autobiography of nelson mandela class 10

• Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Summary Class 10 English

Summary of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Long Walk to Freedom is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, who was the former South African President. This article is for Nelson Mandela long walk to freedom summary. This chapter is the extracts from the “Long Walk to Freedom” book. It includes the description of the inauguration ceremony and citations from his speech and about his journey to being a freedom fighter. It says about the other countless people who fought for their freedom.   In South Africa, a brutal practice named “apartheid” was very popular in those days. It referred to the discrimination between people on the basis of their race and colour. It was one of the most brutal societies in which dark-skinned people were deprived of their basic rights. This lesson gives us an overview of the struggles of Mandela for making the society with no discrimination on the basis of their colour, caste, race, age or gender.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Summary in English

“A Long to Freedom”, by Nelson Mandela is all about the struggle of freedom of South-Africa. On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela has taken the vow as the first black president of South Africa. And therefore it was becoming a new-born democratic country. Nelson Mandela took the oath as the first black president.

Many dignitaries from different countries had come to be part of the most significant day. In his speech, Mandela thanked all those dignitaries. Mandela assured his countrymen that his country would never ever experience the same suppression of one by another. Democracy had been established in South Africa and as a result, a government of no discrimination was established.

Read more English Chapter Summaries here

The people of South Africa sang two National Anthems as a symbol of that day. Mandela recalled that the reason for this movement was that Black-skinned people were exploited by the White people. He said that this type of suppression of people of South Africa is the origin of many stars. People must learn to hate first, because if they hate then they can be taught to love, as love comes from the opposite circumstances. He also says that a brave man is not that who does not feel afraid but who conquers it.

In life, a man has two major obligations. First towards his family, to his parents, to his wife and to his children and second on the other hand obligation towards his country, people and the community. Everyone fulfils his duty as per his inclination and interest. But it was very tough to fulfil in a country like South Africa. When Mandela became an adult then he understood that his freedom was only an illusion. In fact, he was the slave of exploitation. He also understood that not only he was a slave but his other family members were also.

According to him, Freedom is also mandatory for them who were suppressing others in the past. They also have the right to have it because snatcher of other’s freedom is a prisoner of the same. Thus, the oppressor is as much a prisoner as the oppressed. The oppressor too is not free.

Conclusion of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

The brave man is not the one who does not feel afraid, but he is the one who conquers that fear. Mandela said that every man has his duties towards his country and community too.

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Biography of Nelson Mandela

Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in the village of Mvezo , in the Eastern Cape, on 18 July 1918. His mother was Nonqaphi Nosekeni and his father was Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo. In 1930, when he was 12 years old, his father died and the young Rolihlahla became a ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni 1 .

Hearing the elders’ stories of his ancestors’ valour during the wars of resistance, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.

He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher, Miss Mdingane, gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom of giving all schoolchildren “Christian” names.

He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated.

Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there as he was expelled for joining in a student protest.

On his return to the Great Place at Mqhekezweni the King was furious and said if he didn’t return to Fort Hare he would arrange wives for him and his cousin Justice. They ran away to Johannesburg instead, arriving there in 1941. There he worked as a mine security officer and after meeting Walter Sisulu, an estate agent, he was introduced to Lazer Sidelsky. He then did his articles through a firm of attorneys – Witkin, Eidelman and Sidelsky.

He completed his BA through the University of South Africa and went back to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943.

Nelson Mandela (top row, second from left) on the steps of Wits University.

Meanwhile, he began studying for an LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand. By his own admission he was a poor student and left the university in 1952 without graduating. He only started studying again through the University of London after his imprisonment in 1962 but also did not complete that degree.

In 1989, while in the last months of his imprisonment, he obtained an LLB through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town.

Entering politics

Mandela, while increasingly politically involved from 1942, only joined the African National Congress in 1944 when he helped to form the ANC Youth League (ANCYL).

In 1944 he married Walter Sisulu’s cousin, Evelyn Mase, a nurse. They had two sons, Madiba Thembekile "Thembi" and Makgatho, and two daughters both called Makaziwe, the first of whom died in infancy. He and his wife divorced in 1958.

Mandela rose through the ranks of the ANCYL and through its efforts, the ANC adopted a more radical mass-based policy, the Programme of Action, in 1949.

Nelson Mandela on the roof of Kholvad House in 1953.

In 1952 he was chosen as the National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign with Maulvi Cachalia as his deputy. This campaign of civil disobedience against six unjust laws was a joint programme between the ANC and the South African Indian Congress. He and 19 others were charged under the Suppression of Communism Act for their part in the campaign and sentenced to nine months of hard labour, suspended for two years.

A two-year diploma in law on top of his BA allowed Mandela to practise law, and in August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black-owned law firm in the 1950s, Mandela & Tambo. 2

At the end of 1952 he was banned for the first time. As a restricted person he was only permitted to watch in secret as the Freedom Charter was adopted in Kliptown on 26 June 1955.

The Treason Trial

Mandela was arrested in a countrywide police swoop on 5 December 1956, which led to the 1956 Treason Trial. Men and women of all races found themselves in the dock in the marathon trial that only ended when the last 28 accused, including Mandela, were acquitted on 29 March 1961.

On 21 March 1960 police killed 69 unarmed people in a protest in Sharpeville against the pass laws. This led to the country’s first state of emergency and the banning of the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) on 8 April. Mandela and his colleagues in the Treason Trial were among thousands detained during the state of emergency.

During the trial Mandela married a social worker, Winnie Madikizela, on 14 June 1958. They had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa. The couple divorced in 1996.

Days before the end of the Treason Trial, Mandela travelled to Pietermaritzburg to speak at the All-in Africa Conference, which resolved that he should write to Prime Minister Verwoerd requesting a national convention on a non-racial constitution, and to warn that should he not agree there would be a national strike against South Africa becoming a republic. After he and his colleagues were acquitted in the Treason Trial, Mandela went underground and began planning a national strike for 29, 30 and 31 March.

In the face of massive mobilisation of state security the strike was called off early. In June 1961 he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation), which launched on 16 December 1961 with a series of explosions.

Madiba travelled with his Ethiopian passport.

On 11 January 1962, using the adopted name David Motsamayi, Mandela secretly left South Africa. He travelled around Africa and visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. He received military training in Morocco and Ethiopia and returned to South Africa in July 1962. He was arrested in a police roadblock outside Howick on 5 August while returning from KwaZulu-Natal, where he had briefed ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli about his trip.

He was charged with leaving the country without a permit and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment, which he began serving at the Pretoria Local Prison. On 27 May 1963 he was transferred to Robben Island and returned to Pretoria on 12 June. Within a month police raided Liliesleaf, a secret hideout in Rivonia, Johannesburg, used by ANC and Communist Party activists, and several of his comrades were arrested.

On 9 October 1963 Mandela joined 10 others on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. While facing the death penalty his words to the court at the end of his famous "Speech from the Dock" on 20 April 1964 became immortalised:

“ I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. ” Speech from the Dock quote by Nelson Mandela on 20 April 1964

On 11 June 1964 Mandela and seven other accused, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Denis Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni, were convicted and the next day were sentenced to life imprisonment. Goldberg was sent to Pretoria Prison because he was white, while the others went to Robben Island.

Mandela’s mother died in 1968 and his eldest son, Thembi, in 1969. He was not allowed to attend their funerals.

On 31 March 1982 Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town with Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni. Kathrada joined them in October. When he returned to the prison in November 1985 after prostate surgery, Mandela was held alone. Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee visited him in hospital. Later Mandela initiated talks about an ultimate meeting between the apartheid government and the ANC.

A picture captured during a rare visit from his comrades at Victor Verster Prison.

Release from prison

On 12 August 1988 he was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. After more than three months in two hospitals he was transferred on 7 December 1988 to a house at Victor Verster Prison near Paarl where he spent his last 14 months of imprisonment. He was released from its gates on Sunday 11 February 1990, nine days after the unbanning of the ANC and the PAC and nearly four months after the release of his remaining Rivonia comrades. Throughout his imprisonment he had rejected at least three conditional offers of release.

Mandela immersed himself in official talks to end white minority rule and in 1991 was elected ANC President to replace his ailing friend, Oliver Tambo. In 1993 he and President FW de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize and on 27 April 1994 he voted for the first time in his life.

On 10 May 1994 he was inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected President. On his 80 th birthday in 1998 he married Graça Machel, his third wife.

True to his promise, Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He continued to work with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund he set up in 1995 and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

In April 2007 his grandson, Mandla Mandela, was installed as head of the Mvezo Traditional Council at a ceremony at the Mvezo Great Place.

Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life is an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived; and to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.

He died at his home in Johannesburg on 5 December 2013.

1. Nelson Mandela's father died in 1930 when Mandela was 12 and his mother died in 1968 when he was in prison. While the autobiography Long Walk to Freedom says his father died when he was nine, historical evidence shows it must have been later, most likely 1930. In fact, the original Long Walk to Freedom manuscript (written on Robben Island) states the year as 1930, when he was 12.

2. have established that there were at least 2 other black owned law firms before Mandela and Tambo.

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NCERT Solutions Class 10 English Chapter 2: A Long Walk to Freedom Class

• Updated on  
• Jan 13, 2024

A Long Walk to Freedom is the 2nd chapter of the Class 10 English syllabus , which is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid revolutionary and first black prime minister who served South Africa from 1994 -1999. The following is the summary of A Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 and the prose section which includes Mandela’s inauguration ceremony and excerpts from his speeches which illustrate the struggles Mandela had to undergo as a freedom fighter. Let’s learn everything about a long walk to Freedom Class 10 notes.

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Nelson mandela a long walk to freedom class 10 summary, a long walk to freedom class 10 notes, a long walk to freedom class 10  ppt, nelson mandela class 10 questions and answers.

A Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 PDF

After nearly three centuries of white supremacy in South Africa, the country witnessed its first Black President, Nelson Mandela who be won the first and foremost democratic elections on May 10, 1994. Mandela’s party clocked in a historic win with 252 votes out of 400. A Long Walk to Freedom chapter in Class 10 is an extract from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography which elucidates the struggle faced by the black community in South Africa riddled with apartheid. Here is a summary of A Long Walk to Freedom:

• Mandela took his oath as the President in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria in the presence of several prominent political figures and world leaders across the globe. He commenced his speech by addressing all the dignitaries and assured the citizens they would never experience similar suppression of one group over another.
• Nelson Mandela vowed that in the democratic country that he’d established there would never be discrimination against people, irrespective of caste, colour, creed or race and that government would treat people with due respect and equality.
• On this historic inauguration, the country’s citizens sang 2 national anthems. The white people sang ‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika’ and the black people recited the iconic ‘Die Stem’ which was a stark reminder of the exploitation of the black community in South Africa.
• Deeply pained by the racist history, Nelson Mandela said that this type of discrimination of black people in their very own land was one of the harshest and most inhuman the world had ever known. He emphasised that people are not born to hate others on the basis of skin colour, background or religion and they can be taught to love because love comes naturally to human beings than hate. 

Must Read: Nelson Mandela International Day

• An important part of Mandela’s speech in A Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 extract, Mandela stated that a man has 2 obligations in his life; one towards his family and the other towards his motherland, countrymen and community and as per their own interests and inclinations, man is able to fulfil these obligations. However, as a black man in a country like South Africa, Mandela found it increasingly difficult to do so. As he became an adult, Mandela saw freedom as an illusion for his community.
• Mandela further believed that freedom was indivisible for all. Still, he saw that the black community is facing oppression and tyranny. It emulated the profound idea that the oppressor must be liberated just like the oppressed because a person who snatches another’s freedom is also a prisoner of similar oppression. Therefore the oppressor wasn’t any freer than the oppressed because they were bound by the same chains of oppression.

Must Read: Education of Nelson Mandela

Here is a rundown of this chapter to help you quickly revise A Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela:

• The chapter Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom starts with Nelson Mandela talking about how it is a beautiful day for the country since they are getting their first non-white democratically elected government. He then tells the names of the people who become deputy Presidents before he takes his oath as the president in the presence of foreign dignitaries, people of his beloved country, army officials and his daughter – Zenani.
• This beautiful grand inauguration was the first and largest gathering of international leaders in South Africa. His first speech as the president of South Africa hails this glorious moment as the victory of justice, peace and human dignity, which has been achieved with great difficulty after a very long fight against Apartheid. He concludes the speech by pledging to uplift his country’s people from poverty, deprivation, suffering, and discrimination.
• He also describes all the beautiful things that happen in the ceremony, like the show that jets, troop carriers and helicopters do with beautiful stunts and colours of the African national flag. When the defence forces and police salute and pledge loyalty to him, he is mindful of how far they have come because a few years before this day, the same officers would have arrested him instead of saluting him. The 2 national anthems playing with the whites singing the African and the Africans singing the anthem, which the state previously used, symbolized the harmony and peace he wanted to see in his country.
• Mandela seems a little overwhelmed when he takes his contemporary fighters’ names who worked and sacrificed for their country’s freedom and this day. He feels he is “the total of all the African patriots” who came before him and is saddened that he cannot personally thank them for all that they did for the country. He says he is no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man, but he discovered that he could not enjoy whatever little freedom he had with the knowledge that his people were not free either.

Must Read: How Does Nelson Mandela Define the Meaning of Courage?

In Nelson Mandela’s A Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela stated his belief that his country is rich in minerals and metals, but the people of his country were the real greatest wealth for him “finer and truer than the purest diamond”. Nelson Mandela believes “No one is born hating another person because of his skin colour or background or religion.”

According to Mandela, people are born free of such prejudices. He says that the oppressor and the oppressed both needed to be liberated – the oppressor from their inhuman condition and the oppressor from their prison of hatred. Believing that men learn to hate, he says they can learn to love, which is easier because love comes easier to people than hate.

Here is the speech by Nelson Mandela that is covered in this chapter:

Also Read: The Frog and the Nightingale Summary Class 10 English

Here are some important questions and answers for A Long Walk to Freedom Class 10:

Ans. He referred to the heinous practice of apartheid as “an extraordinary human disaster”. During apartheid in South Africa, there was racial segregation which caused immense suffering to the black community. Demand for freedom or any kind of basic human right was a far-fetched dream. Mandela was himself imprisoned in the infamous “Robben Island” and beaten mercilessly. He considered becoming the 1st Black Prime Minister in South Africa a glorious achievement because South Africa was a country that would even regard black people as human beings let alone give them positions of power.

Ans. The book was published in December 1994. There is also a movie on it available on Netflix if you are interested to learn more about the book.

Ans. Mandela’s swearing-in ceremony was historic because not too long ago blacks were considered outlaws in their own motherland. Mandela was honoured to have the international leaders witness this historical moment. Not only was this a sign of international recognition of a newly born democratic South Africa, it was also the victory of peace, justice and humanity.

Ans. Growing up, freedom for Mandela meant making merry and living a blissful life. But as he grew he realized his childhood antics were wasteful from an adult perspective. As an adult freedom for him meant an honourable existence, earning one’s daily bread and fending for the family.

Ans. The story revolves around the theme of getting freedom after a very long struggle due to the courage of all the people who sacrificed so much for equality and peace in the country, much like India’s own freedom struggle. The celebration when a country gets its freedom is also shown in the story.

Ans. The moral of the story is that the oppressor and the oppressed both lose humanity. One through hatred and the other through oppression and hence both need to be liberated from these inhumane prisons. Mandela’s belief that people are born free of hatred and learn it later is also a very enlightening lesson we learn from the chapter. The people learn to hate and therefore they can also learn to love is a beautiful takeaway from the lesson.

Ans. Apartheid was the political system in South Africa due to which people were discriminated against based on their skin colour hence the native black people had almost negligible rights and freedom. The generals who would have arrested Nelson Mandela a few years ago saluted him and pledged their loyalty to him because he had been one of the key members in their fight against apartheid and now they had won the fight. Nelson was the new president and there was no difference between white and black.

Ans. On 10 th May, 1994 the first democratically elected government was established with their first non-white president as Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Hence it is a moment of glorious historical significance for the country.

Ans. According to Nelson Mandela, a man has two obligations in his life. One is towards his family and friends the other is towards his people and country.  

Ans. For Nelson Mandela, Courage doesn’t mean the lack of fear but acceptance and winning over it. He learnt the true meaning of courage from thousands of freedom fighters and people who gave countless sacrifices for their country.

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Ans. Mandela wanted freedom for himself as a student.

Ans. 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.

Ans. In the chapter, the author 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 country. Being a social person one has to fulfil these obligations.

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CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Summary & Notes

• Written by Arushi
• Publish on December 22, 2023

Chapter 2 in the Class 10 English textbook, ‘First Flight,’ is about Nelson Mandela’s autobiography titled “Long Walk to Freedom.” Nelson Mandela, the first black President of South Africa, was a leader in the fight against apartheid. He served as the country’s president from 1994 to 1999. You can read a summary of a passage from the book “Long Walk to Freedom” here. It covers Nelson Mandela’s inauguration ceremony, highlights from his speech, and the challenges he encountered as a freedom fighter.

CBSE Class 10 English Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Summary

“Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” is a part of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s autobiography, portraying the fight for the freedom of black people in South Africa. On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela took the oath as South Africa’s first Black President, marking the end of over three centuries of White rule. His party secured 252 seats out of 400 in the first-ever democratic elections in South Africa’s history.

Numerous dignitaries and political leaders from various nations participated in the inauguration ceremony held at the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria. In his speech, Mandela addressed all dignitaries with respect and reassured his fellow citizens that his country would never face the kind of oppression where one group dominates another. When he took the oath as the first black President, he instated democracy, emphasizing a commitment to no discrimination based on caste, colour, creed, or race. Mandela pledged that the government would consistently treat all people in the country with respect and equality.

The day of Mandela’s inauguration held great symbolism as the South African people sang two national anthems. The white population sang ‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika,’ while the black population sang ‘Die Stem,’ the former anthem of the Republic. These moments served as reminders to Mandela of the historical exploitation of black-skinned people by whites. He keenly felt the pain of his race, emphasizing that the previous suppression and racial dominance of white-skinned people over dark-skinned people on their own land created one of the harshest and most inhumane societies ever seen. Mandela strongly believed that individuals are not born to hate others based on skin colour, background, or religion. He expressed the idea that people must learn to hate because if they learn to hate, they can be taught to love as well, as love comes more naturally to humans than hate. Additionally, he highlighted that how a person becomes brave, not because he does not feel afraid, but because he knows how to conquer his fears.

Moreover, Mandela stated that every person has two big responsibilities in life. The first is to take care of their family, like parents, spouse, and kids. The second is to care for their country, fellow citizens, and community. People can fulfill these duties in ways that suit their interests. But for a black person in South Africa before democracy, it was hard to do both. Mandela realized as he grew up that freedom seemed like a fake and temporary thing for black people in his country. He felt they were treated unfairly, like they were slaves, by the white people.

Mandela believed that freedom should apply to everyone, without exception. However, people of his colour and race were trapped in oppressive and tyrannical conditions. He understood that both the oppressors and the oppressed needed liberation because those who take away someone else’s freedom also become prisoners of the same oppression. Therefore, the oppressor is not truly free and also experiences the restriction of oppression.

Conclusion of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

In the chapter “Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” we discovered that courageous individuals are not those who never feel afraid but rather those who know how to overcome it. Mandela firmly believed that each person has specific duties and responsibilities to fulfill towards their own country and community.

We trust that this summary of the CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Prose, Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom has provided you with a quick grasp of the chapter. Stay connected with GK Publications for the latest updates on CBSE and study materials. Explore sample papers and question papers from various years to enhance your preparation for the Board exams.

