Nelson Mandela Long Walk To Freedom
The theme of the lesson “Long Walk to Freedom, “is that how Nelson Mandela sacrifices in his life to remove the social inequality from the country. He says that he wants a nation where he is free to do as he thoughts. The central theme is “social inequality “along with courage and sacrifices to remove it.
Summary
This chapter is an extract from the autobiography of Nelson Mandela (born- 18 July, 1918), the first Black President of South Africa. Excerpts from “Long Walk to Freedom” include description of the inauguration ceremony, citations from his speech, his journey to being a freedom fighter, the struggle, along with a tribute to other freedom fighters and countless other people who fought for their freedom. In South Africa, a brutal practice named “apartheid” was followed. Apartheid refers to the discrimination between people on the basis of their race. It was one of the most brutal societies where dark-skinned people were deprived of their basic rights. This lesson gives us an overview as to how Nelson Mandela along with others, carved their way to a society where there will be no discrimination on the basis of their colour, caste, race, age or gender.
Word Meaning
Apartheid- A political system that रंगभेद separates people according to their race | Recently very soonअभी अभी हाल में | Finally- in the end अंतमे Autobiography - history of life written by himself जीवन गाथा | Occasion-chanceअवसर | Century- a period of hundred years शताब्दी | Inauguration -an act of commencing formally उद्घाटन | Took place- happened घटित हुआ | Amphitheatre- an Open Theatre with seats रंगभूमि Dignitaries-man of Excellence उच्च पद के | Operation- cruelty उत्पीड़न | Jubilant- rejoicing प्रफुल्लित |Unimaginable-that which can't be imagine जिसकी कल्पना ही नहीं की जा सकती | Dawned-begin आरंभ होना | besieged by-surrounded closely by समीप से घेरना | Ceremony-religious performance शिष्टाचार | Decade-A period of 10 years 10 वर्ष | Supremacy- higher authority of power प्रभुत्व | Installation- act of placing in an office अधिकार पर नियुक्त करना |Accompanied- helped by, support by राजगद्दी पर बैठना | Podium-platform मंच | Pledged- took an oath शपथ लेना | Uphold- sustain ,support समर्थन देना |Devote- to engage समर्पित कर देना |Confer- give देना | Glory- greatness and respect शान |Liberty- freedom स्वतंत्रता |Disaster-ruin आपदा | Lasted- stayed too long बहुत देर तक रहना |Outlaws-a person deprived of the protection of law गुलाम |Privilege-special right विशेषाधिकार | Distinguished- eminent प्रसिद्ध | Possession- to own, to occupy अधिकार प्राप्त करना | Emancipation - freedom from बंधनों से स्वतंत्रता | Deprivation-State of not having once rightful benefits वंचित रखना | Discrimination-being treated different अंतर करना भेदभाव |Glorious- full of Glory शानदार| Reign - to rule राज्य करना |Awe- in surprise आश्चर्य में |Spectacular- attractive रंगीन |Array - adorn अलंकृत करना | Demonstration- military show प्रदर्शन | Bedecked- adorned सजाया | unmindful of- ignorant of अबोध होना chevron- pattern in the shape of V का निशान | Symbolized-have a typical resemblance विशिष्ट समानता रखना | Despised-hate घृणा करना | Overwhelmed-overcame अभिभूत हो ना | patch up-remove सुलह कर लेना | Domination- authority प्रभुत्व |Overturned- change बदल देना | Regardless- heedless उदासीन |Wrought-done achieved प्राप्त होना | Profound- deep गहन | Brutality-cruelty निर्दयता | Unintended- undesired अवांछित |Generosity-Openness उदारता |Beneath- under नीचे |Comrades- friends मित्र |Struggle-physical inflection संघर्ष | Defies-disregard अनादर करना |Triumph trains- victory, conquer विजय |Grimmest-horrible भयंकर |pushed to our limits-Pushed to last point to bear pain अंतिम तक ले | जाना Glimmer- dim light प्रभा | Extinguished- put out बुझाना | Twin- double two दो | Obligations- moral binding नैतिक बंधन | Inclinations- natural tendencies of behaviour व्यवहार के प्राकृतिक गुण | Attempted- tried प्रयत्न किया |Isolated-separated अलग करना | Inevitable-unavoidable | Ripped-cut off, separate अलग करना |Rebellion- revolt राजद्रोह | prevented from- Pro habitat रोकना | Mealies-an African maize अफ्रीका की मक्का | abided by-obey आज्ञा का पालन करना | Illusion-doubt भ्रम | Discovered-found खोजा | Transitory- temporary अस्थाई |Yearned-longed तरस खाना | Potential- capable of of existing अंतः शक्ति |Obstructed- disturbed रुकावट डालना | Desire- wish इच्छा |Animated-give a life to उत्तेजित करना | Transformed - changed परिवर्तन करना |Frightened- fearful भयभीत |Bold- courageous साहसी | Attorney-representative प्रतिनिधि | Monk - Holy man साधु | Virtuous-full of qualities गुणवान |Invisible-that which can't be divided अवीभाजित | Oppressor- that one oppresses निर्दय | Prejudice- hatred पूर्वाग्रह प्रतिकूल प्रभाव | Narrow-mindedness- narrow in thoughts संकीर्णता | Alike- similar समान |robbed off- cheated लूट लेना | oppressed - keep under bondage उत्पीड़ित | Criminal- one who who does some crime अपराधी |Limited- in some limit सीमित |to take away- snatch छीनना | Impossible- improbable असंभव |
Comprehension Check
1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Ans: The ceremonies took place in the amphitheater of the Union Building of Pretoria. The Parliament House, The Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi and Madras High Court in Chennai are some examples of Indian public buildings that are made of sandstone.
