NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Oral Comprehension Check

Question 1.
Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Answer:
The ceremonies took place in the Union Building amphitheater in Pretoria. Red Fort is made of sandstone.

Question 2.
Can you say how 10 May is ‘an autumn day’ in South Africa?
Answer:
On 10 May, which was a lovely day in South Africa, Nelson Mandela became the first Black President.

Question 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?
Answer:
By human disaster, Nelson Mandela means to say that the coloured people have suffered a lot due to discrimination at the hands of whites. He considers it a great glorious human achievement that a black person had become the president of a country where the blacks are not considered as human beings and are treated badly.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 4.
What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela thanks the international leaders for attending the ceremony in which a Black was being honoured to receive the highest post of the country.

Question 5.
What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Answer:
He wants Africa to be free in the true sense where all are equal. He wants the glorious land to be free from the discrimination of any sort.

Question 6.
What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Answer:
The Generals saluted Nelson Mandela. Their attitude towards Blacks had taken a great change. Instead of arresting a Black, they saluted him.

Question 7.
Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer:
There were two National Anthems in South Africa, one for Whites and the other one for Blacks.

Question 8.
How does Mandela describe the system of government in his country
(i) in the first decade, and
(ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela describes the system of government in his country as the most inhumane, and harshest. The white people dominated over the Black or dark-skinned people of their own country. Comparatively, the final decade of the twentieth century recognised the rights and freedoms of all people regardless of their colour.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 9.
What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer:
To Mandela, courage is to risk and give one’s life for an idea. Courage is to stand up to attacks and tortures without breaking and to show strength and resilience that are unimaginable. In fact, courage is the triumph over fear. He learnt the meaning of the word ‘courage’ when he saw the cruel behaviour of the Whites towards Blacks. He knew he had to show courage to bring freedom to each one of them.

Question 10.
Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Answer:
According to Nelson Mandela, to love is natural because man is not born to hate others. He is taught to hate others for one reason or the other.

Question 11.
What ‘twin obligations’ does Mandela mention?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela mentions twin obligations in everybody’s life. The first obligation is towards his family, his parents, his wife and his children or the people to whom he is related by birth and emotions. The second obligation is towards his people, his society and his country.

Question 12.
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 honourable freedoms’?
Answer:
As a boy, being free meant to be able to stay out at night, to be able to read what he pleased and freedom to go anywhere he liked. There is a contrast in these freedoms and the basic and honourable freedom which meant to achieve his potential. He wanted to be free to earn and marry. He wanted to be free to be able to have his own family.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 13.
Does Mandela think that the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela thinks that the oppressor is not free because he is the captive or slave of hatred. He is enslaved by the prejudice and narrow-mindedness because he is unable to think or act without prejudice and narrow-mindedness.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Thinking about the Text

Question 1.
Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Answer:
Such a large number of international leaders attended the inauguration because it was the first democratic election in the history of South Africa. Nelson Mandela became the first Black President with a great victory. It was the triumph of justice, peace and human dignity.

Question 2.
What does Mandela mean when he says he is ‘simply the sum of all those African patriots’ who had gone before him?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela wants to pay his tribute to all the people who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of their freedom. He feels that he is the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before him because those heroes of yesteryears had paved the path of cooperation and unity for him. Therefore,he got the support and love of his people to be able to come to power to bring equality for his own people.

Question 3.
Would you agree that the ‘depths of oppression’ create ‘heights of character’? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own example to this argument?
Answer:
The depths of oppression create heights of character because the people who are oppressed by the mightier learn to cooperate with the other members of the group. They are not afraid of their death, naturally they do not fall a prey to greed of any type. The more they tolerate the more is the fire for liberation ignited.

The more they are oppressed, the more they tolerate. There are ample examples of such bravery and courage. Mahatma Gandhi resolved to send Britishers out of the country when he was oppressed by them. He felt that the greater the atrocities, the higher the resistance. The freedom fighters specially the revolutionaries were oppressed by the Britishers but they did not bend before them rather they preferred death to the humiliating life of a slave.

Question 4.
How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Answer:
With the changing of age, Nelson Mandela realised that he had a lot of responsibilities towards his people, his community and his country. Now when he was grown up, he was not going to be contented with his own freedom. He could not be happy till all the Blacks were free from the discrimination on the basis of their colour. He felt the chains on his people were the chains on him. As he grew in years, he started thinking more about his people and country. Now he did not want anything for him because he had learnt that he could not be happy till his own people were happy.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 5.
How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer:
The very desire to bring freedom for his people changed his life. From a frightened young boy, he was transformed into a bold one. In his young age, he loved his family but now he did not have any home. He was compelled to live like a monk though he was a life loving man. He felt that freedom is indivisible and he could not be free if his own people were not free. This very idea changed his life. He did not want to rest till he had achieved freedom for all the people of his own country.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Extra Questions and Answers

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Reference-to-Context Questions

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Tenth May dawned bright and clear. For the past few days I had been pleasantly besieged by dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before the inauguration. The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South African soil.

