Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom Textual Question Answer Solution SEBA | Nelson Mandela Question Answer for HSLC| Axom ABC

 Question : Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstones?

Ans: The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre in Pretoria, formed by the Union Buildings.

There are many public buildings in India that are made of sandstones, these are the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Hawa Mahal of Jaipur, the Tajmahal. Moreover, there are some governmental buildings like the Parliament House, Presidential House, Supreme Court buildings etc.

Question: Can you say how 10 May is an 'autumn day' in South Africa?

Ans: Usually, the autumn season means the harvest season that is related with affluence and growth. In South Africa 10 May is an 'autumn day' because on this lucky day, there was the largest gathering of international leaders on South African soil for the inauguration of South Africa's first democratic and non-racial government.

Question: 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: At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions "an extraordinary human disaster", refers to the unkind practice of apartheid that was followed in South Africa. The racial difference suffered by the black people at the hands of white people in South Africa.

At the end, the "glorious human achievement" that he spoke of refers to the establishment of a democratic, government free from any racial bindings.

Question: What does Mandela thank the international leaders for ?

Ans: Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the swearing in ceremony because the South Africans were considered outlaws a little time ago. He thus thanks them for having come to witness the historical ceremony. This was a gesture of international recognition to newly born free democratic nation and it could be considered as a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity

Question: What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?

Ans: Mandela had high hopes for the future of South Africa. He pledged to liberate all South Africans from continuing bandage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, and other discrimination. He also stressed that the beautiful land of South Africa would never ever experience racial discrimination again.

Question: What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?

Ans: The highest military generals of the South African defence force and police saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty. When the military generals saluted Mandela, he was not unmindful of the fact that not too many years ago, they would not have saluted him, but arrested him. This change in attitude was due to the fact that a new, non-racial government was elected and Mandeta was then the president of South Africa.

Question: Why were two national anthems sung?

Ans: On the day of the inauguration, two national anthems were sung, one by the whites, and other by the blacks. This symbolized the equality of blacks and whites.

Question: 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 difference 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 would had ever known.

(ii) In the last decade of the twentieth century, the previous system had been overturned forever and replaced by one that recognized the rights and freedoms of all people, regardless of the colour of their skin.

Question: What does courage mean to Mandela ?

Ans: On seeing men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking and thus showing strength and resilience that defied the imagination, Mandela learnt that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

Question: Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?

Ans: For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.

Question: What "twin obligations" does Mandela mention?

Ans: Mandela mentions that every person has twin obligations, one is, obligation to his family, parents, wife and children. Another is, obligation to his people, community and country.

Question: 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"?

Ans: As a boy, Mandela did not have a hunger to be free as he thought that he was born free. As long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in every way he knew.

As a student, he wanted certain "transitory freedoms" only for himself, such as being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he chose. He then talks about certain "basic honourable freedoms" such as achieving his potential of earning his living and of marrying and having a family. He builds the contrast between these two freedoms by Stating that the transitory freedoms he wanted were limited to him, whereas the honourable freedoms had to do more with him and his people's position in the society.

Question: 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 of their humanity.

Question: Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?

Ans: To celebrate the end of apartheid, a large number of international leaders attended the inauguration. They also came to declare that South Africa was now accepted as a part of the international community and to pay their respects to the man who had made it possible.

It signified the victory of good over evil and triumph of a tolerant society without any discrimination.

Question: What does Mandela mean when he says he is "simply the sum of all those African patriots" Who had gone before him?

Ans: By saying that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots, 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: 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 with the statement that the "depths of oppression" create "heights of character". 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 group of leaders of great characters and the oppression of British rule created and encouraged people of noble characters like Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai, Chandra Shekhar Ajad, Sardar 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: How did Mandela's understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

Ans: In his boyhood and as a student, Mandela believed that freedom meant something to do for himself like playing as he wanted, reading what he liked and going where he chose and stay out at night. But, when he grew up, he realised that neither he nor his people were truly free. Then he joined the African National Congress and the hunger for his own freedom changed into a hunger for the freedom of all his people.

Question: How did Mandela's 'hunger for freedom' change his life?

Ans: When Mandela was a boy or a student, he understood that the freedoms were only for himself and transitory freedoms. As he joined the African National Congress, his hunger for freedom became greater for the freedom of his people. This changed him a frightened young man to a bold one. Then, he became a criminal. At that situation, his thinking turned a family-loving man into a man without a home and forced a life-loving man to live like a monk. Thus, Mandela's 'hunger for freedom' had changed his life.

