NOTES - Nelson Mandela Long walk to freedom

Nelson Mandela Long walk to freedom

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

extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What
is “ the glorious achievement”?
In Mandela’s speech ‘an extraordinary human disaster’, he wanted to
express the practice of Apartheid in South Africa. During this practice,
there was a racial segregation of people based on colour and the Black
people suffered the most as they were discriminated by the rest. They
could not enjoy the right to freedom.
The “ glorious human achievement” was the establishment of the first
democratic non racial government in South Africa. He became the first
Black President of South Africa where the Blacks were deprived of basic
needs and suffered different kinds of discrimination.
2. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for ?
Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the

swearing – in ceremony because not too long ago, the South Africans
were considered outlaws. He thanked all of them for having come to
witness the historical ceremony. This was a gesture of international
recognition to a newly born free democratic nation and it could be
considered as a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.
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?
(i) In the first decade of the century, the whites erected a system of racial
domination against the blacks, thus creating the basis of one of the
harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever known.
(ii) In the final decade of the 20th century, the previous system had been
overturned and replaced by one which recognised rights and freedom of
all people regardless of colour of their skin.
4. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/why not?
Mandela does not think that the oppressor is free because according to
him an oppressor is a victim of hatred who is behind the bars of
prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He realises that both the oppressor
and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity and peace.
5. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all
those African patriots”, who had gone before him ?
By saying that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots, Mandela
wants to pay his tribute to all the people who have sacrificed their lives
for the sake of freedom. He says that he is grateful to those who had
gone before him because those heroes of the past had paved the path of
cooperation and unity for him. Therefore, he could try to come to power
to bring equality for his people with their support.
6. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Mandela realised in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was
being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. This changed the fearful
man to a fearless rebel.
He sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to fight for a greater

cause. He joined the African National Congress and this changed him
from a frightened young man into a bold one who fought against racial
prejudice.
7) How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and

experience?
As a young boy and a student, Mandela’s idea of freedom was to be

able to stay out at night, read whatever he liked and go wherever he
chose. On growing up as a man he realised that these were ‘transitory
freedoms’ and the ‘basic and honourable freedoms had been taken
away. He understood the bitter truth that the dark skinned people were
deprived of the fundamental human rights. For them freedom was an
‘illusion’.
7. Describe the value of freedom for human beings and how it is

important for the growth of civilisation and humanism as described in the
lesson ‘Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom’.
Everybody, whether human or other creatures, wants to live free as

freedom is natural to all living beings. The value of freedom is better
known to that human being who has not tasted it till he gets it. A person
who is chained with the limits and not allowed to perform his duties
freely, values freedom more than anyone else. For instance the value of
freedom is known better to Mandela who remained behind the bars most
of his life. Think about a bird or animal which is caged as they have the
habit of living with full freedom but in the cage. They are not free and
their conditions are very pitiable. Similarly, life becomes a hell if we are
deprived of freedom. There is no growth of civilisation as it grows only
when one has freedom. Similarly, humanism grows in the atmosphere of
freedom.

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Nelson Mandela Long walk to freedom

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

Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the

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?

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

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

He sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to fight for a greater

7) How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and

As a young boy and a student, Mandela’s idea of freedom was to be

7. Describe the value of freedom for human beings and how it is

Everybody, whether human or other creatures, wants to live free as

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