(a) The tenth May was significant on the South African soil because it was the day by international leaders.
Answer:
Inauguration

(b) The world leaders were coming to South Africa to pay their ……………. before the inauguration.
Answer:
Respects

(c) It was the inauguration of South Africa’s first democratic, racial government. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the synonym of ‘launching a military operation’ from the extract.
Answer:
Besieged.

Question 2.
The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheater formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.

(a) The ceremony took place in the lovely sandstone formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Answer:
Amphitheater

(b) It was the site of a gathering of different colours and different nations.
Answer:
Rainbow

(c) For decades, the African soil had been the seat of White supremacy. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the synonym of ‘convention’ from the extract.
Answer:
Gathering.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 3.
On that lovely autumn day I was accompanied by my daughter Zenani. On the podium, Mr de Klerk was first sworn in as second deputy president. ThenThabo Mbeki was sworn in as first deputy president. When it was my turn, I pledged to obey and uphold the Constitution and to devote myself to the well- being of the Republic and its people.

(a) Zenani was the daughter of
Answer:
Nelson Mandela

(b) …….. was sworn in as the first Deputy President.
Answer:
Thabo Mbeki

(c) Mandela pledged to obey and uphold the constitution. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Give a synonym of ‘oath’ from the extract.
Answer:
pledge.

Question 4.
To the assembled guests and the watching world, I said:
Today, all of us do, by our presence here… confer glory and hope to newborn liberty. Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud. We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil. We thank all of our distinguished international guests for having come to take possession with the people of our country of what is, after all, a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.

(a) The extraordinary human disaster that Mandela has mentioned in the extract is the policy of
Answer:
Apartheid

(b) The speaker wished to refer to the victory as a common victory for ………… for peace, for human dignity.
Answer:
justice

(c) The speaker called the victory as a common victory because the entire world was against the policy of Apartheid. (iVue/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Give an antonym of ‘common’ from the extract.
Answer:
‘Distinguished’.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 5.
We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.
Let freedom reign. God bless Africa!

(a) The African people have at least achieved their political
Answer:
Emancipation

(b) Mandela wished that let reign on this beautiful land.
Answer:
Freedom

(c) The people of South Africa have got freedom from the policy of apartheid. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the synonym of the word ‘subjugation’ from the extract.
Answer:
‘Emancipation’.

Question 6.
A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular array of South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected.

(a) There was a huge of South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers over the Union Buildings.
Answer:
Demonstration

(b) It was a demonstration of the military’s to democracy.
Answer:
loyalty

(c) According to the speaker, it was the demonstration of the military’s bravery. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Give synonym of ‘glorious’ from the extract.
Answer:
Spectacular.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 7.
Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police, their chests bedecked with ribbons and medals from days gone by, saluted me and pledged their loyalty. I was not unmindful of the fact that not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me. Finally a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag.

(a) The salute of the Generals signified loyalty to democracy and of the new government.
Answer:
Recognition

(b) Finally, a ……….. of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag.
Answer:
Trail

(c) The Generals saluted Nelson Mandela and displayed their loyalty to the newly installed democratic government. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the meaning of the words ‘a line or pattern in the shape of a V’.
Answer:
‘Chevron’.

Question 8.
The day was symbolised for me by the playing of our two national anthems, and the vision of whites singing ‘Nkosi Sikelel -iAfrika’ and blacks singing ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem of the Republic. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem they once despised, they would soon know the words by heart.

(a) The day was symbolized for me by the playing of the anthems.
Answer:
National

(b) The groups did not know the of the old anthem.
Answer:
lyrics

(c) The inauguration was special because a long era of suppression had come to an end. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Give a synonym of ‘perception’ from the extract.
Answer:
Vision

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 9.
On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed with a sense of history. In the first decade of the twentieth century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before my own birth, 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.

(a) The new government was based on a
Answer:
Democratic set-up

(b) The previous government of the Whites had racial over the Blacks of South Africa.
Answer:
Domination

(c) On the day of the inauguration, Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the meaning of the words “a period of 10 years” from the extract.
Answer:
‘Decade’.

Question 10.
The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world has ever known. Now, in the last decade of the twentieth century, and my own eighth decade as a man, that system had been overturned forever and replaced by one that recognised the rights and freedoms of all people, regardless of the colour of their skin.