Arushi Kaul

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• NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 2 - Nelson Mandela Long Walk To Freedom
• NCERT Solutions

Class 10 English Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela

When it comes to studying and scoring for exams, there is no doubt that students need to have some help. This is one of the main reasons why students need Nelson Mandela Class 10 NCERT Solutions. Class 10 students need to pay attention to their work at school because it is an important year for them. This is where NCERT Solution help them. Well, Chapter 2 of  Class 10 English Book is called Nelson Mandela Long Walk To Freedom. The chapter focuses on the life of Nelson Mandela and his struggles to become the first Black President of South Africa. With the help of Class 10 English Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela, students can get answers to all the questions which are available at the end of the chapter. It will save a lot of their time and help them score better in CBSE examinations. Download NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths from Vedantu, which are curated by master teachers. Science Students who are looking for Class 10 Science NCERT Solutions will also find the Solutions curated by our Master Teachers really Helpful.

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Access NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter -2 Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom with Questions and Answers

Summary of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

The story ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ is extracted from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography. It discusses the historic occasion of him becoming  South Africa’s first Black President as well as his ideas and opinions on freedom. Nelson Mandela was of the opinion that he had an obligation to his people along with his family. This story showcases his thoughts on the mistreatment that people of colour were subjected to. Mandela desired and sought equality for everyone, without any consideration for caste, creed or colour.

He believed in prioritising his people and nation over all other obligations. He refused to follow or observe the customs of his tribe. Nelson Mandela thought that every individual should be allowed to be emancipated politically. Thus, he pledged to free the African people from bondage, slavery, poverty, deprivation, gender inequality and other bases of discrimination.

Oral Comprehension Check (pg. 18)

1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?

Ans: Union Building of Pretoria was the place where the ceremonies took place. The Parliament House in New Delhi, the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi, and the Madras High Court in Chennai are all notable sandstone monuments in India.

2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Ans: South Africa lies in the Southern Hemisphere. Hence, the autumn season falls in May. It was the day of South Africa's largest gathering, with many international leaders in attendance to witness the installation of the country's first non-racial democratic 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: “An extraordinary human disaster” meant that the native Africans and the coloured people had to suffer a lot due to discrimination done by the British government. It was a glorious achievement, not only for the Africans but also for the people around the world. A coloured person became the President after the country was exploited for many years. In South Africa, the government ensured liberty not only to the black citizens but also to the whites.

4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Ans: While addressing everyone in his speech, Mandela thanked all the international leaders who came to witness this glorious moment. He felt privileged to gather international support for his country. It also helped him bring to light the issues that Africans faced at the hands of the British. Mandela becoming the President of Africa was not only their victory but the victory of justice, peace, and human rights across the globe.

5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?

Ans: Mandela wanted to work for the upliftment of everyone. He tried to address the finer details that would make Africa a progressing nation in the long run. He focused on the alleviation of poverty and suffering. He also wanted his nation to be free from racial discrimination and a safe place for blacks, white and coloured individuals.

Oral Comprehension Check (pg. 21)

1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?

Ans: The military earlier arrested and disrespected the Blacks. But after Mandela became the President of South Africa, the highest military generals of South Africa saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty towards the new emerging Africa.

2. Why were two national anthems sung?

Ans: Nelson Mandela wanted to make Africa a safe and equal country for everyone and promote universal brotherhood. So, on the day of the inauguration one national anthem was sung by whites and the other by blacks.

3. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country 

(i) in the first decade

Ans: In the first decade the racial discrimination between the blacks and white, the whites set themselves on higher pedestal and created grounds for one of the gravest racial discrimination the world had ever known. The dark skinned were treated as inferior in their own land and were denied even basic human rights.

(ii) in the final decade of the twentieth century?

Ans: In the final decade of twentieth century the racial discrimination was eradicated and was replaced by equal rights for all, irrespective of their colour.

4. What does courage mean to Mandela?

Ans: Mandela’s definition of courage did not mean absence of fear but victory over fear. A man should not be fearless. He should acknowledge the fear and gather courage to fight against it.

5. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?

Ans: It is natural for the human heart to love than to hate, according to Mandela.

Oral Comprehension Check (pg. 24)

1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?

Ans: Mandela mentions that every man shoulders responsibility first towards his family, wife, children, and parents and towards his nation and community.

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 honourable freedoms”?

Ans:  Like any other kid for Mandela also the freedom meant the freedom to make merry and enjoy a blissful life. He was allowed everything till the time he followed the rules laid out by his father and the tribe. After growing up he realized freedom had a more deeper meaning and value than he actually thought. It meant equality and honour for all. As an adult you will have to make sure there is food for the family and honour of the family is held high.

3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?

Ans: An oppressor, according to Mandela, is not free because he becomes a prisoner of hatred, imprisoned by prejudice and narrow-mindedness. They are stripped of their humanity, and the privilege of being human is taken away from them.

Thinking about the Text 24

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

Ans: The Britishers ruled over various countries around the world and exploited them for their own gains. Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa, after so many years of oppression, signified their win against the oppressors. The presence of international leaders at an important event signifies their appreciation of the struggle that Africa went through. It showed that all the nations around the world were standing in unity with Africa. 

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 was inspired by the passion of individuals and freedom fighters, who had in their hearts a desire to free their country from the shackles of British oppression. He believed that those patriots who died before him paved this path for him and without their sacrifice, this would not have been possible. He held their sacrifice as well as the other citizens who sacrificed themselves for the nation at a pedestal. He wanted to pay his tribe for all the lives that were a part of this freedom struggle and work towards what they imagined future Africa to be.

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 believe that “depths of oppression” create “heights of character.” It is when we face adverse situations, we realize the potential we hold. Adverse situations help us to come out of our bubble and discover the strength that lies deep within us. Nelson Mandela never thought as a child that he would fight for the freedom of the citizens and nations. He was ready to sacrifice himself for the freedom of his nation. He served around 27 years in prison and then became the first President of independent South Africa. 

4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

Ans: Since Mandela was a part of an African tribe, he was shouldered with responsibilities from a noticeably early age. As a young boy, Mandela was concerned about his own freedom. He considered himself to be free since he wasn't imposed with any restrictions. He was just asked to abide by his father’s and communities' rules. As he grew up and developed a better understanding of the world, he realized how selfish his view of freedom was. He understood that it's not only his freedom that matters but also other fellow black members and the residents of the country. It was after this realized he stepped into politics, to achieve this aim.

5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?

Ans: Realization about the importance of the freedom of the country hit Mandela when he was young. He valued his freedom but eventually realized that if the citizens of his country aren't free then his freedom holds no importance. He held in his heart a desire for non-racial society and wanted everyone to have equal rights, irrespective of them being black or white. His own hunger for freedom soon grew into hunger for the freedom of his own people and he joined the African National Congress which acted as a stepping stone into his political career. 

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 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.

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 Lither King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent____________  (resist) to racial injustice.

Ans: Martin Luther King’s contribution (contribute) to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the assistance (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 subjugation (subjugation) and humiliation (humiliation) by the police and the legal system. Beatings, imprisonment (imprison) and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance (resist) to racial injustice.

II. 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 Bachchan's 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.

1. This means that Mr Singh regularly invites famous personalities such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.

2. This means that Madhuri Dixit is placed on a pedestal in acting just like the legendary actress, Madhubala.

3. This means that history is not only the story of the great fighters and leaders such as Alexander, Napoleon and Hitler, but also of ordinary people.

III. 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.) 

In groups, discuss the issues suggested in the box below. Then prepare a speech of about two minutes on the following topic. (First make notes for your speech in writing.) 

True liberty is freedom from poverty, deprivation, and all forms of discrimination. 

• causes of poverty and means of overcoming it 
• discrimination based on gender, religion, class, etc.
• constitutionally guaranteed human rights

Ans: True liberty is freedom from poverty, deprivation, and all forms of discrimination. Liberty doesn't mean freedom from external colonial government but it also means liberty of mind and all social constrictions. Poverty is the state of being extremely poor and not being able to provide enough for yourself. One of the major reasons for the increase in the poverty rate is the rise of capitalism and the poor not being aware of their rights because of lack of education. Government should make schemes to provide free and compulsory education and vocational training to the poor. 

Our society discriminates against individuals based on caste, class, gender, religion etc. Being a secular country, we should learn to live with unity and avoid these shallow issues that come between us. In togetherness lies immense strength and we should stick together to work for the betterment of our country. We as individuals need to change our subconscious regarding these aspects so that we can be more accepting of the change. The government and constitution should guarantee equal rights to everyone. Guaranteeing human rights not only makes an individual feel safe but also provides trust in his nation and government.

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 triumph over it. 

(iv) But he who conquers that fear. 

(v) To create such heights of character. 

1. It requires such depths of oppression ___________________

Ans: (v) to create such heights of character.

2. Courage was not the absence of fear __________________

Ans: (iii) but the triumph over it.

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

Ans: (iv) but he who conquers that fear

4. If people can learn to hate _________________

Ans: (i) they can be taught to love

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

Ans: (ii) 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 .....

Ans: It was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations.

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 ________________

Ans: but arrested me.

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

Ans: know the words by heart.

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

Ans: but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.

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

Ans: but a demonstration of the military's loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected.

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

Ans: frightened young man, a law-abiding attorney, a family-loving husband

III. Expressing Your Opinion

Do you think there is colour prejudice in our own country? Discuss this with your friend and write a paragraph of about 100 to 150 words about this. You have the option of making your paragraph a humorous one. (Read the short verse given below.) 

When you were born you were pink 

When you grew up you became white

When you are in the sun you are red 

When you are sick you are yellow 

When you are angry you are purple 

When you are shocked you are grey 

And you have the cheek to call me ‘coloured’.

Ans: Yes, there is colour prejudice in my country. I belong to an Asian country where pale skin isn't that common. But I have seen a lot of people judge and stereotype people based on their colour. Pale individuals are considered better looking and more attractive than those who have darker skin tones. Society conditions the younger individuals in such a way that they should be ashamed of their skin tone if they are on the brown side of the palette. They are casually made fun of and taunted by their friends and family about it, accompanied by their advice to use skin lightening products. This reduces the self-confidence of an individual and makes them feel unacceptable and unworthy of any human affection. I believe this is a very shallow way to judge or form an opinion about someone.

5 Important Questions from Previous Years

We have provided five questions from CBSE Previous Year’s Papers which we think are important for the Class 10 Board exams. Therefore, the students must make a note for all these questions that are given below. 

