Long Walk to Freedom – Class 10 English Chapter 2 | Question Answers, Summary, Explanation in Hindi
Chapter Name: Long Walk to Freedom
Book: First Flight – Class 10 English
Author: Nelson Mandela
NCERT Solutions: Long Walk to Freedom – Questions and Answers
1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Answer: The ceremonies took place in the campus of the Union Building of Pretoria. Some sandstone public buildings in India include the Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Supreme Court (New Delhi), and Madras High Court (Chennai).
2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Answer: 10 May is an autumn day in South Africa because it marked the birth of a new democratic nation and the largest international gathering for the installation of South Africa’s first non-racial government.
3. What is the “extraordinary human disaster” Mandela mentions? And what is the “glorious human achievement”?
Answer: The "extraordinary human disaster" refers to the inhumane apartheid system in South Africa. The "glorious human achievement" is the triumph of democracy with the election of a black president after years of struggle.
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Answer: Mandela thanks them for witnessing the historic moment of South Africa’s transformation and for showing solidarity with the new democratic nation.
5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Answer: Mandela sets out ideals of ending poverty and injustice, ensuring equality, and eliminating racial and gender discrimination.
Comprehension Check
1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Answer: They saluted Mandela, showing their respect and loyalty to the new democratic government, a major change from the past when they supported racial segregation.
2. Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer: One was sung by the blacks and one by the whites to symbolize equality and unity in the new South Africa.
3. How does Mandela describe the systems of government?
(i) In the early 20th century, South Africa had a system of racial domination.
(ii) In the final decade, it transitioned into a free and democratic society.
4. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer: Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
5. Which is natural – to love or to hate?
Answer: Mandela believes love comes more naturally to humans than hate.
Oral Comprehension Check
1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Answer: Obligation to family and to his people/community/country.
2. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy and later?
Answer: As a boy, freedom meant enjoying life. As he grew, he realized true freedom involved the dignity of his people and equal rights.
3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free?
Answer: No. The oppressor is also imprisoned by hatred and prejudice.
Thinking About the Text
1. Why did international leaders attend the inauguration?
Answer: To show solidarity for the end of apartheid and support the beginning of a democratic South Africa.
2. What does Mandela mean by “sum of all African patriots”?
Answer: He acknowledges the sacrifices of many freedom fighters and sees himself as their representative.
3. Do the depths of oppression create heights of character?
Answer: Yes, oppression builds strength and resilience. Mandela and many Indian freedom fighters are proof of this.
4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change?
Answer: He realized that freedom isn’t just personal, but collective. True freedom comes when all are free from fear and oppression.
5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer: It transformed him from a regular young man into a courageous leader who sacrificed his personal life for the freedom of his people.
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