2.Nelson Mandela

 Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom

By Nelson Mandela

About the Author

Nelson Mandela was a great freedom fighter, leader and a former president of South Africa, born on July 1918. He fought against apartheid regime of South Africa. It was an inhumane and brutal practice against the black people of South Africa by British rulers.

During his movement against the British power, he had to be imprisoned for more than thirty years. Later on, he became the first black president of South Africa. When his party won the democratic election in 1994.

This chapter is an extract from his autobiography titled ‘Long Walk to Freedom’.

  It depicts the great heroic struggle, courage, determination and torture faced by black people of South Africa to get freedom and a dignity full life in the society

Summary

This chapter is the extract from the autobiography of Nelson Mandela “Long Walk to Freedom” . It gives a detailed account of his journey about being a freedom fighter as an adult, along with other freedom fighters and other countless people facing a lot of torture, suppression and eventually achieving freedom by winning the democratic election.

Mandela in his long speech during inauguration ceremony describes about his journey , being a freedom fighter along with his companion and gives  them tribute for their immense courage and  struggle . 

 In South Africa, a brutal practice called “apartheid” was in practice during British power, in which the discrimination between people on the basis of their race and colour was done. Black natives of South Africa were deprived of their basic rights and even a dignity full life in the society.

This lesson gives us an overview of the struggles of Mandela with other freedom fighters  and how they accomplished their goal   for a society without discrimination on the basis of their colour, caste, race, age or gender.

Many dignitaries from different countries participated in this most significant day of inauguration ceremony of the first democratic party of South Africa.

In his speech, Mandela expressed his gratitude toward all those dignitaries. Mandela assured that his countrymen would never face  such a  suppression of one race by another as the Democracy had been established in South Africa. The people of South Africa sang two National Anthems as a symbol of that day.

 Mandela said that it is only due to   this type of suppression of people of South Africa and their extreme conditions which requires a great mental strength and human qualities to survive, many great personalities came into existence. He further added that if a person can learn hatred from the society, can also be taught how to love, as love is an inborn quality of human nature. He also says that a brave man is not one who does not feel afraid but one who conquers it.

In life, a man has two major obligations. First towards his family, to his parents, to his wife and his children and second obligation is towards his country, people and the community.  However, in a country like South Africa, it was very difficult to fulfil either of the two.

When Mandela became an adult he realized that he used to misinterpret freedom. It is not only to do everything according to will but to live a dignity full life along with the family and community people in a society and even in a country. He understood that their status in a society was not more than a slave on their own land and he finally determined to get freedom.

According to him, a person who suppresses others is also a slave of his hatred which is not a true nature of mankind. Not only suppressed but also a suppressor is a slave of his prejudice and hatred and thus, he also needs freedom.

Explanation

TENTH May dawned bright and clear. For the past few days I had been pleasantly besieged by dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before the inauguration. The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South African soil. The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheater formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colors and nations for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.

Word meanings

• Dawned- (of a day) began
• Pleasantly- giving a sense of satisfaction or enjoyment;
• Besieged- being surrounded by
• Dignitaries- important person of high rank
• Amphitheatre- an open-air theatre

On 10th May, Nelson Mandela took an oath as the first black president South Africa.

Author refers this morning bright and clear as it was full of expectation for the bright future of South Africa. This day had finally come after many sacrifices and years of struggle when a democratic and anti-racist party of black president came into existence. Earlier, in South Africa this status   had always been reserved for white Presidents.

 Days before this auspicious date, many personalities of high political status from different countries started paying tribute to Mandela for his great success. For the first time in the history of South Africa, such a large number of international leaders were participating in this inauguration ceremony. The ceremony took place in an open circular building made of sandstone consisting of Union buildings in Pretoria city.

On that lovely autumn day I was accompanied by my daughter Zenani. On the podium, Mr de Klerk was first sworn in as second deputy president. Then Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as first deputy president. When it was my turn, I pledged to obey and uphold the Constitution and to devote myself to the wellbeing of the Republic and its people.

To the assembled guests and the watching world, I said: “Today, all of us do, by our presence here… confer glory and hope to newborn liberty. Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud. We, who were outlaws, not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil. We thank all of our distinguished international guests for having come to take possession with the people of our country of what is, after all, a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.”

Word meanings

• Sworn- take oath to be determined to stay in the role specified
• Pledged- committed (a person or organization) by a solemn promise
• Assembled- gather together in one place for a common purpose
• Confer- grant
• Glory- honour
• Outlaws - excluded from the benefit or protection of the law
• Dignity- the state or quality of being worthy of respect.

On this lovely autumn day, Mandela was accompanied by his daughter Zenani. After the pledge of Mr de Klerk  as second deputy president and  Thabo Mbeki  as first deputy president, finally Mandela pledge to remain dedicated for the welfare of his country people.

