NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom

The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. It was the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South African soil. The Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Red Fort, the Supreme Court and the Parliament House of India in New Delhi are few examples of public buildings in India that are made of sandstone.

10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa because on this day, there was the largest gathering of international leaders on South African soil for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.

By ‘an extraordinary human disaster’ Mandela means to state the practice of ‘apartheid’ in South Africa. ‘Apartheid’ is a political system that separates people according to their race. During this there was a racial segregation based on colour and the blacks suffered a lot. They were not allowed to demand freedom or any right. Mandela himself had to spend many years on infamous ‘Robben Island’ as a prisoner where he was beaten mercilessly. He considered it as great glorious human achievement to liberate all people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.

Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the swearing – in ceremony. The South Africans were considered outlaws. He was thankful to all of them for having come to take possession with the people of the country. This was a moment of common victory for justice, peace and human dignity. They all witnessed international recognition of a newly born free democratic nation.

Nelson Mandela had aim of liberating people from the trap poverty, deprivation, suffering and discrimination. He set the ideal for a society in which there would be no discrimination based on gender or race.

When Mandela finished his speech, people saw a spectacular array of South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. The highest military generals of South African defence force saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty. It was of great significance as during apartheid era Mandela was arrested by them. The change in the attitude was because of struggle and sacrifices put in by many heroes of South Africa. The struggle not only ensured the nation freedom from apartheid. He believed that love can also be taught and human being is naturally inclined towards love rather than hate.

One the auspicious occasion of the inauguration two national anthems: one by the Whites and the other by the Blacks symbolising the equality of the Blacks and the Whites.

Mandela mentions that it was the comrades from whom he learned the actual meaning of courage. For him courage did not mean the absence of fear but a triumph over fear. According to him brave men was not who felt afraid but one who is able to conquer fear.

Mandela mentioned that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community and his country.

Just like any child, for Mandela freedom meant to have merry and enjoy the blissful life. Once one becomes an adult, the things you did as a child look transitory because most of the activities which we did as children are wasteful for an adult’s perspective. As an adult, one has to earn a livelihood to bring the food home. It is only then we get an honorable existence in the family and in the society.

Mandela 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, who is locked of hatred behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. Mandela realised that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity and peace.

By saying that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots, Mandela paid his tributes to all those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom. He said that he was grateful to those who had gone before him because those heroes of past paved the path of co-operation and unity for him. Therefore, he could try to come to power to bring equality for his people with their support and eradicate racial discrimination.

With age and experience, Mandela realized the importance of freedom, understood the real meaning of freedom. When he was a young boy, he thought that he was born free and thought that as long as he obeyed his father and the customs of his tribe, he was free. But when he grew older, he realized what did freedom to raise a family, to earn a livelihood mean and all this left a great impact on his mind .He started thinking about freedom in a different way. All this made him realize that he was selfish during his childhood. He slowly understood that it was not just his freedom that was being taken away, but the freedom of all blacks of his nation. It was the freedom from fear and prejudice. So with age and experience he understood the clearer meaning of freedom.

Mandela realised in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was being snatched from him, but the freedom of all blacks who were a part of that nation. This changed his mind set and from a fearing person he became a daring rebel. He sacrificed all the comforts of a settled family life and raised his voice to fight for a greater cause. He joined the African National Congress and became a young bold rebel ready to fight for the cause of his fellow friends and fought against racism.