Q1. What did freedom mean to Mandela in childhood? \[\left [ \text{CBSE 2015} \right ]\]

Q2. What did Mandela think about the oppressor and the oppressed? \[\left [ \text{CBSE 2011} \right ]\]

Q3. What did Mandela realise about his brothers and sisters? \[\left [ \text{CBSE 2012} \right ]\]

Q4. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Why is 10th May 1994 important for South Africa? \[\left [ \text{CBSE 2012} \right ]\]

Q5. 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’. \[\left [ \text{CBSE 2014} \right ]\]

Chapter - 2 English Class 10 First Flight

You can refer to Class 10 English Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela Solution to explore his life in details. The solutions are prepared by some of the best experts and hence students can completely rely on the accuracy of the answers. The first part of the Chapter focuses mostly on the struggles of Nelson Mandela. Students can get an insight into the life of the First Black President of South Africa and so much more by reading the chapter.

In case they need some additional help with their homework, there is Nelson Mandela Long Walk To Freedom Class 10 Solution PDF available right here. There are different oral comprehensive questions and other tasks at the end of the chapter. Students can get some information by attempting these questions. However, with the assistance of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Nelson Mandela, they can easily make sure that they know the answers.

Following are some of the benefits that might come from referring to the Nelson Mandela Long Walk To Freedom Class 10 Solution. Make sure that you understand every single point.

Get Better Results

By referring to the solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2, you can make sure that you can impress your teachers and invigilators with detailed and well-crafted answers. This will help you in getting better results. With proper practice and memorizing the answers, you will be able to frame new thoughts and confidence in your mind. Doesn’t that seem like an amazing option? Well, that is one of the main reasons why we would want to help you out with Nelson Mandela Class 10 th solutions.

Another reason why students should go for Class 10th English First Flight Chapter 2 Solutions is that it saves a lot of time. Do you want to study hard without having to worry about drafting answers for questions at the end of the chapters? Well, this is where Vedantu’s solutions come in handy. These amazing solutions are easy to download and you get the correct answers for every single question. So, that saves a lot of your time which you can use to prepare for exams.

Why Choose Class 10th English Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela Solutions?

Vedantu is one of the well-known names when it comes to providing answers to various questions. We are providing students with multiple options to choose their solutions. The solutions are created by experts who have experience in teaching. Hence, students can put their faith in Vedantu as we make sure that they ace their exams with these answers that we have for them. These answers are available in the PDF format for download on different devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, etc.

NCERT solutions provided by Vedantu are very helpful for the students preparing for their board exams, especially, for students who are looking for reliable and authentic sources to start their preparation. These solutions strictly adhere to the pattern provided by CBSE for the evaluation of exams copy. Students can refer to Vedantu’s solutions by visiting its website to get good marks in their exams. 

Along with this, students can also view additional study materials provided by Vedantu, for Class 10 

NCERT Solutions For Class 10

Revision Notes for Class 10

CBSE Class 10 Syllabus

NCERT Class 10 English First Flight Chapterwise Solutions

Chapter-1 A Letter to God

Chapter-3 Two Stories about Flying

Chapter-4 From the Diary of Anne Frank

Chapter-5 The Hundred Dresses – I

Chapter-6 The Hundred Dresses – II

Chapter-7 Glimpses of India

Chapter-8 Mijbil the Otter

Chapter-9 Madam Rides the Bus

Chapter-10 The Sermon at Benares

Chapter-11 The Proposal

FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 2 - Nelson Mandela Long Walk To Freedom

1. Where can Students Find CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Solutions?

CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela Solutions can be found on the website and the application of Vedantu. These solutions are easy to download and will not take much time. The solutions are created with the help of experienced teachers who have an idea about the topic.

2. How can one Download NCERT Solution Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2?

You need to visit the website and download the PDF File to get the solutions. You can avail these solutions for free at Vedantu.

3. Who was Mandela, according to Chapter 2 of Class 10 English First Flight?

Nelson Mandela, named Madiba and full name Rolihlahla Mandela, was born on July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa. He was a black nationalist and the first Black President in South Africa. His negotiations with South African Pres. F.W. de Klerk in the early 1900s helped end the apartheid system of racial segregation in the country and brought upon a peaceful transition to the majority rule. For their effort, Mandela and de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

4. How did Mandela's understanding of freedom change with age and experience, according to Chapter 2 of Class 10 English First Flight?

With age and experience, Nelson Mandela's understanding of freedom changed. During his childhood, he felt free and was carefree. He could do everything that he wanted without having to worry about anything else in the world. However, later in his life, he desired other things, and his definition of freedom changed. Once he gained some perspective and experience, he realized that the black Africans did not have any freedom. He needed to fight and make sure that it was restored.

5. Why does Nelson Mandela thank the international leaders?

Nelson Mandela felt privileged as South African was playing host to some of the world's most powerful nations. Not a long time ago, people from South Africa were considered to be outlaws. He thanked all the international leaders as they witnessed him becoming the President of South Africa. This event was considered to be a victory for human dignity, peace, and justice. 

6. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of in Chapter 2 of Class 10 English First Flight?

Until Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa, the country was in the grips of apartheid. Before this, he was considered to be an outlaw by other nations. So, when he became President, apartheid was abolished, but diplomatic relations with other countries were restored. In order to be a part of this inauguration, a large number of international leaders showed solidarity from the international community to the end of apartheid. This was the significance of the triumph of good over evil and the victory of a tolerant society that does not discriminate.

7. 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?

By "an extraordinary human disaster', Nelson Mandela refers to the practice of apartheid in South Africa. He is talking about the suffering of the blacks and racial segregation based on colour. They were not allowed to have any rights or freedom. Mandela spent several years as a prisoner on the infamous 'Robben Island' where he was mercilessly beaten. He considers a black President of the country a "glorious human achievement" as blacks were treated badly and were not even considered human beings. For more in-depth knowledge refer to the NCERT Solutions of Chapter 2 of Class 10 English First Flight available free of cost on the Vedantu website and the Vedantu app.

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Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom 10 English, First Flight – Summary, Explanation, Word Meanings

Last Updated on July 3, 2023 By Mrs Shilpi Nagpal

Nelson Mandela, Class 10 English, First Flight

Detailed explanation of “Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom”, including definitions of difficult words. In addition, the explanation is followed by a lesson summary. Also, NCERT Question and Answers are also provided to help students understand this Chapter and do well in their exams.

☛ NCERT Solutions – Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom

• 1 Introduction 
• 3 Word Meanings

Introduction 

The chapter is an extract from autobiography of Nelson Mandela’s, the First Black President of South Africa. It provides us a glimpse of the early life of Nelson Mandela, his education, thirty years in prison and the pains he had suffered in his young age. It also recounts his fight for the freedom of his own people who were tortured by the whites. It also mentions the contributions of other freedom fighters of his nation.

The oath taking ceremony of Nelson Mandela, the first black President of South Africa, and his colleagues took place on 10 th May, 1994. It was a historic occasion. Dignitaries and representatives of 140 countries came to attend it. The ceremony took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre, formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Nelson Mandela had come to the ceremony with his daughter Zenani.

First, Mr. De Klerk was the 2nd Deputy President, then Thabo Mbeki the 1 st Deputy President were sworn in. Nelson Mandela took oath as the President. He pledged to obey and uphold the constitution and devote himself to the well-being of the republic and its people.

After taking the oath, President Mandela addressed the guests. He promised to create a society of which all humanity would be proud. He welcomed and thanked the international leaders for joining the ceremony that represented a common victory of justice, peace and human dignity. After getting political freedom, his government pledged to liberate people from the bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations. He wished the sun of freedom to shine on his country forever. He also promised that the new society would bring hope, equality and freedom to all.

After the oath ceremony, the display of military force was carried out. It showed the loyalty of military to democracy. The highest military generals saluted him. He recounted that they would have arrested him many years ago. Finally, the jets left off smoke trail of different colours, e.g., black, red, green, blue, and golden colour of the new South African flag. In the end, two National Anthems were sung by the whites and the blacks. The white sang Nkosi sikelel the old song and the black sang Die Stem the new song.

Later on that day, Mandela reformed history. In the first decade of the 20th Century, a few years after Anglo-Boer War before his birth, the white skinned patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark skinned people of South Africa. It was the birth of Apartheid, the harshest in human creation. Now, in the last decade of the 20th century, the system has been overturned forever recognizing the rights of all people irrespective of the colour of their skin or religion.

On the auspicious day Mandela regretted the loss of thousands of people and remembered their sacrifice for the freedom from discrimination. He thought of himself as the sum of all those African patriots who sacrificed their lives before him.

It was a reign of oppression and cruelty that created a deep wound in African people. But deep oppression produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Yusuf Dadoos. The Chief Luthulis, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes etc. – men of unparallel courage, wisdom and generosity. He learnt that courage is not lack of fear but victory over that fear. Mandela thinks South Africa’s real wealth is her people who are finer, truer than the purest diamonds. His comrades taught him what courage meant.

It is not the absence of fear but victory over it. No one is born to hate another on the basis of colour of skin or religion. If they can learn to hate, then why not learn to love which comes naturally. He believes in the goodness of man that never dies.

Mandela believe that every man has two obligations, one towards his family and the other towards his people and his country. He believed that in a civil and human society every man is able to fulfill both of them. But a black born in South Africa , just like him, cannot fulfill both. In order to do something for his nation, Mandela was taken away from his family. Thus, he could never fulfil his obligations towards his family.

Mandela remembered that as a child, freedom for him meant being able to do what he wanted. As long as he obeyed his father and the rules of his tribe, he was free in every possible way. As a student, he wanted freedom just for himself. Then as a young man in Johannesburg, he wanted freedom to achieve his dreams, start a family, earn for himself etc. As he grew up, he started realising that the freedom that he enjoyed as a child was just an illusion.

Mandela realised that his complete community including him lacked freedom. Then, he joined the African National Congress with a desire to gain freedom, respect and dignity for his community. The desire for freedom for people as a whole changed his whole life. He transformed from a frightened young man to a bold person which turned him from a law abiding person to become a criminal. He realised that freedom is indivisible.

