Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom

1. Why was the 10th of May, 1994 a red-letter day in the history of South Africa?
10th of May 1994 was a red-letter day in the history of South Africa. It was the day when the dreadful
regime of apartheid came to an end. A new democratically elected non-racial government under
Nelson Mandela was to be sworn in. Many international leaders and dignitaries came to pay their
respect to the new government.

2. Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech used these two words ‘an extraordinary human disaster’
and so ‘glorious human achievement’. What did he mean by that?
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.

3. How was that site a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations?
The end of the apartheid regime was a common victory for peace, justice and human dignity. Leaders
and dignitaries of all nations irrespective of their colour, race and religion had gathered there to
celebrate that victory. So, the site presented a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations.

4. What is the greatest wealth of a country according to Nelson Mandela?

South Africa is rich in minerals and gems. But minerals and gems are not the greatest wealth of a
nation. Mandela thinks that the greatest and real wealth of a nation is its people. They are finer and
truer than the purest diamonds.

5. What different concepts of freedom did Mandela have at different stages of his life?
Mandela had different concepts of freedom at different stages of life. During childhood the meaning 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 broad backs of slow moving 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.

6. Why did inauguration ceremony take place in the amphitheatre formed by the Union Building in
Pretoria?
It was the first democratic, non-racial government taking oath in South Africa. The ceremony was
attended by dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world and thousands of the people
of South Africa of all the races to make the day memorable. So, it took place in, the amphitheatre
formed by the Union Building in Pretoria.

7. What are the ideals which Mandela set for the future of South Africa in his swearing- in ceremony?
Mandela emphasised to liberate all the people from poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other
discriminations in his swearing-in ceremony.
8. What does Nelson Mandela refer to as “an extraordinary human disaster”?
Nelson Mandela refers to the apartheid policy of the white race against the black people as “an
extraordinary human disaster”. White people snatched freedom from the coloured people of South

Africa to whom the country belonged. The black people were subjected to oppression for long. They
were not even allowed to discharge their obligations to their own families, community and their
country. White people had no compassion for them and oppressed their own people and put them in
prison. If they had some freedom, it was curtailed. The black people lived the life of a slave.

9. Why did Nelson Mandela feel that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their
humanity and hence, both of them must be liberated?
Nelson Mandela rightly believes that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their
humanity. A man who takes away another’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred. He is locked behind the
bars of prejudice and hate. A person can never be free if his freedom is taken away. Hence, the
oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity. Oppressor is a prisoner of hatred
while oppressed has no confidence in humanity. So both of them need to be liberated.

10. How is courage related to the brave man according to Nelson Mandela?
Nelson Mandela believes that courage is not the absence of fear, but it is the triumph over it. The brave
man is not the one who does not feel fear of any kind but he is the one who has the courage to conquer
it.

11. Describe the obligations which the author is talking about and also describe his feelings for them?
In the chapter the author has spoken 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
country. Being a social person one has to fulfil these obligations.
But being a black coloured person in South Africa, a man was not free to perform his obligations and
got punished if he tried to do that.
Being a child the author never thought of such obligations but after he did so, he fought for the people
and the country to be free and enjoy their freedom of performing their duties both personal as well as
social.

12. Describe the value of freedom for the 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’.
Everybody whether human or other creatures wants to live free as freedom is natural to all living
beings. The value of freedom is better known to that human being who has not tasted it till he gets it. A
person who is chained with the limits and not allowed to perform his duties freely, values freedom
more than anyone else. For instance, the value of freedom is known better to Mandela who remained
behind the bars most of his life. Think about a bird or animal which is caged as they have the habit of
living with full freedom but in the cage they are not free and their conditions are very pitiable.
Similarly, life becomes a 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 the atmosphere of freedom.