Class 10

English Language and Literature

Solutions

First Flight 2 Long Walk to Freedom

Page No: 18 Comprehension Checks

1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public
buildings in India that are made of sandstone?

Ans: The ceremonies took place in the amphitheater of the Union Building of
Pretoria. The Parliament House, The Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Supreme
Court of India in New Delhi and Madras High Court in Chennai are some
examples of Indian public buildings that are made of sandstone.

2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Ans: 10 May is known as 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.

Page No: 19

3. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary

human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious …
human achievement” he speaks of at the end?

Ans: By "an extraordinary human disaster" Mandela means the inhuman

practice of apartheid i.e. the racial discrimination suffered by the blacks at the
hands of whites in South Africa. He considered it as "glorious human
achievement" because of the establishment of South Africa's first democratic,
on-racial government, where the President was a black man.

4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Ans: Mandela felt privileged to be the host to the nations of the world because
not too long ago, the South Africans were considered outlaws. On that day
most of the countries’ dignitaries were present to attend the swearing in
ceremony. He thus thanked all the international leaders for having come to
witness his investiture as President, since this event could be considered as a
common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.
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5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?

Ans: Mandela sets out the ideals of poverty alleviation, removal of suffering of
people. He also dreams of a society where there would be no discrimination
based on gender or racial origins.

Page No: 21 Oral Comprehension Check

1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed,
and why?

Ans: The highest military generals of the South African defense force and
police saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty. Their attitude towards
blacks has suddenly changed. Instead of arresting a black, they saluted
him. If it was during apartheid era, they would have arrested Mandela. The
change in their attitude was because of struggle and sacrifice put in by
many heroes of South Africa. This struggle not only ensured the freedom of
South Africa but also brought a change of mindsets for many.

2. Why were two national anthems sung?

Ans: On the day of the inauguration, two national anthems were sung. The
interpretation of national anthem from old republic as well as new republic
was sign of the pledge of those who were laying the foundation of a new
nation. As it was a pledge to build a society devoid of any type of
discrimination, symbolizing the equality of blacks and whites, and to show
that it will be a truly multicultural society.

3. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his

country (i) in the first decade, and (ii) in the final decade, of the
twentieth century?

Ans: (i) In the first decade of the twentieth century, the white-skinned
people of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of
racial domination against the dark skinned people of their own land, thus
creating the basis of one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the
world had ever known. (ii) In the last decade of the twentieth century, the
previous system had been replaced by another stronger pattern, the one
that recognized the rights and freedom of all people, regardless of the color
of their skin.

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4. What does courage mean to Mandela?

Ans: For Mandela courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory
over fear. According to him brave men need not only be fearless but should
be able to conquer fear.

5. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?

Ans: For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than
hate.

Page No: 24 Oral Comprehension Check

1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?

Ans: Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is
towards his family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is his
contribution towards fellow people, his community and his country.

2. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student?

How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic
and honorable freedoms”?

Ans: Like any other kid, for Mandela also the freedom meant to make merry
and enjoy the blissful life in every possible way. But once an adult, the
antics of childhood look like transitory because in an adult’s perspective,
most of the childhood activities are waste of time. As a grown-up, you have
to step out of your comfort zone to earn a livelihood to bring the bacon
home. It is only then that you get an honorable existence in the family and
in the society.

3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?

Ans: Mandela does not feel that the oppressor is free because according to him
an oppressor is a prisoner of hatred, who is locked behind the bars of prejudice
and narrow-mindedness. He feels that both the oppressor and the oppressed
are robbed off their humanity.

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Thinking about the Text

1. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the

inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?

Ans: The presence of a large number of international leaders was a gesture

of solidarity from international community to the idea of the end of
apartheid. It signified the triumph of good over evil, the triumph of the idea
of a more tolerant society without any discrimination.

2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all
those African patriots” who had gone before him?

Ans: Mandela wants to pay his tribute to all the people who had sacrificed
their lives for the sake of freedom. He feels that he is simply the sum of all
those African patriots who had gone before him as he only was carrying
forward the baton of the freedom struggle, the legacy of leaders of
yesteryears who had paved the path of co-operation and unity for him.
Therefore, he got the support of his people to be able to come to power to
bring equality for his own people.

3. Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of

character? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own
examples to this argument?

Ans: Yes, I agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”.
Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes of South
Africa who sacrificed their lives in the long freedom struggle. India is full of
such examples. During our freedom struggle, there was a galaxy of leaders of
great characters. Probably the oppression of British rule created so many men
of such characters. If we compare this with the quality of political leaders India
is having today, then Nelson Mandela seems to be absolutely right.

4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and

experience?

Ans: With age, Nelson Mandela realized that he had a lot of responsibilities
towards his people, his community and his country. As a boy, Mandela did not
have a hunger for freedom because he thought that he was born free. He
believed that as long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his
tribe, he was free in every possible manner. He hadcertain needs as a teenager
and then certain needs as a young [Link] slowly understands that it is not
just his freedom that is being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. It is after

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attaining this understanding that he develops a hunger for the freedom of his
people. Thus, age and experience made his perspective more wide.

5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?

Ans: Mandela realized in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was
being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. The hunger for his own freedom
gradually turned into hunger for the freedom of his people. This desire of a
non-racial society transformed him into a virtuous and self-sacrificing man.
Thus, he joined the African National Congress and this changed the fearful
man to a fearless rebel. He sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to
fight for a greater cause.

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