Mandela realised that he could not enjoy his freedom when his community was not free. He also realised that just like oppressed (torturer), the oppressor (tortured) is also not free. The oppressed is a prisoner of hatred, prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Thus, both the oppressor and the oppressed alike are robbed of their humanity. Both of them must be liberated.

Word Meanings

About Mrs Shilpi Nagpal

Author of this website, Mrs. Shilpi Nagpal is MSc (Hons, Chemistry) and BSc (Hons, Chemistry) from Delhi University, B.Ed. (I. P. University) and has many years of experience in teaching. She has started this educational website with the mindset of spreading free education to everyone. In addition to this website, author also has a Youtube channel, here is the link Class Notes Youtube Channel

Reader Interactions

July 4, 2021 at 9:35 am

Thanks for this And your mindset is nice of spreading free education.

September 23, 2021 at 5:51 am

Nice word with it’s meaning. Good

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• NCERT Notes for Class 10 English Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Summary, Notes, Question and Answers, PDF

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 : An autobiography issued on Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela , is the only prose in Chapter 2 of the First Flight English textbook for Class 10 students. He served as the nation’s first black president from 1994 to 1999 and was a revolutionary against Apartheid, and a political figure. Since it is an autobiography, the author of Long Walk to Freedom is Nelson Mandela himself. You may get a synopsis of the prose in the style of CBSE Notes right here. In addition, students can read the prose description of a passage from the book “A Long Walk to Freedom.” It features a drawing of Nelson Mandela’s inauguration ceremony and quotes from his speech on his battles as a freedom fighter.

Table of Contents

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Summary

The struggle of South Africa’s black population for liberation is described in Nelson Mandela’s narrative. On May 10, 1994, he took the oath of office as the president of South Africa, overturning more than three centuries of white rule. His party had received 252 votes throughout South Africa’s history.

The event, held at Pretoria’s theater, was attended by many politicians from other nations. He spoke to them with the utmost respect and promised them that racism and prejudice would have no place in the new South Africa. Together, they will all lead to growth. He promised to construct a democratic government and to treat everyone equally and with respect.

The day served as his metaphor as the populace chanted “ Die stem ” and “ Nkosi Sikelel-i-Afrika ,” two national anthems. He was reminded of his suffering due to this tyranny and repression by the events that were taking place. He believed that it was unacceptable for anybody to accept hate of others based on their ethnicity, religion, or other traits.

Great liberation warriors like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthuli, and others were consequences of the apartheid policy. The nation had a wealth of resources, but its most significant resource was its people.

It was through risk-taking, suffering torment, and learning that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. When pressed against the prison walls, a man’s inherent goodness allows him to detect compassion and love, and he can also detect the excellent nature of the guards.

He believed that if someone could be taught to hate, they could undoubtedly be taught to love. He listed every man’s two primary obligations: to his family and his nation and community. After he said that Apartheid prevented black people from carrying out their tasks, When Mandela reached her tender age, he understood that the black people would have become enslaved under the white people’s dominion if they had not raised their voices against tyranny.

Black people were subject to the tyranny of white supremacy. He said the oppressor is also imprisoned and robs the victim of their freedom. Their humanity is denied to them both.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Notes

Nelson mandela: long walk to freedom class 10 introduction.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography is titled Long Walk to Freedom. An overview of Nelson Mandela’s long journey to liberation is contained in this article. The text in this chapter is taken from the book “Long Walk to Freedom.” It includes details about the swearing-in event, quotes from his speech, and information about his development as a freedom warrior. In addition, it speaks to the numerous other individuals who battled for their freedom. At that time, the oppressive practice known as “apartheid” was common in South Africa. It referred to prejudice towards people based on their ethnicity and skin tone. Dark-skinned individuals were denied their fundamental rights in one of the cruelest societies. This lesson summarizes Mandela’s initiatives to establish a society devoid of discrimination based on racial, ethnic, or gender preferences.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Explanation (Story )

To help you provide a brief review of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10, below is an explanation :

Nelson Mandela remarks that it is an excellent day for the nation as they receive their first non-white democratically elected president at the beginning of the chapter Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Then, before taking the oath of office as president in front of international dignitaries, citizens of his beloved nation, army authorities, and his daughter Zenani, he announces the names of the individuals who would serve as vice presidents.

This lovely ceremonial inauguration was the first significant meeting of world leaders in South Africa. In his first address as president of South Africa, he welcomes this momentous occasion as the triumph of justice, peace, and human dignity, attained after a protracted battle against Apartheid. He promises to free the people of his nation from prejudice, poverty, and other hardships as he makes his closing remarks.

He also highlights all the beautiful events that occur during the celebration, such as the spectacular acrobatics that helicopters, troop carriers, and aircraft do while flying in the African flag colors. A few years ago, the same police officers would have arrested him instead of saluting him, so he is conscious of how far they have come when the defense forces and police salute and swear loyalty to him. The two national songs, which represented the harmony and peace he wished to see in his nation, played with white people singing the African anthem and black people singing the anthem that the state had previously used.

When he lists the names of the modern-day fighters who worked and gave their lives for their nation’s independence, Mandela appears a bit overawed. He regrets that he cannot personally thank the “total of all the African patriots.” They came before him since he believes he is “the total of all the African patriots” and appreciates everything they accomplished for the nation. He claims he is no more moral or selfless than the average guy, but he learned that he could not enjoy the little freedom he had while also knowing that his people were not free.

The Long Walk to Freedom is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, where he mentions that although his nation is wealthy in minerals and metals, he considered its people “finer and truer than the finest diamond” and the genuine source of its most excellent richness. According to Nelson Mandela, no one is born hating another person because of their skin color, family origin, or religion.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Author

One of the former presidents of South Africa, and A Long Walk to Freedom author is Nelson Mandela. The book was initially released in 1994 by Little Brown & Co. and was ghostwritten by Richard Stengel.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Question and Answers

Q1. where did the ceremonies take place can you name any public buildings in india that are made of sandstone.

Answer: Dignitaries and international leaders from many countries attended the celebrations, which were held in the beautiful sandstone amphitheater created by Pretoria’s Union Buildings. Rashtrapati Bhavan and Red Fort are two prominent structures in India composed of red sandstone.

Q2. Can you say how May 10 is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Answer: Autumn often marks the start of the harvest, linked to wealth and prosperity. Because the first democratic, non-racial government of South Africa was installed on this auspicious day in front of the most extraordinary assemblage of world leaders ever on South African territory, May 10 is known as “autumn day” in that country.

Q3. 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: The practice of Apartheid in South Africa was what Mandela meant to convey in his address, “an extraordinary human disaster.” People were divided based on their skin color under this practice, and Black people suffered the most due to discrimination from the other races. As a result, they were unable to exercise their right to freedom. Mandela spent 18 years in prison on the infamous “Robben Island,” where the guards tortured him. Nevertheless, he saw being the first Black president of South Africa, a country where Black people were denied access to necessities, endured various forms of discrimination, and received poor treatment, as a “great glorious human achievement.”

Q4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Answer : Mandela was incredibly honored to invite dignitaries and world leaders to the swearing-in event since, not so long ago, South Africans were regarded as outlaws. Therefore, he thanked everyone for traveling great distances to witness the historic swearing-in of South Africa’s first Black president.

This development might be seen as a shared triumph for righteousness, peace, and human dignity.

Q5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?

Answer: South Africans should be freed from the ongoing shackles of poverty, hardship, suffering, and discrimination based on gender and other factors, according to Mandela’s ideas. He wished for the nation’s citizens to be free from slavery and discrimination.

Q6. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?

Answer: The highest police and military officials in South Africa praised Mandela and vowed to support him. This was important because they would have arrested and imprisoned him throughout the Apartheid era if they hadn’t. Due to the difficulties and sacrifices of numerous South African heroes, their attitude toward Blacks altered. This struggle for independence brought about a significant shift in the thinking of many people and was not merely a fight against Apartheid. Mandela thought that people are innately more disposed to love than hatred and that love is something that can be taught.

Q7. Why were two national anthems sung?

Answer : Two national anthems were played during the ceremonious inauguration ceremony: the Whites sang “ Nkosi Sikelel -iAfrika ” while the Blacks sang “ Die Stem ,” the last hymn of the Republic. Both anthems represented the equality of rights among Whites and Blacks.

Q8. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country –

• in the first decade, and
• in the final decade of the twentieth century?

Answer: The white South Africans put aside their differences in the first decade of the 20th century and established a system of racial dominance over the dark-skinned inhabitants of their own country.

The former form of government was permanently overthrown and replaced with one that recognized the rights and liberties of all people, regardless of the color of their skin, in the final decade of the 20th century.

Q9. What does courage mean to Mandela?

Answer:   According to Mandela, courage wasn’t the lack of fear but rather the ability to overcome it. A brave man does not feel any fear but one who faces and overcomes it.

Q10. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?

Answer: According to Mandela, the human heart is more naturally inclined toward love than hatred.

Q11. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?

Answer: Every man, according to Mandela, has two commitments in life: his obligations to his family, which include his wife, parents, and children, and (ii) his responsibility to his people, community, and nation.

Q12. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy and student? How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honorable freedoms”?

Answer: Like any young child, Mandela believed freedom meant living a joyous, carefree existence during his formative years. However, as young person reaches adulthood, their youthful pranks appear fleeting since, in the eyes of an adult, they are all pointless. When people reach adulthood, they learn how to support themselves and make food. He recognizes the fundamental and honorable freedom in his family and the community in which he lives in such a situation.

Q13. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?

Answer : According to Long Walk of Freedom by Mandela, an oppressor is like a sufferer of hatred imprisoned by prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Therefore he does not believe that the oppressor is free. On the contrary, he believes that the humanity and peace of mind of both the oppressor and the oppressed are stolen.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 | Nelson Mandela books

Some other books written by Nelson Mandela include:

• Conversations with Myself
• Notes to the Future
• Nelson Mandela In His Own Words
• The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
• No Easy Walk to Freedom
• The Struggle is My Life

Conclusion | Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10

The brave man is not the person who feels no fear; instead, he is the one who faces fear head-on and overcomes it. According to Mandela, every man has obligations to his nation and community.