He said that all of them being a part of the inauguration ceremony are gathered to grant honour and hope to the newly born freedom in the form of non racist democratic government.  People of South Africa have experienced an extreme human disaster for  long ago but now they deserve a society which is fair in the term, upon which humanity could proud. Mandela said that it  is the very proud moment for all of them as  they, the natives of Africa who were outlaws for the whole world have now achieved the privilege or right to host their nation on their own soil. He expressed his gratitude toward all the international leaders and dignitaries for attending and being the part of inauguration ceremony and celebrating the victory which is the victory of not only South Africa but   of the whole humanity 

to have a dignity full life, justice and peace.

We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement. Let freedom reign. God bless Africa!”

Word meanings

• Emancipation-the process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions
• Liberate- free; release
• Bondage- the state of being a slave
• Discrimination- being treated differently or unfavorably
• Deprivation- the damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society
• Oppression- prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or exercise of authority.
• Glorious- having, worthy of, or bringing fame or admiration.
• Reign- rule; govern

He mentions that after great struggle, they have achieved freedom all the social, legal and political restrictions. His government promised to free everyone of the still existing poverty, hardship and inequalities of all kind along with assuring everyone of a country where no community will be suppressing others . He then exclaims that humanity will prosper in South Africa forever,  may god shower his blessings on their land.

A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular array of South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected. Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police, their chests bedecked with ribbons and medals from days gone by, saluted me and pledged their loyalty. I was not unmindful of the fact that not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me. Finally a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag.

Word meanings

• Awe- amazed
• Spectacular- beautiful in a dramatic and an eye-catching way
• Array- an impressive display
• Troop- soldiers or armed forces
• Precision- accuracy
• Bedecked- decorate
• Unmindful- not conscious or aware
• Chevron- a pattern in the shape of a V
• Trail- series; chain

After the oath taking ceremony all the audience got amazed by an eye-catching and impressive display of the South African jets, helicopters and and armed forces.  It represented the respect and commitment of military towards the democratic government. The high general of military and police forces, who have received medals for their bravery some days before, also saluted and promised their loyalty. Mandela said that he was well aware of the fact that these commanders, who were then saluting him, would have arrested him, if it had been the rule of British power. At last, a V shaped group of Impala jets left a series of smoke in the colors of South African flag giving tribute to  the newly formed democratic government.

The day was symbolized for me by the playing of our two national anthems, and the vision of whites singing ‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika’ and blacks singing ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem of the Republic. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem they once despised, they would soon know the words by heart.

Word meanings

• Symbolized- be a symbol of
• Lyrics- the words of a song
• Despised- hated, had a very low opinion of

The author says that for his whole this day has been marked as a symbol when his democratic government came into existence and as a non racist government two National Anthems were  sung in the honor of whole the country including both black and white communities. Although one community didn’t know the wordings of the anthem of another, they once  hated , they would soon be able to sing both National Anthems with correct wordings by their hearts.

On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed with a sense of history. In the first decade of the twentieth century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before my own birth, the white-skinned peoples of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark-skinned peoples of their own land. The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world has ever known. Now, in the last decade of the twentieth century, and my own eighth decade as a man, that system had been overturned forever and replaced by one that recognized the rights and freedoms of all peoples, regardless of the colour of their skin.

Word meanings

• Overwhelmed- have a strong emotional effect
• Erected- build; construct
• Racial domination- when people of one race have power over another race
• Inhumane-cruel, brutal
• Overturned- reverse.

On the day of the inauguration ceremony, the author got emotional recalling the history of South Africa since 20^th century, before his birth when the English race established the apartheid system and made the natives of South Africa deprived of their basic rights on their own land. As a result, one of most inhumane and brutal system came into existence in which one community faced extreme cruelty and injustice by the another.

Now, when he is at the eighth decade of his age that whole system has got completely vanished and turned into a new system that treats every human being equal irrespective of their colour, caste and creed.

That day had come about through the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of my people, people whose suffering and courage can never be counted or repaid. I felt that day, as I have on so many other days, that I was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before me. That long and noble line ended and now began again with me. I was pained that I was not able to thank them and that they were not able to see what their sacrifices had wrought.

• Unimaginable- difficult or impossible to imagine
• Patriots- a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies

Mandela further says that this freedom and equally has become possible due to unimaginable sacrifices of countless people of South Africa who have fought against apartheid regime for their whole life. He says that it is quite painful for him that those who have offered their whole life for the sake of their country are not alive to see their achievements . Author says that it was all due the courage of these patriots, he gathered his inspiration and power for this proud moment to be accomplished.