2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Ans: 10 May is known as an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa because on this day, there was the largest gathering of international leaders on South African soil for the installation 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?
Ans: By "an extraordinary human disaster" Mandela means the inhuman practice of apartheid i.e. the racial discrimination suffered by the blacks at the hands of whites in South Africa. He considered it as "glorious human achievement" because of the establishment of South Africa's first democratic, non-racial government, where the President was a black man.
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Ans: Mandela felt privileged to be the host to the nations of the world because not too long ago, the South Africans were considered outlaws. On that day most of the countries’ dignitaries were present to attend the swearing in ceremony. He, thus thanked all the international leaders for having come to witness his investiture as President, since this event could be considered as a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.
5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Ans: Mandela sets out the ideals of poverty alleviation, removal of suffering of people. He also dreams of a society where there would be no discrimination based on gender or racial origins.
Oral Comprehension Check
1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Ans: The highest military generals of the South African defense force and police saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty. Their attitude towards blacks has suddenly changed. Instead of arresting a black, they saluted him. If it was during apartheid era, they would have arrested Mandela. The change in their attitude was because of struggle and sacrifice put in by many heroes of South Africa. This struggle not only ensured the freedom of South Africa but also brought a change of mindsets for many.
2. Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans: On the day of the inauguration, two national anthems were sung.The interpretation of national anthem from old republic as well as new republic was sign of the pledge of those who were laying the foundation of a new nation. As it was a pledge to build a society devoid of any type of discrimination , symbolizing the equality of blacks and whites, and to show that it will be a truly multicultural society.
3. 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?
Ans: (i) In the first decade of the twentieth century, 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, thus creating the basis of one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever known. (ii) In the last decade of the twentieth century, the previous system had been replaced by another more strong pattern ,the one that recognized the rights and freedom of all people, regardless of the color of their skin.
4. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Ans: For Mandela courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory over fear. According to him brave men need not only be fearless but should be able to conquer fear.
5. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Ans: For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.
Oral Comprehension Check
1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Ans: Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is towards his family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is his contribution towards fellow people, his community and his country.
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 honorable freedoms”?
Ans: Like any other kid, for Mandela also the freedom meant to make merry and enjoy the blissful life in every possible way. But once an adult, the antics of childhood look like transitory because in an adults perspective, most of the childhood activities are waste of time. As a grown-up, you have to step out of your comfort zone to earn a livelihood to bring the bacon home. It is only then that you get an honorable existence in the family and in the society.
3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Ans: Mandela does not feel that the oppressor is free because according to him an oppressor is a prisoner of hatred, who is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He feels that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed off their humanity.
Thinking about the Text
1. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Ans: The presence of a large number of international leaders was a gesture of solidarity from international community to the idea of the end of apartheid. It signified the triumph of good over evil, the triumph of the idea of a more tolerant society without any discrimination.
2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?
Ans: Mandela wants to pay his tribute to all the people who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom. He feels that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before him as he only was carrying forward the baton of the freedom struggle, the legacy of leaders of yesteryear's who had paved the path of co-operation and unity for him. Therefore, he got the support of his people to be able to come to power to bring equality for his own people.
3.Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?
Ans: Yes, I agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”. Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes of South Africa who sacrificed 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. Probably the oppression of British rule created so many men of such characters. If we compare this with the quality of political leaders India is having today, then Nelson Mandela seems to be absolutely right.
4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Ans: With age, Nelson Mandela realized that he had a lot of responsibilities towards his people, his community and his country. As a boy, Mandela did not have a hunger for freedom because he thought that he was born free. He believed that as long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in every possible manner. He had certain needs as a teenager and then certain needs as a young man.He slowly understands that it is not just his freedom that is being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. It is after attaining this understanding that he develops a hunger for the freedom of his people. Thus , age and experience made his perspective more wide.
5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Ans: Mandela realised in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. The hunger for his own freedom gradually turned into hunger for the freedom of his people. This desire of a non-racial society transformed him into a virtuous and self-sacrificing man. Thus, he joined the African National Congress and this changed the fearful man to a fearless rebel. He sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to fight for a greater cause.
Moral
Moral of the lesson is "people who believe in freedom cannot rest."
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