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Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – Notes Class 10 English

• Post last modified: 25 June 2022
• Post category: Class 10 English Notes

Study Notes on ‘Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ are given here with key-points summary, meanings, themes, characters and literary devices.

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Notes – Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

This chapter is an excerpt from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom. It focuses on the momentous occasion of his inauguration. Not only does it signify the end of apartheid and racial segregation but it also signifies the birth of the democratic republic of South Africa.

The excerpt also provides a unique insight into Mandela’s thoughts on the inauguration and apartheid. It also stresses on the importance of freedom and courage over oppression and hate.

SUMMARY – Key Points

Broadly, Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom can be divided into:

Mandela’s Inauguration as President

Mandela’s Speech

Mandela about Apartheid

Mandela about Other South African Patriots and their Courage

Mandela about Love and Hate

Mandela about a Man’s Twin Obligations

Mandela’s Idea of Freedom

• It took place on 10 th May, 1994 in the Union Building in Pretoria.
• It was attended by dignitaries from around the world.
• Mandela was accompanied by his daughter.
• It marked the triumph of humanity, liberty and peace over oppression.
• Mandela brought out the irony that not long ago he was regarded as a criminal and now he was hosting dignitaries from all over the world.
• He pledged to fight against poverty and discrimination.
• Mandela pledged never to let his nation be ruled by tyranny again.
• Mandela’s inauguration marked the end of the one of most oppressive systems in human history – apartheid.
• Apartheid is a system of racial discrimination where white-skinned people dominate over the dark-skinned people of their land.
• Apartheid, Mandela notes, had caused immeasurable suffering for his people.
• Apartheid also produced courageous men and women who had risked their lives to fight oppression.
• It is through their sacrifice that Mandela understood the idea of courage.
• “…courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”
• By calling himself the ‘sum of all African patriots’ before him, he paid his tribute to the brave men and women who paved the way for Africa’s freedom.
• Mandela believed that no one is born hating other human beings. Rather, they are taught to hate.
• He believed in mankind’s boundless capacity for goodness and love.
• Mandela believed every man has two obligations – one to family and one to country.
• In an unequal society, a man cannot fulfil both obligations. Every man must be free to be able to do so.
• Mandela had to put his people’s needs above those of his family’s.
• Mandela realised that his freedom was an illusion only on reaching adulthood.
• He further realised that other members of his community too were not free.
• One cannot truly enjoy freedom if one’s fellow men and women are in chains. This realisation led Mandela to give up his own freedom and fight for the freedom of his people.
• Mandela’s idea of freedom is all-inclusive. He believes that everyone must be free – not just the oppressed, but also the oppressor who is imprisoned by hate.

The two major themes of the chapter are:

Freedom vs Oppression

Courage vs Hate

• Mandela contrasts the freedom enjoyed by his country now to apartheid and its consequences.
• Freedom is impossible if it is restricted by a higher authority.
• One cannot also be free if one’s fellow people are in chains.
• Freedom is all-inclusive. Everyone – even the oppressors – should be free.
• Mandela develops the idea of courage by reflecting on the sacrifices of African patriots.
• The immeasurable suffering caused by apartheid produced brave men and women who were willing to do what it took to dismantle it.
• Even though they suffered and were afraid, they risked their lives for the cause of the country.
• In contrast to the innate ability of courage that Mandela emphasises, hate is often taught. Hate leads to discrimination on the basis of race or religion.

The excerpt provides a brief glimpse into Nelson Mandela’s character.

The first black president of South Africa

An Idealist: His speech shows his belief in the ideals of human dignity, liberty and freedom of fellow human beings.

Brave: Mandela braved prison and other untold sufferings to ensure freedom for his countrymen and women.

Intellectual: His speech to the world leaders, his reflections on apartheid, courage and freedom reflect this.

A True Revolutionary: Mandela gave up his family and personal freedom to take up the cause of the revolution. He also believed that everyone should be free.

LITERARY DEVICES

The use of contrasts.

Mandela uses contrasts in the chapter to reflect on ideas of courage, apartheid and freedom. Some of the contrasts used are:

Union Building Pretoria: A building, once a seat of white supremacy, would now form the first democratic, non-racial government of South Africa.

White vs Rainbow: Mandela uses the plain colour white to refer to the domination of dark-skinned by the white-skinned. In contrast, he uses the word ‘rainbow gathering’ to refer to all the people assembled for the inauguration.

The South African generals and police saluting Nelson Mandela. Only a few years back these same people would have put him in prison.

The two anthems – the vision of whites singing ‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika’ and blacks singing ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem of the Republic.

Two Systems of Thought: Apartheid which is based on race and skin colour is one of the ‘harshest, most inhumane’ systems of oppression in human history vs the Republic which ‘recognised the rights and freedoms’ of all people regardless of skin colour.

‘Depths of oppression’ can create ‘heights of characters’ – the untold suffering faced by the African people produced great heroes.

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Nelson Mandela Biography Project for Class 10

Nelson Mandela, a name synonymous with courage, resilience, and the fight against injustice, left an indelible mark on the pages of history. Born Rolihlahla Mandela on 18th July 1918 in the village of Mvezo in South Africa, he would grow up to become a beacon of hope for his nation and the world. In this biography, we delve into the life, struggles, and triumphs of this remarkable figure who served as a symbol of resistance against apartheid and later as the President of South Africa.

Early Life and Education

Nelson Mandela’s childhood was deeply influenced by his heritage and family. His father, Gadla Henry Mandela, served as a counselor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, imparting important lessons about leadership and justice. Tragedy struck when Nelson was only nine years old, as his father passed away. Raised by his mother and the regent of the Thembu, he learned the values of unity and resilience.

Nelson’s educational journey began at a local missionary school, where his teacher bestowed upon him the name “Nelson.” His quest for knowledge led him to Fort Hare University and later the University of Witwatersrand, where he pursued a degree in law, setting the stage for his future political endeavors.

Political Career

Mandela’s political journey started when he joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1943. His swift rise through the ranks was a testament to his unwavering commitment to ending apartheid, a discriminatory policy that had oppressed black South Africans for decades.

In 1952, Mandela played a pivotal role in the Defiance Campaign, advocating for non-violent civil disobedience against apartheid. However, the path to justice was not without peril. In 1960, he was arrested and charged with treason, eventually receiving a life sentence. His imprisonment transformed him into a symbol of resistance against apartheid.

Release and Presidency

Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990 marked the beginning of a new era for South Africa. He led the ANC in negotiations with the apartheid government to dismantle the oppressive system peacefully. In recognition of his efforts, Mandela, along with President F.W. de Klerk, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

In 1994, South Africa held its first fully representative democratic elections, and Mandela was elected as President. During his presidency, he initiated measures to break down the apartheid legacy and promote racial reconciliation. Notably, he established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights abuses during apartheid.

Post-Presidency and Legacy

Nelson Mandela retired from politics in 1999 but continued his work on social justice issues through the Nelson Mandela Foundation. His commitment to justice, equality, and peace remained unwavering.

On December 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire people worldwide. He is celebrated as one of the most important figures of the 20th century, a global icon of peace and justice whose life exemplified the power of resilience, forgiveness, and unity in the face of adversity.

Nelson Mandela’s life is a testament to the ability of one person to bring about profound change in the world. His journey from a small South African village to the presidency of a nation serves as a beacon of hope for those fighting against oppression and injustice. In commemorating his life and legacy, we are reminded of the enduring power of compassion, reconciliation, and the unbreakable spirit of humanity.

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Nelson Mandela Sentenced to Life Imprisonment - [June 12, 1964] This Day in History

South African anti-apartheid leader and world human rights activist Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 12, 1964 for his political activism by the South African establishment. He was freed from prison only after 27 years during which time he became the face of the anti-apartheid movement.

In this article, you can read about Nelson Mandela, the South African leader who fought against Apartheid and became the first black president of the country, for the IAS exam.

Biography of Nelson Mandela

• Nelson Mandela was born on 18 th July 1918 into a royal family of the Thembu tribe in the village of Mvezo in Cape Province. The tribe spoke the language Xhosa.
• His birth name was Rolihlahla. Aged nine, Mandela was adopted by another high-ranking member of the tribe who groomed him for a leadership role in the tribe.
• Mandela became the first member of his family to receive formal education when he attended the local missionary school. He was given the English name ‘Nelson’ at the school, as was the custom then.
• For his secondary education, he went to another missionary school. The Christian faith was to have a profound impact on him.
• In 1939, Mandela entered the prestigious University of Fort Hare which was the only western-modelled institute of higher learning for black African students then.
• However, he never completed his education as he was expelled for boycotting against the policies of the institute. Mandela returned home only to find out that his marriage had been arranged. To escape this, he fled to Johannesburg and started work as a night watchman.
• He also studied for his bachelor’s degree by correspondence and found employment as a law clerk.
• At the University of Witwatersrand, where he enrolled to study law, Mandela befriended many activists, both black and white.
• He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944. He also established its youth wing along with other leaders like Oliver Tambo, called the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL).
• In the 1948 elections in South Africa, the National Party came to power and implemented harsh segregation policies. The non-whites were placed under severe restrictions and denied basic rights. They were even barred from the government.
• The ANC started its campaign for full citizenship for all South Africans through peaceful, non-violent means.
• Mandela travelled the length and breadth of the country advocating equal rights. He led the ANC’s Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws in 1952. He, along with Tambo, also started the country’s first black law firm to fight cases for black people affected adversely by unjust segregation laws.
• In 1956, Mandela was arrested. He was released in 1961 after the trial but the situation was becoming increasingly tensed. The Pan Africanist Congress (PAN) had been formed in 1959 which advocated armed resistance against apartheid.
• In 1960, the police opened fire at a group of peaceful black protestors in Sharpeville. 69 people were killed. Riots ensued in different parts of the country. The ANC and the PAC were banned by the government. It was also during this time that Mandela gave up peaceful resistance and started a more radical approach.
• In 1961, he founded the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) with his colleagues. This was an armed wing of the ANC.
• The MK under Mandela’s leadership started a sabotage movement against the government.
• He travelled abroad in January 1962 despite being banned from doing so and met Tambo who was exiled in London. He also received guerrilla training in Algeria.
• In August 1962, he returned to South Africa and was arrested. He was sentenced to five years in prison. He was then taken to trial, which was called the ‘Rivonia Trial’. From the dock of the defendant in the courtroom, Mandela gave his famous 3-hour speech, now called the “I Am Prepared to Die” speech. The trial garnered international attention and many global organisations called for the release of Mandela and his associates. However, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
• The first 18 years of his incarceration was spent at the Robben Island Prison where he underwent brutal hardships. He had to do hard labour in a lime quarry and spent his days at a tiny cell without bedding or plumbing. He also received fewer rations than other white inmates. He and his associates also received harsh punishments for the slightest of ‘offences’.
• Despite being in prison, Mandela became the face of the anti-apartheid movement.
• The international community also put pressure on the government of South Africa by isolating them.
• In 1989, the then South African President F.W. de Klerk cancelled the ban on the ANC and announced the formation of a non-racist country.