The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people. All of us will spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. But the decades of oppression and brutality had another, unintended, effect, and that was that it produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of our time* — men of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their like may never be known again. Perhaps it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.

Word meanings

• Profound- very great or intense
• Unintended- not planned or meant

Author says that it would take long time for the natives to move on from the deep effect they had on their soul due to apartheid system. He says that besides all the negative impacts this extreme suppression had, it indeed became the reason of the emergence of strong and courageous great personalities. Thus, it required that level of unjust treatment to produce such great heroes. South Africa, he says, is rich in minerals and gems but its greatest strength lies in its people.

It is from these comrades in the struggle that I learned the meaning of courage. Time and again, I have seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea. I have seen men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking, showing a strength and resilience that defies the imagination. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Word meanings

• Comrades- a colleague or a fellow member of an organization
• Resilience- the ability to deal with any kind of hardship and recover from its effects
• Defies- refuse to obey

Author says that he learned the true meaning of courage from these companion freedom fighters who showed a great courage and tolerance by standing against extreme torture for the sake of their country which is beyond imagination. Courage is not the absence of fear but a victory over it. A Courageous man is one who conquers his fear and come forward knowing the risk involved in the particular task.

No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.

Word meanings

• Grimmest- very serious or gloomy
• Glimmer- shine faintly with a wavering light
• Pushed to our limits- pushed to the last point in our ability to bear pain
• Reassure- say or do something to remove the doubts

Hatred is not in the nature of mankind.

They learn it in the society. If person can be taught Hatred, he can be taught love and brotherhood. In the grimmest time during their imprisonment when they were about to give up, a little humanity and help from one of the guards was enough was enough to keep their spirit up for the sake of their country.

He believes that goodness in human beings can be suppressed but never eliminated.

In life, every man has twin obligations — obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children; and he has an obligation to his people, his community, his country. In a civil and humane society, each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities. But in a country like South Africa, it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and colour to fulfil both of those obligations. In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being was punished and isolated. In South Africa, a man who tried to fulfil his duty to his people was inevitably ripped from his family and his home and was forced to live a life apart, a twilight existence of secrecy and rebellion. I did not in the beginning choose to place my people above my family, but in attempting to serve my people, I found that I was prevented from fulfilling my obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband

Word meanings

• Obligations- a duty
• Civil- courteous and polite
• Inclination- natural tendencies of behaviour
• Inevitably- unavoidably
• Twilight- half-light, semi-darkness
• Rebellion- process of resisting/ protesting authority, convention or control

Author says that in the life of every human there are two types of responsibilities to be fulfilled. First towards his family and second towards his society or community Generally In a civil society both can be fulfilled but in South Africa it was never ever possible as person who attempted to fulfil either of the two was punished and separated from his community and family to live an isolated life in exile. Mandela says that initially he was obliged toward the responsibilities of his family but later on when he attempted to fulfil his responsibility towards the community, he realized that he was compromising his duties towards his own family.

 was not born with a hunger to be free. I was born free — free in every way that I could know. Free to run in the fields near my mother’s hut, free to swim in the clear stream that ran through my village, free to roast mealies under the stars and ride the broad backs of slow-moving bulls. As long as I obeyed my father and abided by the customs of my tribe, I was not troubled by the laws of man or God. It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first, as a student, I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honorable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of marrying and having a family — the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.

Word meanings

• Mealies- a maize plant
• Abided- obeyed
• Illusion- a false idea or belief
• Transitory- not permanent
• Yearned-   longing for something

The author says that earlier he was

Not inclined towards the freedom of his country or stand against the apartheid regime. He used to follow the rules of his tribe and wander freely under the sun. Being adult, he realized that his boyhood freedom was an illusion. Freedom doesn’t mean going or doing according to will but to live a dignity full life in the society. He wanted a normal respectful life for himself. In Johannesburg, he longed for having a normal life, a peaceful marriage, family and basic amenities which everyone has access to where law and order exists.

But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free, but my brothers and sisters were not free. I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who looked like I did. That is when I joined the African National Congress, and that is when the hunger for my own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of my people. It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk. I am no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man, but I found that I could not even enjoy the poor and limited freedoms I was allowed when I knew my people were not free. Freedom is indivisible; the chains on anyone of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.

Word meanings

• Curtailed- to impose a restriction upon someone or something
•  Dignity- the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect
• Monk- a member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
• Virtuous- having or showing high moral standards

Author says that when he realized that his whole community including him were deprived of their basic amenities and rights of equality, he was then inclined for freedom from injustice for his community people and joined African National Congress (ANC). This   strong inclination changed him into bold man from the frightened young man, a person against law who sacrificed his normal life of a family- man and became a monk. He says that he could not even enjoy a limited freedom if his people were restricted from their basic rights as restriction on one means restriction on all the people and vice-versa.