Thinking about Language

I. There are nouns in the text (formation, government) which are formed from the corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suffixing (at)ion or ment. There may be a change in the spelling of some verb - noun pairs: such as rebel, rebellion; constitute, constitution.

1. Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text.

      Noun                                Verb

      rebellion                          rebel

      constitution                     constitute

Ans:

        Noun                                  Verb

        rebellion                          rebel

        constitution                     constitute

        inauguration                   inaugurate

        oppression                       oppress

        separation                        separate

        installation                       install

        expression                        express

        deprivation                      deprive

        achievement                    achieve

        discrimination                discriminate

        imagination                     imagine

        celebration                      celebrate

        demonstration                demonstrate

        domination                      dominate

2. Read the paragraph below. Fill in the blanks with the noun forms of the verbs in brackets.

Martin Luther King's ______ (contribute) to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the ______ (assist) of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days American Blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would mean ______ (subjugate) and ______ (humiliate) by the police and the legal system. Beatings, ______ (imprison) and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King's tactics of protest involved non-violent ______ (resist) to racial injustice.

Ans:

Martin Luther King's contribution to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the assistance of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days American Blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would mean subjugation and humiliation by the police and the legal system. Beatings, imprisonment and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King's tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance to racial injustice.

II. Using the Definite Article with Names

You know that the definite article 'the' is not normally used before proper nouns. Nor do proper nouns usually occur in the plural. (We do not say: The Nelson Mandela, or "Nelson Mandelas.) But now look at this sentence from the text:

...the decades of oppression and brutality... produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, ... of our time.

Used in this way with the and/or in the plural, a proper noun carries a special meaning. For example, what do you think the names above mean? Choose the right answer.

(a) for example Oliver Walter Sisulu, ...

(b) many other men like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu .../many men of their type or kind, whose names may not be as well known.

Did you choose option (b)? Then you have the right answer!

Here are some more examples of 'the' used with proper names. Try to say what these sentences mean. (You may consult a dictionary if you wish. Look at the entry for 'the'.)

1. Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.

2. Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times. 

3. History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.

III. Idiomatic Expressions

Match the italicised phrases in Column A with the phrase nearest meaning in Column B. (Hint: First look for the sentence in the text in which the phrase in Column A occurs.)  OR

Find out the right meaning from the option a/b/c.

 1. I was not unmindful of the fact

(a) had not forgotten: was aware of the fact 

(b) was not careful about the fact

(c) forgot or was not aware of the fact

Ans: (a) had not forgotten: was aware of the fact 

2. when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits

 (a) pushed by the guards to the wall

(b) took more than our share of beatings

(c) felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer

Ans: (c) felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer

3. to reassure me and keep me going

(a) make me go on walking 

(b) help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation

(c) make me remain without complaining

First Flight

Ans: (b) help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation

4. the basic and honourable freedoms of..earning my keep...

(a) earning enough money to live on 

(b) keeping what I earned

(c) getting a good salary

Ans: (a) earning enough money to live on 

Writing

I. Looking at Contrasts

Nelson Mandela's writing is marked by balance: many sentences have two parts in balance.

Use the following phrases to complete the sentences given below.

(i) they can be taught to love.

(ii) I was born free. 

(iii) but the triumph over it.

(iv) but he who conquers that fear.

(v) to create such heights of character.

1. It requires such depths of oppression ________

2. Courage was not the absence of fear ________

3. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid ________

4. If people can learn to hate ________

5. I was not born with a hunger to be free ________

Ans:

1. It requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character.

2. Courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.

3. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear.

4. If people can learn to hate they can be taught to love.

5. I was not born with a hunger to be free  I was born free. 

II. This text repeatedly contrasts the past with the present or the future. We can use coordinated clauses to contrast two views, for emphasis or effect. Given below are sentences carrying one part of the contrast. Find in the text the second part of the contrast, and complete each item. Identify the words which signal the contrast. This has been done for you in the first item.

1. For decades the Union Buildings had been the seat of white supremacy, and now _______

2. Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police... saluted me and pledged their loyalty. ... not so many years before they would not have saluted ________

3. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem.... they would soon ________

4. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, ________

5. The Air Show was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but ________

6. It was this desire for the freedom of my people... that transformed ________ into a bold one, that drove ________ criminal, that turned ________  into a man without a home.

Ans:

1. For decades the Union Buildings had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of rainbow gathering of different colors and nations for the installation of South Africa's first Democratic, non-racial, government.

2. Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police... saluted me and pledged their loyalty. ... not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me.

3. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem.... they would soon know the words by heart.

4. 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.

5. The Air Show was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military's loyalty to democracy.

6. It was this desire for the freedom of my people... 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.

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