(a) The Whites had created such structure that formed the ……… of most harsh and inhumane societies.
Answer:
Basis

(b) In the last decade of the 20th century, the policy of was uprooted.
Answer:
Apartheid

(c) In the last decade of the 20th century, a new non-racial government was installed as a recognition of the rights and freedom of all people whether Blacks or the Whites. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the synonym of‘cruel’from the extract.
Answer:
‘Inhumane’.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 11.
That day had come about through the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of my people, people whose suffering and courage can never be counted or repaid. I felt that day, as I have on so many other days, that I was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before me. That long and noble line ended and now began again with me. I was pained that I was not able to thank them and that they were not able to see what their sacrifices had wrought.

(a) The day of installation of the democratic government in South Africa can never be counted
Answer:
Repaid

(b) The long and noble line referred to the African who sacrificed their lives for freedom before him.
Answer:
Patriots

(c) Mandela felt that he was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before him.(True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the meaning of the words “caused to happen” from the extract.
Answer:
‘Wrought’.

Question 12.
The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people. Ail of us will spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. But the decades of oppression and brutality had another, unintended, effect, and that was that it produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of our time — men of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their like may never be known again. Perhaps it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.

(a) The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting in the country and its people.
Answer:
Wound

(b) Mandela’s country is rich in minerals and that lie beneath its soil.
Answer:
gems

(c) According to Mandela, the greatest wealth of a country is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the antonym of “gentleness” from the extract.
Answer:
‘Brutality’.

Question 13.
It is from these comrades in the struggle that I learned the meaning of courage. Time and again, I have seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea. I have seen men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking, showing a strength and resilience that defies the imagination. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

(a) Mandela learnt the meaning of courage from his ……………. like Oliver Tambos.
Answer:
comrades

(b) The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who …………… that fear.
Answer:
Conquers

(c) As a young man Mandela has never seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the antonym of‘rigid’from the extract.
Answer:
Resilience.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 14.
No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.

(a) Love comes more naturally to the …….. than its opposite.
Answer:
Human heart

(b) Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never
Answer:
Extinguished

(c) According to Mandela, one must learn to kill because he can be taught to save. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the synonym of ‘twinkle’ from the extract.
Answer:
‘Glimmer’.

Question 15.
In life, every man has twin obligations — obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children; and he has an obligation to his people, his community, his country. In a civil and humane society, each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities. But in a country like South Africa, it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and colour to fulfil both of those obligations. In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being was punished and isolated. In South Africa, a man who tried to fulfil his duty to his people was inevitably ripped from his family and his home and was forced to live a life apart, a twilight existence of secrecy and rebellion. I did not in the beginning choose to place my people above my family, but in attempting to serve my people, I found that I was prevented from fulfilling my obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband.

(a) In life, every man has twin obligations—obligation to his family first, and secondly, obligation to his
Answer:
People

(b) In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a was punished and isolated.
Answer:
Human being

(c) In South Africa, it was impossible to fulfil the twin obligations because of an undemocratic
government. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Give the synonym of ‘destined’ from the extract.
Answer:
‘Inevitable’.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 16.
It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first, as a student, I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of marrying and having a family — the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.

(a) What did the speaker realize about his childhood freedom?
Answer:
The speaker realized that his childhood freedom was only an illusion.

(b) When did the speaker begin his hunger for freedom? ,
Answer:
When the speaker,as a young man, discovered that his freedom had already been taken from him, he began to hunger for freedom.

(c) What did the speaker want as a student?
Answer:
As a student, he wanted freedom only for himself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he chose.

(d) What did the speaker want as a young man?
Answer:
As a young man in Johannesburg, he yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving his potential, of earning his keep, of marrying and having a family. He wanted the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.

Question 17.
But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free, but my brothers and sisters were not free. I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who looked like I did. That is when I joined the African National Congress, and that is when the hunger for my own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of my people.

(a) With time what did the speaker see in his country?
Answer:
With time the speaker saw that no one was free in his country. Freedom of everybody was curtailed.

(b) When did his hunger become the greater hunger for freedom?
Answer:
When he joined the African National Congress, his hunger for his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom.

(c) Who is the speaker? What was his desire?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela is the speaker. He wanted freedom for his people who were leading an inhuman life under the undemocratic government in South Africa.

(d) What did he do to achieve his mission?
Answer:
Mandela joined the struggle for freedom by joining African National Congress.

Question 18.
It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self- respect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk. I am no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man, but I found that I could not even enjoy the poor and limited freedoms I was allowed when I knew my people were not free. Freedom is indivisible; the chains on anyone of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.

(a) How was the life of the speaker animated?
Answer:
His desire for the freedom of his people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect animated his life.

(b) How did his desire transform him?
Answer:
His desire for freedom transformed him from a frightened young man to bold one, from a law abiding attorney to a criminal.

(c) How did it affect his family?
Answer:
His struggle for freedom turned a family loving husband into a man without a home.

(d) Why could the speaker not enjoy the limited freedom?
Answer:
The speaker could not enjoy the limited freedom for himself because his own people were chained. He wanted equality and freedom for all.

Question 19.
I knew that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is looked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.

