Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

In                                

 Lesson-2   

Title:  Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

English Summary:

This chapter is an excerpt from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, focusing on his inauguration as South Africa’s first Black President in 1994. It marks the end of apartheid, a brutal system of racial segregation enforced by the white minority government. Mandela describes the historic ceremony held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, attended by global leaders and dignitaries. The event symbolizes the triumph of justice, unity, and democracy after centuries of oppression.

Mandela reflects on the significance of the day, acknowledging the sacrifices of countless freedom fighters like Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, and Chief Luthuli, who endured imprisonment and persecution. He emphasizes that freedom is “indivisible” – the oppression of one group harms all. His speech highlights the need to build a society free from poverty, discrimination, and inequality.

The chapter contrasts South Africa’s past and present. Earlier, the Union Buildings were the “seat of white supremacy,” but on inauguration day, they hosted a “rainbow gathering” of diverse races and nations. Mandela notes the military’s loyalty to the new democracy, a stark shift from their previous role as enforcers of apartheid. The singing of two national anthems (one by whites, one by Blacks) symbolizes reconciliation and hope.

Mandela’s personal journey is central. As a boy, he felt “free” in his village, but later realized his freedom was an illusion under apartheid. His “hunger for freedom” evolved from selfish desires to a collective struggle for his people’s dignity. He states that courage is not the absence of fear but overcoming it, a lesson learned from comrades who resisted brutality with resilience.

He concludes that true freedom liberates both the oppressed and the oppressor. The oppressor, trapped by hatred and prejudice, is equally unfree. Mandela’s vision is rooted in equality, justice, and healing the wounds of apartheid through unity.

हिंदी अनुवाद (Hindi Translation):

यह अध्याय नेल्सन मंडेला की आत्मकथा का एक अंश है, जो 1994 में दक्षिण अफ्रीका के पहले काले राष्ट्रपति के रूप में उनके उद्घाटन पर केंद्रित है। यह रंगभेद (एपार्थेइड) की समाप्ति का प्रतीक है, जो श्वेत अल्पसंख्यक सरकार द्वारा लागू एक नस्लीय अलगाव की क्रूर प्रणाली थी। मंडेला प्रिटोरिया के यूनियन बिल्डिंग्स में आयोजित ऐतिहासिक समारोह का वर्णन करते हैं, जिसमें वैश्विक नेता और गणमान्य व्यक्ति शामिल हुए थे। यह घटना सदियों के अत्याचार के बाद न्याय, एकता और लोकतंत्र की जीत को दर्शाती है।

मंडेला इस दिन के महत्व पर विचार करते हुए वाल्टर सिसुलु, ओलिवर टैम्बो और चीफ लुथुली जैसे असंख्य स्वतंत्रता सेनानियों के बलिदान को स्वीकार करते हैं, जिन्होंने कारावास और उत्पीड़न सहा। वे जोर देते हैं कि स्वतंत्रता “अविभाज्य” है – एक समूह का उत्पीड़न सभी को नुकसान पहुँचाता है। उनका भाषण गरीबी, भेदभाव और असमानता से मुक्त समाज बनाने की आवश्यकता पर प्रकाश डालता है।

अध्याय दक्षिण अफ्रीका के अतीत और वर्तमान का विरोधाभास दिखाता है। पहले, यूनियन बिल्डिंग्स “श्वेत वर्चस्व का केंद्र” थीं, लेकिन उद्घाटन के दिन, वे विभिन्न नस्लों और राष्ट्रों के “इंद्रधनुषी समूह” की मेजबानी करती हैं। मंडेला सेना की नई लोकतांत्रिक सरकार के प्रति वफादारी को रेखांकित करते हैं, जो रंगभेद के समय उनकी भूमिका से एकदम अलग है। दो राष्ट्रगानों (एक श्वेत लोगों द्वारा, एक काले लोगों द्वारा) का गायन सुलह और आशा का प्रतीक है।

