Class: 10
Subject: English (First Flight)
Board: SEBA (Assam Board)
Author: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
This lesson is an extract from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. It describes the historic inauguration day (10th May 1994), when South Africa became a democratic nation and Nelson Mandela became its first black President. The chapter highlights Mandela’s reflections on freedom, struggle, racism, and his deep love for his country.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Apartheid | A policy of racial segregation |
| Inauguration | Formal beginning or opening |
| Oppression | Cruel or unjust treatment |
| Emancipation | Freedom from restriction |
| Reconciliation | Restoring friendly relations |
Q1. What is the significance of 10th May in South Africa?
Ans: It is the day South Africa became a democratic country and Nelson Mandela became its first black President.
Q2. What ideals does Mandela admire the most?
Ans: He admires the ideals of justice, equality, liberty, and human dignity.
Q3. What does Mandela say about courage?
Ans: Mandela says courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to overcome it.
Q: Describe Nelson Mandela’s views on freedom.
Ans: Nelson Mandela believed freedom is not just the ability to move around freely but the right to live with dignity and equal opportunity. As a child, he thought freedom meant enjoying life, but as he grew up, he realized that true freedom is about breaking all chains of racial discrimination and injustice. He fought not only for his own freedom but also for the freedom of all South Africans.
Q1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Ans:
The ceremonies took place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa.
Some public buildings in India made of sandstone are the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, and Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Q2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Ans:
10 May is considered an autumn day in South Africa because May marks the beginning of the autumn season there, as it is located in the southern hemisphere.
Q3. 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 refers to the inhuman practice of apartheid.
The ‘glorious human achievement’ is the victory of democracy and the establishment of a government that represents all people of South Africa, irrespective of race.
Q4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Ans:
Mandela thanks the international leaders for coming to South Africa to witness the country’s first democratic, non-racial government. Their presence was a gesture of support and solidarity.
Q5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Ans:
He sets out ideals of peace, prosperity, justice, equality, and freedom for all people of South Africa.
Q1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Ans:
The military generals salute Mandela, showing respect. Earlier, under apartheid, they would have arrested him. Their attitude changed because South Africa had become a democratic nation, and Mandela was now the elected leader.
Q2. Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans:
Two national anthems were sung—one for the blacks (“Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”) and one for the whites (“Die Stem”)—to symbolize unity and respect for both communities in the new democratic South Africa.
Q3. How does Mandela describe the system of government in his country in the past?
Ans:
Mandela describes the past government as one based on racial discrimination and white supremacy, which created a deeply divided society.
Q4. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Ans:
To Mandela, courage means not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
Q5. What does Mandela say about the oppressor and the oppressed?
Ans:
Mandela believes that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity. While the oppressed suffer, the oppressor becomes cruel and loses his moral sense.
| Word | Meaning (English) | Meaning (Assamese) |
|---|---|---|
| Apartheid | Racial segregation | বর্ণ বৈষম্য |
| Inauguration | Formal beginning | উদ্বোধন |
| Emancipation | Freedom from control | মুক্তি |
| Oppression | Cruel treatment | দমন |
| Deprivation | Lack of basic necessities | অভাৱ |
| Resilience | Ability to recover from difficulty | পুনৰুজ্জীৱন ক্ষমতা |
| Reconciliation | Settlement of differences | পুনৰ মিলন |
| Profound | Very deep or intense | গভীৰ |
| Righteous | Morally right or justifiable | ন্যায়সঙ্গত |
| Disastrous | Causing great damage | দুৰ্ঘটনাপূৰ্ণ |
| Glorious | Magnificent and wonderful | গৌৰৱজনক |
| Hostility | Enmity, unfriendly behaviour | বৈৰিতা |
| Patriot | A person who loves his country | দেশপ্ৰেমিক |
| Triumph | Victory or success | বিজয় |
| Obscurity | State of being unknown | অজানতা |
🔸 Comprehension Question:
Q1. When and where did the inauguration ceremony take place?
📘 উত্তৰ: The inauguration ceremony took place on 10 May 1994 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa.
Q2. What special arrangements were made for the occasion?
📘 উত্তৰ: South African jets, helicopters, and troops did an aerial display to show military strength and respect for the new government.
🔸 Comprehension Question:
Q1. Why was this inauguration considered historic?
📘 উত্তৰ: It was historic because for the first time, South Africa became a democratic country, and Nelson Mandela, a black man, was sworn in as President.
Q2. How did Mandela feel about the presence of international leaders?
📘 উত্তৰ: Mandela felt honoured and considered it a common victory for justice, peace, and human dignity.
🔸 Comprehension Question:
Q1. What tribute did Mandela pay to the people who fought before him?
📘 উত্তৰ: Mandela paid tribute to the unknown patriots who had suffered and sacrificed for freedom but did not live to see it.
