amphitheatre in
Pretoria.
4. What was the pledge taken by Nelson Mandela?
Answer:
To liberate all the black people from the continuing bondage of poverty,
deprivation, suffering and racial discrimination.
5. Which colours were used in the new flag of South
Africa?
Answer:
Black, red, green, blue and gold.
6. What were the two anthems sung on ‘that day’?
Answer:
‘Nikosi Sikelel Africa’ and ‘Die stem’.
7. Read the following extracts carefully and answer
the questions that follow.
Answer:
(a) (ii) Nelson Mandela
8. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
(a) The ceremony took
place in the …………… formed
by the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Answer:
(a) (iv) red stone building
9. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
Answer:
(a) (iv) Mr. de Klerk, Thabo Mbeke and Mandela
(b) (i) President of South Africa
10. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
Answer:
(a) (i) that all humanity would be proud of
(b) (iii) hosting the nations of the world on their soil
11. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
We have, at
last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all
our people from the continuing
bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.
Answer:
(a) After
getting political emancipation Mandela speaks of a pledge to liberate the
people from the bonds of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other
discrimination.
(b) His country will
never experience the oppression of one, by another. The sun would not set on so glorious an achievement, and God would
bless Africa.
12. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
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. 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.
Answer:
(a) The sight of a spectacular array of South
African jets, helicopters and troop carriers seen roaring in perfect unison
over the Union Buildings, left viewers in awe.
13. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
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. I was not
unmindful of the fact that not so many years before they would not have saluted
but arrested me. Finally a
chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and
gold of the new South African
flag.
Answer:
(a) The ribbons and medals bedecked generals saluted Mandela, the president of
South Africa and pledged their loyalty. This action differed from earlier times
as then, they would have arrested him.
(b) Finally, a chevron of Impala jets flew past,
leaving behind a smoke trail of black, red, green, blue and gold, representing
the colours of the new South African flag.
14. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
The day was symbolised for me by the playing of our
two national anthems, and the vision of whites
singing ‘Nkosi Sikelel–iAfrika’ and blacks singing ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem
of the Republic. Although that
day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem they once despised, they would
soon know the words by heart.
Answer:
(a) The day was symbolized for the speaker by
playing of the two national anthems. It was an end of a dark era.
(b) The inauguration was special because a long
era of suppression had come to an end. It was an end to apartheid.
15. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed
with a sense of history. In the first decade of the
twentieth century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before my
own birth, the white-skinned
people of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of
racial domination against the
dark-skinned people of their own land.
Answer:
(a) Mandela was overwhelmed on the day of the
Inauguration because of a sense of history, where, in the aftermath of the
bitter Anglo-Boer War and before his own birth, the people had patched up.
16. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
The structure they created formed the basis of one
of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world
has ever known. Now, in the last decade of the twentieth century, and my own
eighth decade as a man, that
system had been overturned forever and replaced by one that recognised the
rights and freedoms of all
people, regardless of the colour of their skin.
Answer:
(a) The characteristics of the structure that was created by this society,
formed the basis of one of the harshest and most inhumane, among societies all
over the world.
(b) In the last decade of the twentieth century, Mandela
has seen this system overturned forever, and replaced by one that regards the
rights of all people, regardless of the colour of their skin.
17. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
That day had come about through the unimaginable
sacrifices of thousands of my people, people whose
suffering and courage can never be counted or repaid. I felt that day, as I
have on so many other days,
that I was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before me.
That long and noble line ended
and now began again with me. I was pained that I was not able to thank them and that they were not able to see what
their sacrifices had wrought.
Answer:
(a) The writer states that the unimaginable
sacrifices made by some can never be counted or repaid. He himself was the
sum of all those African patriots who had gone before him.
18. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting
wound in my country and my people. All of us will
spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. But
the decades of oppression and
brutality had another, unintended, effect, and that was that it produced the
Oliver Tambos, the Walter
Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of our time* — men of such
extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their like may never be known again. Perhaps it requires
such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My country is rich in the minerals
and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people,
finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
Answer:
(a) Apartheid has created deep and lasting wounds among generations of South
Africans and they will spend years recovering from it. But it has also thrown
up men of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity.
(b) According to Mandela, his country is not just
rich in precious minerals but is also endowed in its people, who are more
precious and truer than the purest diamonds.
19. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
It is from these comrades in the struggle that I
learned the meaning of courage. Time and again, I have
seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea. I have seen men stand
up to attacks and torture without
breaking, showing a strength and resilience that defies the imagination. I
learned that courage was not
the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
(a) Several times, the writer had noticed brave men and
women risk their lives for an idea. He had seen men standing up to attacks
without breaking down, showing unimaginable resilience.
Answer:
(a) Several times, the writer had noticed
brave men and women risk their lives for an idea. He had seen men standing
up to attacks without breaking down, showing unimaginable resilience.
(b) The writer learnt that courage was not the
absence of fear. It was the triumph over fear. Such triumph was gained not
by ceasing to feel afraid, but by conquering that fear.
20. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
No one is born hating another person because of the
colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion.
People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to
love, for love comes more
naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times in
prison, when my comrades and I
were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it
was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never
extinguished.
Answer:
(a) The writer feels that men are taught to hate on
grounds of skin colour. So, if they can be taught hatred, they can also be
taught love, which comes more easily.
21. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
In life, 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. In a civil and humane society, each man is able to fulfil those
obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities. But in a country like South Africa, it was
almost impossible for a man of my birth and colour to fulfil both of those obligations. In South
Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being was punished and isolated. In South
Africa, a man who tried 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. I did not, in the
beginning, choose to place my people above my family, but in attempting to serve my people, I found that I
was prevented from fulfilling my obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband.
Answer:
(a) The twin obligations the writer mentions are
those towards his family and his community and tries his best to fulfil them.
In South Africa, a coloured man is denied these rights.
22. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood
freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a
young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to
hunger for it. At first, as a
student, I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being
able to stay out at night,
read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in
Johannesburg, I yearned for
the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my
keep, of marrying and having a
family — the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.
Answer:
(a) The writer discovered that his boyhood freedom had already been taken away
and as a youth, he wanted freedom only for himself.
(b) In later years, he longed for the freedom to
achieve his potential, earning a living, marrying, and not being obstructed in
living a lawful life.
23. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free but my brothers
and sisters were not free. I saw that
it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who
looked like I did. That is
when I joined the African National Congress, and that is when the hunger for my
own freedom became the greater
hunger for the freedom of my people.
Answer:
(a) The writer slowly discovered that not only was his freedom curtailed, but
that of others who looked like him. This led to his joining the African
National Congress.
(b) This move towards a hunger for his own freedom
led the writer towards a greater hunger for the freedom of his people.
24. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the
questions that follow.
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, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk. I
am no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man, but I found that I could not even enjoy the
poor and limited freedoms I was allowed when I knew my people were not free. Freedom is
indivisible; the chains on anyone of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my
people were the chains on me.
Answer:
(a) In his personal life, Mandela became a bold man.
He transformed from a law-abiding attorney into a criminal, a family-loving
husband into a homeless person and a life-loving personality into a monk.
25. Read the following extracts carefully and answer
the questions that follow.
I knew that the oppressor must be liberated just as
surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a
prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and
narrowmindedness.
(a) What was
Mandela’s views about the oppressed?
(b) What
factors colour the vision of the oppressor, according to the writer?
Answer:
(a)
According to Mandela’s beliefs, not just the man who was denied his freedom
needed it, but also his oppressor, who was equally in need of freedom from the vice grip of hatred.
(b)
According to the writer, the attitude of the oppressor is bogged down by the
influence on him, of narrow mindedness and prejudice.
*****
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