NELSON MANDELA LONG WALK TO FREEDOM (First Flight)

By Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone? 
The ceremonies took place in the campus of the Union Building of Pretoria. In India Red Fort is made up of sandstone.
2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Tenth May is celebrated as an 'autumn day' in South Africa because there was the largest gathering of international leaders on South African soil for the installation of South Africa's first democratic, non-racial government on this day. In South Africa March, April and May witness an autumn season. 

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?

Nelson Mandela mentions 'extraordinary human disaster ' at the beginning of his speech referring to the practice of apartheid. Apartheid’ is a political system that separates people according to their race. 

At the end of his speech, the 'glorious human achievement' that he spoke of refers to the establishment of the first democratic and non-racial government in South Africa. Nelson Mandela considers the victory over apartheid as common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity 

4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Mandela thanks all the international leaders for giving him the privilege to be the host to the nations of the world. He says so because the South Africans were considered as outlaws. He also thanks them for coming to celebrate victory of justice, peace and human dignity with the people of his country. 

5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Nelson Mandela sets three ideals for his countrymen never be oppressed, liberation from poverty and loyalty to the nation.
6. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?

Military generals salute Nelson Mandela, which is having its own importance because that day he was sworn in as the first president of democratic South Africa. Years before, during apartheid era they would have arrested Mandela. The change in their attitude was because of struggle and sacrifices put in by many heroes of South Africa. This struggle not only ensured the freedom of South Africa but also brought a change of mindsets for many. As Nelson Mandela believed that like hate love can also be taught and human being is naturally oriented towards love rather than hate. 

7. Why were two national anthems sung?
To symbolize the equality of blacks and whites, two national anthems were sung on the day of the inauguration. One was sung by the whites and the other by the blacks.
8. 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 twentieth century, 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, thus creating the basis of one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever known.

ii) In the last decade of the twentieth century, the previous harsh system was reversed and replaced by the fine system based on the rights and freedoms of all the people.
9. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Nelson Mandela says that courage is not absence of fear it is victory over fear. He also says that courage is something that counted and cannot be repaid. It has come through innumerable sacrifices and sufferings of the patriots of South African nation.
10. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?

Mandela says that to love is a natural quality of all human beings. He is talking about equality of blacks and whites . No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. When people have learnt to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart . 

11. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Mandela mentions about the twin obligations of obligations towards his family and obligations towards his countrymen.
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”?

As a boy, Mandela did not have a hunger to be free as he thought that he was born free. As long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in every way he knew. As a student, he wanted certain “transitory freedoms” only for himself, such as being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he chose. He then talks about certain “basic honourable freedoms” such as achieving his potential of earning his living and of marrying and having a family. He builds the contrast between these two freedoms by stating that the transitory freedoms he wanted were limited to himself, whereas the honourable freedoms had to do more with himself and also his people’s position in the society. 

13. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Nelson Mandela thinks that the oppressor is also not free he should also be liberated. He says that a man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow- mindedness. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.
14. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?

The presence of large number of international leaders was a gesture of solidarity from international community to end the political system of apartheid. It signified the triumph of a democratic and tolerant society without any discrimination. 

15. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?

When Mandela says that he was 'simply the sum of all African patriots,' he means that he could identify himself with the unimaginable sacrifices of all those noble and courageous men who fought for the collective freedom of the African people. It was all because of the complete effort of those patriots that he could establish a democratic nation. 

16. Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?

I agree with the statement that depths of oppression create heights of character. Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes of South Africa who sacrificed their lives in the long freedom struggle. India is full of such examples. During our freedom struggle there was a galaxy of leaders of great characters. Probably the oppression of British rule created so many men of such characters. If we compare this with the quality of political leaders India is having today, then Nelson Mandela seems to be absolutely right. 

17. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

During young age freedom for Mandela meant a freedom on a personal level. The freedom to raise a family, and the freedom to earn a livelihood. After gaining experience the freedom meant a lot more to Nelson Mandela. Age and experience made his perspective more wide. Slowly he realised that not only his freedom was curtailed but also the freedom of his country men was curtailed gradually he joined the African National Congress to fight against the political system of Apartheid. 

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

Mandela realized in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. The hunger for his own freedom gradually turned into hunger for the freedom of his people. This desire of a non-racial society transformed him into a virtuous and self-sacrificing man. Thus, he joined the African National Congress and this changed the fearful man to a fearless rebel. He sacrificed the comforts of a settled family life to fight for a greater cause.

Click for the poems included in Unit 2 of First Flight.