Nelson Mandela – A Long Walk to Freedom
Introduction:
‘Apartheid’ is a political system that separates people
according to their race. Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress spent
a lifetime fighting against apartheid. Mandela
had to spend thirty long years in prison. Finally, democratic elections were
held in South Africa in 1994, and Mandela became the first black President of
the new nation. Mr Mandela’s African National Congress also known as ANC party
won 252 of the 400 seats in the elections. The inauguration ceremony took place
in the amphitheatre of the Union Building in Pretoria. It was attended by
politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world.
Nelson Mandela in his address said, “Never, never again will this beautiful
land experience the oppression of one by another.” Jubilant scenes on the
streets of Pretoria followed the ceremony with blacks, and whites celebrating
together. More than 100,000 South African men, women and children of all races
sang and danced with joy.
Summary:
10th May was the day when Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the
first black Head of State of South Africa. His anti-racist party came into
power after years of struggle. Until then, the seat had always been occupied by
white Presidents. Days before this event, many notable personalities started
congratulating him for his victory. For the first time in the country’s
history, so many international leaders came together for the inauguration
ceremony. The ceremony took place in an open circular building made of
sandstone consisting of Union buildings in Pretoria. Nelson Mandela was
accompanied by his daughter Zenani. Mr de Klerk was the first person who
took oath as second Deputy President followed by Thabo Mbeki who was sworn in
as the first Deputy President of South Africa. Nelson Mandela was sworn in as
the first black President of South Africa. After Mr Mandela had taken his
oath, South African jets displayed their military power. It also showed the loyalty
of the military to democracy. This was followed by the playing of two national
anthems. The whites’ sang ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ and the blacks sang ‘Die Stem’.
Nelson Mandela remembers the days when the whites had formed
a system of racial dominance against the blacks. It was the basis of the harsh
societies which is now overturned. He says that the policy of apartheid created
a deep and lasting wound on his country and its people. Now the newly formed government
recognizes the rights and freedom of all people. On the auspicious day Mr.
Mandela regretted the loss of thousands of people and remembered their
sacrifices they made. He thought of himself as the sum of all those African
patriots who sacrificed their lives before him. He was pained that he couldn’t
thank them. He recalled great freedom fighters like Oliver Tambos, Walter
Sisulu, Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo as the men of uncommon courage, wisdom and
generosity. He said that the country is rich in minerals but its greatest
wealth is its people.
Mr. Mandela believes that courageous is not the person who
is fearless, but the person who has overcome fear. He also mentioned the two duties
that every human has, one is towards his family and the other is towards his
country and its people. He says that a civilized society should give to perform
these two obligations. But it is not possible in an apartheid society. He says
that his obligation towards his family was neglected as he was fighting for
freedom. He became a man of people when he realized that the idea of freedom
was an illusion for him and people like him. It was then he joined the African
National Congress and fought for his rights till he became the first black
President of the nation. According to him, the oppressor is as much a prisoner
as the oppressed. As soon as the former robs the oppressed of their freedom he,
himself gets robbed of his humanity.
Meanings of words and phrases:
besieged = surrounded by
dignitaries = people considered to be important because of
high rank or office
inauguration = the beginning or introduction of a system,
policy, or period
amphitheater = a circular or oval area of ground around which
rows of seats are arranged on a steep slope, for watching plays, sports, etc.
Podium = a raised area on which a person stands to
speak to a large number of people, to conduct music, or to receive a prize in a
sports competition.
non- racial = not influenced by a person s race
pledged = to make a serious or formal promise to give or
do something
uphold = to defend or keep a principle or law
confer = to grant a title, degree, benefit, or right
outlaws = a person who has broken the law, especially
one who remains at large or is a fugitive
rare = an event, situation, or condition not
occurring very often
privilege = an advantage that only one person or group of
people has, usually because of their position or because they are rich
distinguished = describe a respected and admired person
possession = the state of having, owning, or controlling
something
dignity = valuable and worthy of respect
emancipation = the act of freeing a person from another
person s control
bondage = the state of being another person s slave
deprivation = a situation in which one does not have things
or conditions that are usually considered necessary for a good life
oppression = a situation in which people are governed in an
unfair and cruel way and prevented from having opportunities and freedom
glorious = deserving great admiration, praise, and honour
reign = to be the king or queen of a country
awe = a feeling of great respect sometimes mixed
with fear or surprise
spectacular = something beautiful in a dramatic and eye = catching
way
array = an impressive display or range of a particular
type of thing
precision = the quality of being exact
bedecked = to be decorated
unmindful = to not remember, notice, or be careful about
something
chevron = a V = shaped mark, a V-shaped line or stripe
smoke trail = a line = shaped cloud produced by aircraft
engine exhaust
despised = to feel a strong dislike for someone or something
overwhelmed = to have a strong emotional effect
erected = to create or establish
inhumane = cruel and causing suffering.
