Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Solutions
Question - 11 : - What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Answer - 11 : - Mandela mentions about two obligations that every man has in life – (i) obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children; and (ii) he has an obligation to his people, his community and his country.
Question - 12 : - What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student?
Answer - 12 : - How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”?
Answer:
Like any other kid, Mandela felt freedom meant to be happy, make merry and enjoy the blissful life in his childhood years. However, when a young fellow becomes an adult, the antics of childhood looks like transitory because all the childish activities are worthless from an adult’s perspective. When a person becomes an adult, he learns to earn a livelihood and his own bread and butter. In such a scenario, he understands the basic and honourable freedoms in his family and the society that he lives in.
Answer - 13 : - Mandela does not feel that the oppressor is free because in his opinion, an oppressor is like a victim of hatred who is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He perceives that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity and peace of mind.
Question - 14 : - Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Answer - 14 : - Being a part of the inauguration ceremony, the international leaders showed a gesture of solidarity from international community to the concept of end of Apartheid. This signified the victory of good over evil and the triumph of a tolerant society without any prejudice and discrimination of caste, colour or creed.
Question - 15 : - What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?
Answer - 15 : -
By saying that he is“simply the sum of all those African patriots”, Mandela offers his tribute toall the people who had sacrificed their lives in favour of the struggle forfreedom. He says that he shall always remain grateful and thankful to those whohad gone before him because those freedom fighters had paved the path ofco-operation and unity for him. Therefore, Mandela felt that when he comes topower, he would bring equality among his people along with their support andco-operation.
Question - 16 : - Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”?
Answer - 16 : - How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?
Answer:
Yes, I agree with the statement that “depths of oppression” do create ‘heights of character”. Nelson Mandela illustrates this by citing examples of great heroes of South Africa such as Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthulis, Yusuf Dadoos, Bram Fischers, Robert Sobukwes among others who inspired other people by sacrificing their lives in the long struggle for freedom.
In India’s pre-Independence era, there was a galaxy of great leaders who didn’t give up to the oppression of British rule such as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Lala Lajpat Rai, Chandra Shekhar Ajad, Bhagat Singh and many more. Nelson Mandela seems to be absolutely right, if we compare them with the quality of political leaders that India is having today.
Answer - 17 : - With age and rich experience, Mandela understood the essence of freedom in everyone’s life. As a young boy, he always thought that he was born free and could do anything that he wanted. He strongly believed that as long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in every possible way. However, as he grew older, he started feeling that freedom was required to raise a family and to earn livelihood, this started dominating his thoughts and views. In due course of time, he realised that he was selfish and was leading an illusionary life during his boyhood. He slowly understood that it was not just his freedom alone that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all the Black people was retrenched. Mandela understood that his people were being deprived and discriminated and this led him to develop a hunger for the freedom of his people.
Question - 18 : - How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer - 18 : - During his youth, Mandela realised that it was not just his freedom alone that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all Black people. The hunger for his own freedom became the hunger for freedom for all his fellow brothers and sisters. In the process, this changed the fearful man to a bold rebel. Mandela sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to fight for the freedom of his countrymen. He joined the African National Congress and this changed his perspective from a frightened young man into a fearless person who fought against racial prejudice and colour discrimination.
Question - 19 : - Read the paragraph below. Fill in the blanks with the noun forms of the verbs in brackets.
Answer - 19 : -
Martin Luther King’s_______________ (contribute) to our history as an outstanding leader began whenhe came to the ______________ (assist) of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refusedto give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days AmericanBlacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictivelaws and customs. To break these laws would mean _______________ (subjugate)and ________________ (humiliate) by the police and the legal system. Beatings,_________________ (imprison) and sometimes death awaited those who defied theSystem. Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent___________________ (resist) to racial injustice.
Answer:
Martin LutherKing’s contribution to our history as an outstanding leader began when he cameto the assistance of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up herseat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days American Blacks were confinedto positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. Tobreak these laws would mean subjugation and humiliation by the police and the legal system.Beatings, imprisonment and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System.Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance to racial injustice.
Question - 20 : - Here are some more examples of ‘the’ used with proper names. Try to say what these sentences mean.
Answer - 20 : -
1. Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.
2. Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.
3. History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.
Answer:
1. This implies that Mr. Singh regularly invites prominent personalities of caliber such as Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and Mr. Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.
2. This implies that in the current generation, Madhuri Dixit is compared to the great actress, Madhubala.
3. This means history is not only the story of great fighers such as Alexander, Napoleon or Hitler, but also of other ordinary people.