I knew that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.

Word meanings

• Prejudice- a strong dislike without any good reason

He says that the oppressor also needed to be free as the oppressed because the oppressor is confined from being broad minded and is a victim of his narrow thinking and hatred. He himself is a prisoner of his prejudice. If an oppressor robs the human rights of oppressed, he himself is robbed of humanity or lack human feelings and traits.

Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Question Answers  

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

A. The ceremonies took place in an amphitheatre, Union Buildings in Pretoria. In India, Rashtrapati  Bhavan, Red Fort and the Supreme Court  India etc. are some buildings made up of sandstone.

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

A. As South Africa lies in the Southern Hemisphere, May falls in the autumn season. Thus, we can say that 10 may is an ‘autumn day.

 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”, has been referred to the apartheid system, prevalent in South Africa during British power. In that system natives of South Africa were deprived of their basic human rights and amenities. They undergone such an extreme torture and exploitation that  was beyond imagination. Mandela along with his companion freedom fighters fought against this injustice and finally won as a head of non racist democratic party to become the first black President of South Africa. This victory over the apartheid system and formation of a society that was humane in every sense is called “glorious human achievement”.

4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

A. He thanked the international leaders and dignitaries for participating in  the inauguration ceremony of South Africa as a democratic state with non racial government.

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

A. He set out goals to make his people free from all social barriers, discrimination, injustice and poverty that was still prevalent in his country even after freedom from apartheid system.

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

Ans. During the British reign in South Africa, the military generals were unjust towards the black and used to treat them as criminals as per the white supremacy. But after the establishment of democratic government, their attitude got changed. The military generals pledged their loyalty towards the newly formed non-racial government.

7. Why were two national anthems sung?

A. The two national anthems sung in the honour of both Blacks and the Whites communities, as the assurance of equality and brotherhood among all the countrymen.

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

(i) In the first decade, and
(ii) In the final decade, of the twentieth century?

Ans. (i) In the first decade of the twentieth century, a government of white prominence and domination ‘apartheid system ‘ was formed by British rulers that led to the formation of the most inhumane society for black people, where they had to face injustice and torture beyond imagination.

(ii) In the final decade of the twentieth century, the system of apartheid had been abolished and a democratic government established   that ensured   humans  equality  irrespective of their caste, colour and creed.

9. What does courage mean to Mandela?

A. According to Mandela  “courage” does not mean the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. A courageous person is the one conquers his fear and comes forward to bear risk.

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

A. Mandela thinks that  love is   a  natural human trait  as compared to hate. A person learns hatred in society whereas love is inborn human quality that lies in the heart of every human forever.

11. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?

A. According to Mandela, every person has “twin obligations”, one towards his family and the other, towards his society.

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

A. During boyhood and later as an adult Mandela used to believe that freedom was being able to stay out at night, read whatever he desired and go wherever he chose. However, as a grown-up man he realized that those were “transitory freedoms” . The basic and honorable freedoms is freedom in true sense as it allows a person to have a dignity full life with all the basic rights to fulfil their basic needs.

In the society under the apartheid system black people were even deprived of their basic rights to have a normal respectful life.

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

A. According to Mandela, the oppressor is also a prisoner of his narrow thinking  and confined in the bars of his prejudice as he not able to have broad thinking and lack human feelings and traits.

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

A. A large number of international leaders attended the inauguration ceremony to support the Democracy and equality established in South Africa by the newly formed democratic government.

It signified the triumph of justice over prejudice, courage over fear and right over wrong.

15. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?

A. Mandela wanted to express the fact that his achievements owed to all those African patriots who had lost their lives for the sake of their country.

By saying that he was simply the sum of all those African patriots, he wanted to express his gratitude toward those  great heroes whose sacrifices inspired him to gather courage again apartheid and fight fearlessly against injustice

16. 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?

A. Yes, it is the fact that “depths of oppression” create “heights of character” because challenges in the form of suppression or adverse conditions inclines the person to take steps against them and make him understand his true potential. Mandela illustrated this idea by the example of all those freedom fighters who had showed boldness beyond imagination and stood against oppression and brutality.

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

A. As a boy or an adult he used to misinterpret freedom as it is just doing whatever according to will like staying out at night or go wherever  he chose.

Later on, being a grown-up man he realized that it was the transitory freedom as they are deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms to be a respectful entity of the society. Thus, true freedom is that where a person has his fundamental rights to prosper in the society.

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

A. Once Mandela realized his hunger for freedom, his life changed forever. It transformed him from a family-man to a man of his people and a frightened young man into a bold one. He built his entire life around fighting for the basic fundamental rights for his community.  He was more selfless and virtuous than ever.

 

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.

Ans:

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

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.

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.) 

Answer:-