overturned = to abolish, invalidate, or reverse a previous
system, decision, situation
wrought = cause something to happen
profound = very deep
brutality = cruel and violent treatment or behaviour
unintended = unplanned
comrades = friends or companions
resilience = the capacity to recover quickly from
difficulties
defies = refuses to obey a person, decision, law,
situation, etc
triumph = victory
grimmest = something harsh or formidable in manner or
appearance
glimmer = a slight sign of something good or positive
reassure = comfort someone and stop them from worrying
extinguished = put an end to or destroy
obligations = duties or responsibilities
humane = compassionate or kind
inclinations = a feeling that you want to do a particular
thing, or the fact that you prefer or are more likely to do a particular thing
isolated = having minimal contact or little in common
with others
inevitably = certain to happen and unable to be avoided or
prevented
twilight = a period of decline
secrecy = the condition of being hidden or concealed
rebellion = the action or process of resisting authority,
control, or convention
mealies = maize kernels or sweet corn
abided = to accept or act in accordance with a rule,
decision, or recommendation
illusion = a false idea or belief
transitory = last for only a short time
yearned = to wish for something very strongly
curtailed = to stop something before it is finished
animated = full of interest and energy
attorney = a person who has the legal right to act for
someone else
monk = a member of a group of religious men who do
not marry and usually live together in a monastery
virtuous = having or showing high moral standards
prejudice = an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling,
especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge
narrow-mindedness =
a limited outlook of a person who is
unwilling to consider alternative ideas, perspectives or thoughts
Theme:
Nelson Mandela fought for the rights and freedom of the blacks
in South Africa. In those days, slavery was rampant in Africa and they faced
the harshest and the most inhumane conditions. To bring the people out of these
conditions was not an easy task. Nelson Mandela and all the members of African
National Congress gave up their families and spent years of rigorous
imprisonment and torture. Freedom for South Africa did not happen overnight. The
freedom that we Indians got from the British was an outcome of a very long
struggle. We must cherish and preserve this freedom. As Nelson Mandela rightly
said, ‘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.’
Short Answer Questions:
1. What is the meaning of ‘apartheid’?
2. What was the importance of 10-05-1994?
3. Who besieged Nelson Mandela?
4. What were the ceremonies?
5. Where did the ceremonies take place?
6. Who were sworn in before Mandela?
7. What was the pledge of Mandela?
8. Why it was a ‘newborn liberty’?
9. What was the extraordinary human disaster?
10. Why were they outlaws in their own country?
11. What do you mean by political emancipation?
12. What was the pledge of South Africans?
13. What are the meanings of ‘deprivation’ and
‘discrimination’?
14. What did Mandela mean by saying, ‘the sun will never set
on so glorious a human achievement’?
15. What are the colors in the South African National Flag?
16. What are the old and new national anthems of South
Africa?
17. What was the history that overwhelmed Nelson Mandela?
18. What can never be counted or repaid according to
Mandela?
19. What created a deep and lasting wound in South Africa
and its people?
20. What was another, unintended effect of decades of
oppression and brutality?
21. Who were the men of extraordinary courage, wisdom and
generosity?
22. What is the greatest wealth of South Africa?
23. What did Mandela learn about courage from the comrades
of struggle?
24. What is courage and who are brave men?
25. How Mandela had reasoned that people can be taught to
love?
26. What was enough to reassure Mandela and keep him going?
27. What are everyman’s twin obligations according to
Mandela?
28. Why was it difficult to fulfill the twin obligations in
countries like South Africa?
29. How was Mandela born in terms of freedom?
30. How was the hunger for freedom developed in Nelson
Mandela?
31. What animated Mandela’s life?
32. How was he transformed?
33. Why should be the oppressor liberated according to Mandela?
34. What is the meaning of ‘prejudice’?
35. What was transitory freedom?