Legacy of Nelson Mandela

• In February 1990, Mandela was released from prison after 27 years.
• Mandela and de Klerk received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993.
• The first fully democratic elections were held in the country in April 1994, and Mandela was elected as the first black President of South Africa. He was president till 1999 when he retired from politics.
• He died of a lung infection on 5 th December 2013 aged 95.
• He had received many awards and accolades in his lifetime from various countries and organisations. India awarded him the Bharat Ratna in 1990.

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English Project On Nelson Mandela For Class 10th

Table of Contents

Nelson Mandela: A Beacon of Hope and Resilience

Why should you know about Nelson Mandela? Because he’s not just a historical figure; he’s a symbol of resistance, hope, and the indomitable human spirit. From his early life to his years in prison and his role in ending apartheid, Mandela’s story is a masterclass in resilience.

• Name : Nelson Mandela
• Father’s Name : Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa
• Mother’s Name : Nosekeni Fanny
• Born : July 18, 1918
• Death : December 5, 2013
• Death Age : 95
• Education : University of Fort Hare, University of Witwatersrand
• Political Party : African National Congress (ANC)
• Presidency : May 10, 1994 – June 14, 1999
• Awards : Nobel Peace Prize, among others

Born on July 18, 1918, in Umtata, South Africa, Nelson Mandela was destined for greatness, and not the kind that comes from privilege. He was born into the Thembu royal family but chose a path that would be far removed from regal comfort. Why? Because Mandela saw the shackles that bound his people and decided he would be the one to break them. His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a local chief and counselor to the monarch. His mother, Nosekeni Fanny, was the third of his father’s four wives. Together, they raised Mandela in a culture rich with moral and political teachings.

Education and Activism

Mandela wasn’t just a man with a mission; he was a man with the education to back that mission. He attended the University of Fort Hare and later the University of Witwatersrand, before working as a lawyer. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1943. His education wasn’t just academic; it was a lesson in understanding the roots of oppression. He was expelled from Fort Hare for participating in a student protest, an early indicator of his activist spirit. Later, he moved to Johannesburg, where he completed his studies and joined a law firm.

The Struggle Against Apartheid

Mandela knew that the fight against apartheid was a fight for the soul of his nation. He was arrested and imprisoned multiple times for his activism. But it was his conviction in 1962 that led to a 27-year-long prison sentence. He used this time to earn an LLB degree and engage in secret communications with exiled ANC leaders. He was initially imprisoned in Robben Island and later moved to Pollsmoor Prison and then to Victor Verster Prison. During this time, the “Free Nelson Mandela” campaign gained international traction.

The Turning Point: 1990

In 1990, a seismic shift occurred. F.W. de Klerk, who had replaced P.W. Botha as South Africa’s president, announced Mandela’s unconditional release. Why is this significant? Because it set the stage for the end of apartheid and the beginning of a new chapter in South Africa’s history. Mandela’s release was broadcast live across the world, and he was greeted by a massive crowd upon his release.

The End of Apartheid and Political Ascendancy

Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison on February 11, 1990. He didn’t just walk out as a free man; he walked out as a symbol of hope for millions. He engaged in preliminary negotiations with the government, leading to the end of apartheid. Mandela was elected ANC President in 1991, setting the stage for the multiracial general elections in 1994. He also led the ANC in the negotiations that led to the transition to multi-racial democracy.

The Nobel Peace Prize and Presidency

In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The following year, Mandela became South Africa’s first Black president. But his presidency wasn’t just historic; it was transformative. He focused on reconciliation between the country’s racial groups and oversaw the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. His government introduced various social and economic programs aimed at improving the living standards of South Africa’s Black population.

Legacy and Death

Nelson Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013, but his legacy is immortal. Streets are named after him, statues are erected in his honor, and his autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom,” is considered essential reading for anyone who believes in human rights. He left behind a nation that was fundamentally transformed and a world that was deeply inspired.

Nelson Mandela’s life is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of equality, and the enduring spirit of one man who could inspire millions. He didn’t just change South Africa; he changed the world.

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‘I am prepared to die’: Mandela’s speech which shook apartheid

Sixty years ago during the Rivonia Trial in South Africa, Nelson Mandela delivered one of the most famous speeches of the 20th century. He expected to be sentenced to death but instead lived to see his dream ‘of a democratic and free society’ realised.

“Accused number one” had been speaking from the dock for almost three hours by the time he uttered the words that would ultimately change South Africa. The racially segregated Pretoria courtroom listened in silence as Nelson Mandela’s account of his lifelong struggle against white minority rule reached its conclusion. Judge Quintus de Wet managed not to look at Mandela for the majority of his address. But before accused number one delivered his final lines, defence lawyer Joel Joffe remembered, “Mandela paused for a long time and looked squarely at the judge” before saying:

“During my lifetime, I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against Black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, my Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

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After he spoke that last sentence, novelist and activist Nadine Gordimer, who was in the courtroom on April 20, 1964, said, “The strangest and most moving sound I have ever heard from human throats came from the Black side of the court audience. It was short, sharp and terrible: something between a sigh and a groan.”

This was because there was a very good chance that Mandela and his co-accused would be sentenced to death for their opposition to the apartheid government. His lawyers had actually tried to talk him out of including the “I am prepared to die” line because they thought it might be seen as a provocation. But as Mandela later wrote in his autobiography, “I felt we were likely to hang no matter what we said, so we might as well say what we truly believed.”

‘The trial that changed South Africa’

The Rivonia Trial – in which Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and seven other anti-apartheid activists were charged with sabotage – was the third and final time Mandela would stand accused in an apartheid court. From 1956 to 1961, he had been involved in the Treason Trial, a long-running embarrassment for the apartheid government, which would ultimately see all 156 of the accused acquitted because the state failed to prove they had committed treason.

And in 1962, he had been charged with leaving the country illegally and leading Black workers in a strike. He knew he was guilty on both counts, so he decided to put the apartheid government on trial. On the first day of the case, Mandela, known for his natty Western dress, arrived in traditional Xhosa attire to the shock of all present. He led his own defence and did not call any witnesses. Instead, he gave what has been remembered as the “Black man in a white court” speech, during which he asserted that “posterity will pronounce that I was innocent and that the criminals that should have been brought before this court are the members of the Verwoerd government,” a reference to Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd.

The Rivonia Trial, which kicked off in October 1963, was named after the Johannesburg suburb where Liliesleaf Farm was located. From 1961 to 1963, the Liliesleaf museum website notes, the farm served “as the secret headquarters and nerve centre” of the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK, the military wing of the ANC). On July 11, 1963, acting on a tip-off, the police raided Liliesleaf, seizing many incriminating documents and arresting the core leadership of the underground liberation movement. Mandela, who was serving a five-year sentence on Robben Island from his conviction in the 1962 trial, was flown to Pretoria to take his place as accused number one.

Instead of charging the men with high treason, State Prosecutor Percy Yutar opted for the easier-to-prove crime of sabotage – the definition of which was so broad that it included misdemeanours such as trespassing – and which had recently been made a capital offence by the government. Thanks to the evidence seized from Liliesleaf, which included several documents handwritten by Mandela and the testimony of Bruno Mtolo (referred to as Mr X throughout the trial), a regional commander of MK who had turned state witness, Yutar was virtually assured of convictions for the main accused.

In his autobiography, Mandela explains their defence strategy: “Right from the start we had made it clear that we intended to use the trial not as a test of the law but as a platform for our beliefs. We would not deny, for example, that we had been responsible for acts of sabotage. We would not deny that a group of us had turned away from non-violence. We were not concerned with getting off or lessening our punishment, but with making the trial strengthen the cause for which we were struggling – at whatever cost to ourselves. We would not defend ourselves in a legal sense so much as in a moral sense.”

The accused and their lawyers decided that Mandela would open the defence case not as a witness – who would be subject to cross-examination – but with a statement from the dock. This format would allow him to speak uninterrupted, but it carried less legal weight.

Mandela writes that he spent “about a fortnight drafting [his] address, working mainly in my cell in the evenings”. He first read it to his co-accused, who approved the text with a few tweaks, before passing it to lead defence lawyer Bram Fischer. Fischer was concerned that the final paragraph might be taken the wrong way by the judge, so he got another member of the defence team, Hal Hanson, to read it. Hanson was unequivocal: “If Mandela reads this in court, they will take him straight to the back of the courthouse and string him up.”

“Nelson remained adamant” that the line should stay, wrote George Bizos, another member of the defence team. Bizos eventually persuaded Mandela to tweak his wording: “I proposed that Nelson say he hoped to live for and achieve his ideals but if needs be was prepared to die.”

On the evening of April 19, Bizos got Mandela’s permission to take a copy of his statement to Gordimer. The respected British journalist Anthony Sampson, who knew Mandela well, happened to be staying with her and he retired to Gordimer’s study with the text. “What seemed like hours” later, Bizos wrote, Sampson “eventually returned, obviously moved by what he had read”. Sampson made no major changes to the text, but he did advise moving some of the paragraphs because he felt journalists were likely to read the beginning and the end properly and skim over the rest.