Q2. What does he say about their contribution?
📘 উত্তৰ: He said that South Africa’s freedom is the result of their sacrifice, and he would always remember them.
🔸 Comprehension Question:
Q1. How did the military generals show their respect to Mandela?
📘 উত্তৰ: The generals saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty, which was surprising as earlier they would have arrested him.
Q2. What does this change signify?
📘 উত্তৰ: This change showed that South Africa had truly changed—from a racist government to a democracy.
🔸 Comprehension Question:
Q1. Why were two national anthems sung?
📘 উত্তৰ: Two anthems were sung to show unity between blacks and whites—one was the anthem of the blacks and the other of the whites.
Q2. What does Mandela call this moment?
📘 উত্তৰ: He called it a symbol of unity and reconciliation.
🔸 Comprehension Question:
Q1. How did Mandela describe the past government?
📘 উত্তৰ: He said the past government created a society of deep racial division and inhuman policies.
Q2. What is his definition of courage?
📘 উত্তৰ: Mandela said courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to overcome it.
🔸 Comprehension Question:
Q1. How did Mandela’s idea of freedom change over time?
📘 উত্তৰ: As a child, he thought freedom meant playing and enjoying life. But as he grew, he understood real freedom means living with dignity, equal rights, and no fear.
Q2. What is his mission in life?
📘 উত্তৰ: His mission was to liberate both the oppressed and the oppressor because both are not truly free.
“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”
(a) What does the speaker mean by “long road to freedom”?
(b) What has the speaker discovered after climbing a great hill?
(c) Why does the speaker say “I can only rest for a moment”?
(d) Find a word from the passage that means “a beautiful view”.
(e) Write the past tense of the word steal from the passage.
(a) The “long road to freedom” refers to Mandela’s lifelong struggle for justice, equality, and the end of apartheid in South Africa.
(b) He discovered that even after achieving a major goal, there are still many more challenges and responsibilities ahead.
(c) Because true freedom brings new duties and responsibilities, and Mandela feels he cannot afford to rest for too long.
(d) Vista
(e) Stole
“The day was overcast with a fine mist that made everything appear soft and gentle. In the morning, as we moved closer to the Union Buildings, we could see the sea of people from all walks of life, from every race and every colour, sitting together, awaiting the arrival of the new President. There was no distinction between the races; black, white, and coloured people were united in this monumental occasion.”
(a) How did the weather appear on the inauguration day?
(b) What was the atmosphere like as people gathered for the inauguration?
(c) What does the passage say about the unity of the people on that day?
(d) Find a word from the passage which means “different races or types of people living together.”
(e) What is meant by “monumental occasion”?
(a) The weather was overcast, with a fine mist that made everything appear soft and gentle.
(b) The atmosphere was filled with excitement and unity, as people from all races gathered for the occasion.
(c) The passage highlights the unity of people from different races and backgrounds, all of whom were united to celebrate the inauguration of the new President.
(d) Diversity
(e) A “monumental occasion” refers to an important and historic event.
“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”
(a) What does the speaker mean by “long road to freedom”?
(b) What has the speaker discovered after climbing a great hill?
(c) Why does the speaker say “I can only rest for a moment”?
(d) Find a word from the passage that means “a beautiful view”.
(e) Write the past tense of the word steal from the passage.
(a) The “long road to freedom” refers to Mandela’s lifelong struggle for justice, equality, and the end of apartheid in South Africa.
(b) He discovered that even after achieving a major goal, there are still many more challenges and responsibilities ahead.
(c) Because true freedom brings new duties and responsibilities, and Mandela feels he cannot afford to rest for too long.
(d) Vista
(e) Stole
Tenses play an important role in this chapter, as Nelson Mandela is reflecting on events that happened in the past and also talking about ongoing actions or responsibilities.
Modals are used to express necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. Mandela uses them to express duties and possibilities in his speech.
Direct and indirect speech is used in this chapter to reflect Mandela’s own thoughts and the speech he delivered.
The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action rather than the subject performing the action. Mandela often talks about events where the focus is more on the result of an action.
Relative clauses are used to provide more information about a noun. Mandela uses relative clauses to explain the role of important individuals and events.
Conditionals are used to express hypothetical situations or actions that depend on certain conditions.
Phrasal verbs are common in conversational English and add a natural flow to the language. Mandela uses them to express actions and thoughts in his speech.
Adjectives describe nouns, while adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Mandela uses both to highlight important characteristics and describe events vividly.
A noun phrase is a group of words that work together to name a person, place, thing, or idea.
Mandela uses various figures of speech to make his speech more powerful and expressive.
The grammar used in this chapter is not just about structural elements but also helps convey Mandela’s powerful message about struggle, sacrifice, freedom, and leadership. These grammatical tools, such as tenses, modals, and figures of speech, contribute to the depth and impact of his speech.