(a) Who are the oppressor and oppressed here?
Answer:
The white government of South Africa is the oppressor and the coloured people of the country are the oppressed.

(b) According to the speaker what should an oppressor be liberated from?
Answer:
According to the speaker, an oppressor should be liberated from hatred, prejudice and narrow-mindedness.

(c) According to the speaker when is a person truly free?
Answer:
According to the speaker a person is truly free if he does not take away someone else’s freedom.

(d) What is the common loss of both the oppressor and oppressed?
Answer:
According to the speaker, the oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humility away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken away from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
When did Nelson Mandela become the President?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa on 10 May 1994.

Question 2.
Where did the inauguration ceremony take place?
Answer:
The inauguration ceremony took place at Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 3.
What was the pledge taken by Nelson Mandela?
Answer:
To liberate all the black people from the continuing bondages of poverty, deprivation, suffering and racial discrimination.

Question 4.
Which colours were used in the new flag of South Africa?
Answer:
Black, red, green, blue and gold.

Question 5.
What were the two anthems sung on ‘that day’?
Answer:
‘Nikosi Sikelel Africa’ and ‘Die stem’.

Question 6.
Which party did Nelson Mandela join?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela joined African National Congress.

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress as a young man. It transformed his life. What made him join it? What does it show about his character?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress because even the basic freedom was not available to blacks. They could not live as human beings. They were punished and isolated from the society. He brought a transformation by achieving freedom for his people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect.

Nelson Mandela was a simple law abiding person but his people were not happy in a slave society. They were not given the basic rights of a citizen. They had to endure much pain and endure racial discrimination. They were not free on their own land. All these sufferings ignited the fire in Mandela. He left his home and began living like a monk. He taught boldly and fearlessly. Adherence to patriotism, self-respect and dignity transformed him completely. It shows that Mandela had a strong character. He was determined in his action. He had sympathy and compassion for his people.

Question 2.
Man is a social animal. He has some obligations to society. What twin obligations does Mandela mention? How can one fulfil these obligations?
Answer:
Man is a social animal and has some social obligations to society. Nelson Mandela understood the importance of being social. Mandela talks about twin obligations obligation to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children. This is the first and the most important obligation that every man has to fulfil in his life. Another obligation is to his people, to his community and to his nation.

He emphasises that in a civil society, each one of us should fulfil these obligations. It is the responsibility of the government to provide an atmosphere where a person can fulfil these obligations. But in a country like South Africa, it was not possible to fulfil these obligations because of discrimination. It was an era of oppression and torture for the black Africans in their own country. They were not allowed even the basic freedom of living a dignified life.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Question 3.
Nelson Mandela points out some human qualities in his speech. Which of these qualities impresses you the most? Do you think these qualities have become rare nowadays?
Answer:
In the truest sense, nowadays human qualities that Nelson Mandela points out in his speech are hardly found. Today, people almost lack qualities like love, compassion and truthfulness. According to Nelson Mandela, love, compassion and truthfulness are essential human qualities. He fought against the discrimination meted out to his people in South Africa and realised that those who are oppressors lack the qualities of a human being. Those who deny basic freedoms to all are not real human beings. The real human being is one who has love, kindness and respect for all.

Question 4.
How did Nelson Mandela pay a tribute to the black people who sacrificed their lives for attaining freedom for their country? How can we do it for our country?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela had to fight against the inhumane government in South Africa. He fought against the policy of aparthied. He was not the first leader to initiate this movement. He joined them and succeeded. But he did not take entire credit for his success. He recognised their contribution and paid them a befitting tribute. He called himself simply the sum of all those Africans patriots who had laid the path towards the achievement of success. He continued the movement started by them. On the day of installation of the government, he missed all of them and expressed his gratitude towards them.

Question 5.
Do you think there is colour or caste prejudice in our own country? How can we uproot it? What is your stand on it? Should we discriminate on the basis of caste or colour?
Answer:
We can also do such work for our country. Though we have got independence, all our people have not yet achieved the freedom of education. We should do whatever we can, to make education available to the poor and backward people. Also in many places, girls are not given all the basic rights. Our government should take initiatives to give all the rights to every citizen.

It is true that there is no colour or caste prejudice in our own country. Nevertheless, discrimination on the basis of caste and religion has not been rooted out from the minds of the people. So it is a burning question to uproot this discrimination.

Education, basically value education, is the most important tool to do away with such discrimination. Once people are properly educated, they can be conscious and aware of their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of India, and can face boldly such racial discrimination.

As a true citizen of India, we have to be conscious and aware of our fundamental rights. Accordingly, we will fight against any kind of discrimination like colour, religion or caste prejudices. No, we should not discriminate our people on the basis of caste or colour. We should give respect to all irrespective of caste, colour or religion and allow every one to live with dignity and self-respect.

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