Summary of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Summary of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Chapter 2 of the Class 10 English textbook, ‘First Flight’, is titled Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to
Freedom. It is an autobiography of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. He was the first black South African
President, an anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader who served the country from 1994 to
1999. Here, we bring you a summary of the prose in the form of CBSE Notes. Students can go
through the prose summary of an extract from the “Long Walk to Freedom” book. It includes an
illustration of Nelson Mandela’s inauguration ceremony and excerpts from his speech and the
struggles he faced as a freedom fighter. CBSE Class 10 students can also refer to CBSE Class 10
English Prose Notes – Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom for their Board exam preparation.
Students can also go through CBSE Essays to improve their writing section of the English paper.
CBSE Class 10 English Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Summary
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is an extract from the autobiography of Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela that describes the struggle for freedom of black people in South Africa. On 10th May 1994,
Nelson Mandela took the oath as South Africa’s first Black President after more than three centuries
of White rule. His party had won 252 out of the 400 seats in the first democratic elections in the
history of South Africa.
Many dignitaries and political figures from several countries attended the inauguration ceremony that
took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria. In his speech, Mandela addressed all
dignitaries respectfully and assured his fellow countrymen that his country would never experience
similar suppression by one group over another. While taking his vow as the first black President, he
established democracy in the country and said there would be no discrimination against people,
irrespective of caste, colour, creed or race. He assured that the government would always treat all
the people of the country with due respect and equality.
The lovely day of inauguration was symbolic for Mandela as the South African people sang two
national anthems – the vision of whites sang ‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika’ and the blacks sang ‘Die Stem’,
the old anthem of the Republic. All these events reminded Mandela of how black-skinned people
were exploited by white people earlier. He deeply felt the pain of his race and said that this type of
suppression and racial domination of the white-skinned people against the dark-skinned people on
their own land gave rise to one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever
seen or known. He strongly believed that no person is born to hate the other person on the basis of
skin colour, background or religion. However, people must learn to hate because if they learn to
hate, they can be taught to love as well, as love comes more naturally to humans than hate. He also
mentioned how a person becomes brave, not because he does not feel afraid, but because he
knows how to conquer his fears.
Furthermore, Mandela stated that every man in life has two major obligations. The first one is his
obligation towards his family, which includes his parents, wife and children, and the second is
towards his motherland, countrymen and his community. Everyone is able to fulfil those obligations
according to his own interests and inclinations. However, it was difficult to fulfil both these obligations
as a black man in a country like South Africa before the democratic wave took over the nation by
storm. When Mandela became an adult, he realised that freedom was merely an illusion and
temporary in nature for the black-skinned people of his country. He felt that they were treated as
slaves of exploitation, and all the people of his race were treated unfairly by the white-skinned
people.
According to Mandela, freedom was indivisible for all. But the people of his colour and race were
bound in chains of oppression and tyranny. He knew that the oppressor must be liberated just like
the oppressed because a person who snatches another’s freedom is also a prisoner of similar
oppression. Thus, the oppressor is not free too and feels shackled in the chains of oppression
himself.
Conclusion of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

In the chapter – Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, we learnt that brave men are not those
who never feel afraid but the ones who know how to conquer fear. Mandela strongly felt that every
individual has certain duties and responsibilities towards his own country and community. We hope
this CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Prose Summary of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
must have helped students to get a brief idea about the chapter. Meanwhile, you can view BYJU’S
website for more such interesting updates on CBSE and CBSE study material and access sample
papers and question papers of different years while preparing for your Board examinations.
Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 10 English Nelson

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Q1
Who was Nelson Mandela?
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary political leader who
served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
Q2
What are the consequences of oppression?

1. Lowers self-esteem 2. Shameful 3. Reduces life opportunities
Q3
What is ‘Die Stem’?
‘Die Stem’, also known as “The Call of South Africa”, is a former national anthem of South Africa.
CBSE Syllabus For Class 12
Chemistry CBSE 12th Previous Question

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Summary of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

CBSE Class 10 English Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Conclusion of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 10 English Nelson

Who was Nelson Mandela?

What are the consequences of oppression?

What is ‘Die Stem’?

CBSE Syllabus For Class 12

Chemistry CBSE 12th Previous Question

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