Gordimer does not seem to have suggested changes to the address, but she did see several drafts. She, too, was happy with the final version.

The statement from the dock

Yutar, who had been hoodwinked by the defence team’s constant requests for court transcripts into spending weeks preparing to cross-examine Mandela, was visibly shocked when Fischer announced that Mandela would instead be making a statement from the dock. He even tried to get the judge to explain to Mandela that he was committing a legal error. But the usually stone-faced judge laughed as he dismissed the request. Mandela, himself a lawyer, was represented by some of the country’s finest legal minds. He knew exactly what he was doing.

“My Lord, I am the first accused,” Mandela said. “I admit immediately that I was one of the persons who helped to form Umkhonto we Sizwe and that I played a prominent role in its affairs until I was arrested in August 1962.” Thanks to the recent recovery of the original recordings of Mandela’s statement, we now know that he spoke for 176 minutes , not the four and a half hours regularly cited.

As Martha Evans, author of Speeches That Shaped South Africa, explained, Mandela “candidly confessed some of the crimes levelled against him before giving a cogent and detailed account of the conditions and events that had led to the establishment of MK and the adoption of the armed struggle”.

He spoke at length of the ANC’s tradition of nonviolence and explained why he had planned sabotage: “I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness nor because I have any love for violence. I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation that had arisen after many years of tyranny, exploitation and oppression of my people by the whites.”

The final section of the address focused on inequality in South Africa and humanised Black South Africans in ways that Mandela argued the country’s white population rarely acknowledged:

“Whites tend to regard Africans as a separate breed. They do not look upon them as people with families of their own. They do not realise that we have emotions, that we fall in love like white people do, that we want to be with our wives and children like white people want to be with theirs, that we want to earn money, enough money to support our families properly.”

And: “Above all, my Lord, we want equal political rights because without them our disabilities will be permanent. I know this sounds revolutionary to the whites in this country because the majority of voters will be Africans. This makes the white man fear democracy. But this fear cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the only solution which will guarantee racial harmony and freedom for all.”

Interestingly, Gordimer noted that the speech “read much better than it was spoken. Mandela’s delivery was very disappointing indeed, hesitant, parsonical (if there is such a word), boring. Only at the end did the man come through.”

Hanging by a thread

After Mandela’s address, several of the accused subjected themselves to cross-examination. Gordimer was particularly impressed by Walter Sisulu: “Sisulu was splendid. What a paradox – he is almost uneducated while [Mandela] has a law degree! He was lucid and to the point – and never missed a point in his replies to Yutar.”

The defence team enjoyed a number of minor victories with Judge de Wet fairly regularly telling the court that Yutar had failed to prove one point or another. After final arguments were heard in mid-May, court was adjourned for three weeks for the judge to consider his verdict.

For the main accused, that verdict was always going to be guilty. Avoiding the noose became the defence team’s number one priority. In the courtroom, this entailed asking Alan Paton, a world famous novelist who was leader of the vehemently anti-apartheid Liberal Party, to give evidence in mitigation of sentence.

But the real action happened outside the court, Sampson wrote in his authorised biography of Mandela: “The accused had been buoyed up by the growing support from abroad, not only from many African countries but also, more to Mandela’s surprise, from Britain. … On May 7, 1964, the British Prime Minister, Alec Douglas-Home, offered to send a private message to Verwoerd about the trial. But Sir Hugh Stephenson [Britain’s ambassador to South Africa] recommended that ‘no more pressure should be exerted’ and, contrary to some published reports, there is no evidence the message was sent. When the South African Ambassador called on the Foreign Office that month, he was told that the government was now under less pressure to take a stronger line against South Africa, though death sentences would bring the matter to a head again.”

A week before the verdicts, Bizos visited British Consul-General Leslie Minford at his Pretoria home. “As I was leaving, Leslie put his arm around my shoulders and said, ‘George, there won’t be a death sentence.’ I did not ask him how he knew. For one thing, he had downed a number of whiskies. Certainly, I felt I could not rely on the information nor could I tell the team or our anxious clients.”

Upping the stakes further was the decision by Mandela, Sisulu and Mbeki to not appeal their sentence – even if it were death. As he listened to sentencing arguments, Mandela clutched a handwritten note that concluded with the words: “If I must die, let me declare for all to know that I will meet my fate as a man.”

Paton and Hanson spoke in mitigation of sentence on the morning of June 12, 1964. Bizos noted, “Judge de Wet not only took no note of what was being said but he appeared not to be listening.” He had already made his mind up, and when the formalities were over, he announced: “I have decided not to impose the supreme penalty, which in a case like this would usually be the penalty for such a crime. But consistent with my duty, that is the only leniency which I can show. The sentence in the case of all the accused will be one of life imprisonment.”

Professor Thula Simpson, the leading historian of MK, told Al Jazeera, “There is no evidence that De Wet was leaned on by the state. I don’t believe there’s any evidence for this being a political rather than a judicial judgement.”

Professor Roger Southall, author of dozens of books on Southern African politics, agreed. “At the time, there was a lot of speculation about whether there was pressure on the SA government to ensure that capital punishment was not imposed,” he told Al Jazeera. “But there is also no proof that the SA government intervened. That remains an unanswered question. We have to presume that the judge knew the international and local climate.”

Business as usual?

“Rivonia got a lot of global publicity,” Southall said. “But once the trial ended, it seemed like Mandela had been forgotten.” Mandela and other senior ANC figures were either locked up on Robben Island or were living in relative obscurity in exile. “Capital came pouring into South Africa at a rate that’s never been equalled since,” Southall continued. “The apartheid government seemed totally in control. The resistance was dead. It was a thoroughly grim period for the ANC.”

This only started to change in 1973, Southall said, “with the Durban strikes and the revival of the trade union movement”, which had been battered into submission. The rebirth of the Black trade union movement signalled the beginning of a new phase of opposition politics. Things ratcheted up several notches on June 16, 1976, when apartheid policemen opened fire on a peaceful protest of schoolchildren in the Black township of Soweto, killing 15 people. In the eight months that followed, violence spread across South Africa, killing about 700 people.

The resuscitation of Black opposition to apartheid under a new band of leaders coincided with the decline of the economy. After the Soweto uprising, foreign investors fled South Africa in their droves, laying bare the fundamental flaws of the apartheid government’s dependence on cheap labour and mining and its point-blank refusal to meaningfully educate people of colour. The apartheid government spent about 12 times more per child on white schoolchildren than it did on Black ones.

By the 1980s, even the apartheid government could see something had to change, and in 1983, Prime Minister PW Botha announced plans to include multiracial and Indian South Africans, but not Black South Africans, in a new “tricameral” parliament. His plan backfired spectacularly, uniting the opposition like never before under the newly formed United Democratic Front (UDF). One of the UDF’s key demands was the unconditional release of all political prisoners, especially Mandela. Soon after its launch in August 1983, the UDF numbered almost 1,000 different organisations from all segments of South African society. Botha didn’t know what had hit him.

When, in 1984, Oliver Tambo, the ANC’s exiled leader, asked his supporters to “make South Africa ungovernable”, the townships rose up. Things got so bad in 1985 that Botha declared a state of emergency – but this was also the year in which tentative secret talks with Mandela began.

An icon re-emerges

“In the late 1970s, you started getting occasional demands that Mandela be released,” Southall said. By the mid-1980s, “Free Nelson Mandela” became a constant and global refrain with the “I am prepared to die” statement being quoted at rallies and emblazoned on T-shirts. “On one level, the ANC ‘invented’ this version of Mandela,” Southall said. “Until 1976, the apartheid government had done a very good job of erasing him from public memory.”

What might have happened if Mandela had been sentenced to death at Rivonia? One does not need to look far for a possible answer. The other poster boy of the global anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s was Steve Biko (subject of the Peter Gabriel hit song), the young leader of the Black Consciousness movement, who had been tortured to death by apartheid police in 1977. “You can also have myths develop when you execute people,” Simpson said. “If they had executed Mandela, he would have been a different icon in a different struggle.”

A dream realised

On February 11, 1990, Mandela was released from prison. From the balcony of Cape Town City Hall, he addressed his supporters for the first time since Rivonia. He opened his speech by saying: “I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I, therefore, place the remaining years of my life in your hands.”

He ended by quoting the final lines of his 1964 statement from the dock, explaining that “they are true today as they were then.” Over the course of the next decade, as Mandela first navigated the treacherous path to democracy and then served as the country’s first democratically elected president, he lived out his vision of a “democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities”.

When the ANC’s Chris Hani was assassinated by an apartheid supporter in 1993, Mandela assumed the moral leadership of the country by urging his incensed supporters not to derail the peace process. After becoming president, he engaged in numerous public shows of reconciliation: He went for tea with the widow of slain apartheid Prime Minister Verwoerd, and he donned the Springbok rugby jersey (for many, a symbol of white supremacy) when he presented the almost entirely white South African team with the World Cup trophy in 1995.

When Mandela died in 2013, US President Barack Obama spoke at his memorial, famously – and predictably – quoting the final paragraph of the statement from the dock at Rivonia. By that stage, there were already some in South Africa who felt that Mandela was a “sellout” because he had been too forgiving of whites during the transition.

Now, more than a decade later as inequality continues to plague the country and South Africa stands on the cusp of its most competitive general election in 30 years of democracy, it is common to hear young Black South Africans accuse Mandela of selling out . Southall does not take such claims too seriously: “People who say he’s a sellout are either too young or too forgetful to appreciate how close we came to civil war. Mandela played a huge role in pulling off the peaceful transition.”

“Now, after 30 years of democracy, there is still a tension between white domination and Black domination,” Simpson said. “South Africa is not what Mandela dreamed of. He might be turning in his grave, but we can’t forget that many of the policies that have gone wrong were introduced by him. He might have turned things around, but he might have not.”

“You can’t blame Mandela for where we are now,” Southall said. “There are individual things he got wrong. But he also got a lot of things right.”

Mandela’s is one of the 12 remarkable lives covered in Nick Dall’s recent book, Legends: People Who Changed South Africa for the Better, co-written with Matthew Blackman.