मंडेला का व्यक्तिगत सफर केंद्रीय है। बचपन में, वे अपने गाँव में “स्वतंत्र” महसूस करते थे, लेकिन बाद में उन्हें एहसास हुआ कि रंगभेद के तहत उनकी स्वतंत्रता एक भ्रम थी। उनकी “स्वतंत्रता की भूख” व्यक्तिगत इच्छाओं से बदलकर अपने लोगों के सम्मान के लिए सामूहिक संघर्ष बन गई। वे कहते हैं कि साहस डर की अनुपस्थिति नहीं, बल्कि उस पर विजय पाना है – यह सबक उनके साथियों से मिला, जिन्होंने अत्याचार का विरोध किया।

वे निष्कर्ष निकालते हैं कि सच्ची स्वतंत्रता उत्पीड़ित और उत्पीड़क दोनों को मुक्त करती है। उत्पीड़क, नफरत और पूर्वाग्रह में फँसा हुआ, समान रूप से अमुक्त है। मंडेला का सपना समानता, न्याय और एकता के माध्यम से रंगभेद के घावों को भरने में निहित है।

Questions & Answers

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1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Name some Indian buildings made of sandstone.

Ans: The ceremonies happened at the Union Building in Pretoria. In India, buildings like Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Supreme Court (New Delhi), and Madras High Court (Chennai) are made of sandstone.

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2. Why is 10 May called an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Ans: 10 May is called an ‘autumn day’ because it marked a big change. On this day, many world leaders came to South Africa to celebrate its first fair, non-racial government.

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3. What does Mandela mean by “an extraordinary human disaster”? What is the “glorious human achievement”?

Ans: The “disaster” means apartheid—the cruel system where black people were treated badly. The “achievement” is South Africa’s first democracy where all people were equal and Mandela became president.

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4. Why does Mandela thank international leaders?

Ans: Mandela thanks them because they came to support South Africa’s new democracy. Earlier, South Africa was cut off from the world, but now leaders came to celebrate justice and freedom.

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5. What are Mandela’s ideals for South Africa’s future?

Ans: He wants to end poverty and pain. He dreams of a country where people are not judged by their skin color or gender.

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6. What did the military generals do? Why did their attitude change?

Ans: The generals saluted Mandela and showed respect. Earlier, they were against black people. Their attitude changed because the fight against apartheid changed the country.

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7. Why were two national anthems sung?

Ans: Two anthems were sung to show unity. One was for white South Africans and the other for black South Africans. Together, they showed the new, united South Africa.

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

(i) In the early 1900s, white people in South Africa made unfair laws. Black people had no rights.
(ii) By the 1990s, this system changed. Now, all people had equal rights and freedom, no matter their skin color.

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9. What does courage mean to Mandela?

Ans: Mandela says courage is not the absence of fear. It means feeling afraid but still doing the right thing.

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

Ans: Mandela believes love comes more naturally to people than hate.

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11. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?

Ans: Mandela says a person has two duties:

1. To their family,

2. To their community and country.

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12. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy vs. as an adult?

Ans: As a boy, Mandela thought freedom meant playing and doing what he wanted.
As an adult, he learned that real freedom means living with dignity, helping others, and fighting for equal rights.

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13. Why did many international leaders attend Mandela’s inauguration?

Ans: They came to support South Africa’s new start after apartheid ended. It was a celebration of equality and justice.

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14. What does Mandela mean by “I am the sum of all African patriots”?

Ans: He means he stands on the hard work and sacrifices of the freedom fighters before him. His success is because of them.

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15. Do hardships create strong character?

Ans: Yes. Mandela says that suffering under apartheid created brave and strong people.
Just like India’s freedom struggle created great leaders, South Africa’s pain created heroes.

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16. How did Mandela’s view of freedom change as he grew older?

Ans: As a child, he felt free if he listened to elders and played.
As he grew, he saw that many people were not free. So, true freedom means fighting for justice for everyone.

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Thinking About Language

Q1: Match the phrases (Page 11):

Q2: Fill in the blanks (Page 10):

• Contribution, assistance, subjugation, humiliation, imprisonment, resistance.

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