Nelson Mandela : long Walk To freedom Class 10

 

 Nelson  Mandela : long Walk To freedom

Class 10

Facts of the chapter

WHEN DID SOUTH AFRICA GAIN
 ITS INDEPENDENCE?

SOUTH AFRICA.ADOPTED  ITS NATIONAL FLAG ON 27 APRIL 1994 AND IT WAS DESIGNED BY MR. FREDERICK BROWNELL.

WHAT IS APARTHEID?

Apartheid was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 until the early 1990s.

Apartheid was characterised by an authoritarian political culture based on white supremacy, which ensured that South Africa was dominated politically, socially, and economically

by the nation's minority white population. According to this system of social stratification, white citizens had the highest status, followed in descending order by Asians, Coloureds, and black Africans

 

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist who served as the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation.

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION OF THE CHAPTER

This chapter is an extract from the autobiography of Nelson Mandela

 (born- 18 July, 1918), the first Black President of South Africa. Excerpts from “Long Walk to Freedom” include description of the inauguration ceremony, citations from his speech, his journey to being a freedom fighter, the struggle, along with a tribute to other freedom fighters and countless other people who fought for their freedom.

 

  In South Africa, a brutal practice named “APARTHEID” was followed. Apartheid refers to the discrimination between people on the basis of their race. It was one of the most brutal societies where dark-skinned people were deprived of their basic rights. This lesson gives us an overview that how Nelson Mandela along with others, carved their way to a society where there was no discrimination on the basis of their colour, caste, race, age or gender.

About the Characters

Nelson Mandela First black President of South Africa who fought for the equal rights of the black.
 
Zenani Daughter of Nelson Mandela.
 
Thabo Mbeki First Deputy President of South Africa.
 
Mr. De Klerk Second Deputy President of South Africa

The Inauguration

It was 10th May, the day of oath with a bright and shiny sun. Nelson Mandela took an oath as the first black President of South Africa. A large number of leaders from all around the world had gathered there to witness of the swearing-in ceremony of Nelson Mandela as the first black President.

 The inauguration ceremony took place in a big open building in Pretoria where the first democratic non-racial government was to be installed

The Swearing-In Ceremony of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was accompanied by his daughter, Zenani. Mr. De Klerk was the first person who took oath as second Deputy President followed by Mr. Thabo Mbeki who sworn as the first Deputy President of South Africa.

Nelson Mandela pledged to obey and uphold the Constitution and to devote himself to the well-being of the people. He also promised to make the nation free from poverty, deprivation, suffering and all sort of discrimination.

Display of the Military Power by South African Jets

When Mandela had taken oath, South African jets displayed the military power. It also showed the loyalty of military to democracy. The highest military generals saluted him. He recounted that they would have arrested him many years before.

It was followed by the playing of two national anthems. The whites sang ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ the old song and the blacks sang ‘Die Stem’ the new song which marked the end of the ceremony.

Regret of Mandela and Remembrance of Freedom Fighters

On the auspicious day, Mandela regretted the loss of thousands of people and remembered their sacrifices for the freedom from discrimination. 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, etc.

 who were the men of uncommon courage, wisdom and generosity. He said that a country’s greatest wealth is its people

Apartheid and South Africa

Nelson Mandela reminiscences about days gone by which will soon be the part of history where 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, it is the system that recognised the rights and freedom of all people.

Goodness and Duties of a Man

Nelson Mandela says that being white or black is not the token of your goodness or superiority. No one is born hating other, people should love one another which comes without force as it is natural. It is man’s essential goodness.

A man has to perform duties to his family, community and country which he didn’t see in his country before he pushed himself to fight for the blacks. A black man was punished if he stood for his rights and forced to live apart from his own people. So, he was not allowed to perform his duties towards his family

Meaning of Freedom by Mandela

As a kid, Mandela had a different meaning of being free as he wanted to run in the fields and wanted to stay out at night. As he grew older, he wanted the freedom of livelihood for himself and his family. But soon he realised that such freedom was only an illusion, he realised that his brothers and sisters who looked like him (black people) were not free, so he joined

African National Congress (ANC).

He craved for the freedom of his people. He desired that everyone should be given the right to live his life with dignity and respect. He wanted the oppressor and the oppressed to be liberated. As no one is free, if one is taking someone else’s freedom. Only such feelings can bring true freedom for everyone.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE

“Nelson Mandela- Long Walk to Freedom” is a befitting title. It is an autobiographical account by this great leader and deals with the long and arduous journey he undertook to bring liberation to his

countrymen. He had to struggle against the cruel apartheid regime. The entire extract focuses on the various stages of the ‘walk’ that led Mandela and his countrymen to ‘freedom

Detailed summary

 

Theme Of The chapter : Sacrifices ,Struggle & Persistence  Bring Success
 

The people of South Africa sang two National Anthems as a symbol of that day. Mandela recalled that the reason for this movement was that Black-skinned people were exploited by the White people. He said that this type of suppression of people of South Africa is the origin of many stars. People must learn to hate first, because if they hate then they can be taught to love, as love comes from the opposite circumstances. He also says that a brave man is not that who does not feel afraid but who conquers it.

 

In life, a man has two major obligations. First towards his family, to his parents, to his wife and to his children and second on the other hand obligation towards his country, people and the community. Everyone fulfils his duty as per his inclination and interest. But it was very tough to fulfil in a country like South Africa. When Mandela became an adult then he understood that his freedom was only an illusion. In fact, he was the slave of exploitation. He also understood that not only he was a slave but his other family members were also.

 

According to him, Freedom is also mandatory for them who were suppressing others in the past. They also have the right to have it because snatcher of other’s freedom is a prisoner of the same. Thus, the oppressor is as much a prisoner as the oppressed. The oppressor too is not free.

 

 

 

Conclusion of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

 

The courageous  man is not the one who does not feel fear , but he is the one who win that fear.  Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela said that every man that believes to perform his duties towards his country and community too.

 Now It is the time to check yopur knowledge that how much you gain command on this chapter