Chapter 2: Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to FreedomClass 10 English — summary, notes, extra questions & NCERT solutions

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The story in short

This extract from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography describes the historic day in 1994 when he was sworn in as the first black President of a democratic South Africa, ending centuries of white minority rule and the system of apartheid. Mandela reflects on the long and painful struggle against racial oppression and pays tribute to the countless heroes, known and unknown, who sacrificed their lives for freedom. He speaks of the twin obligations every person has — to family and to people — and how apartheid made it impossible to fulfil both. Mandela argues that no one is born hating another because of skin colour; hatred is learned, and so love can be taught instead. He defines true courage not as the absence of fear but as the triumph over it, and concludes that a free society must liberate both the oppressed and the oppressor, for a man who takes away another’s freedom is himself a prisoner of hatred.

The story in 6 beats

1. 1Mandela recalls the bright day when South Africa celebrates its first democratic government and he takes oath as President.
2. 2He watches world leaders attend the ceremony and feels proud that people of many races now share freedom.
3. 3He remembers the long years of apartheid and honours the many brave men and women who suffer and sacrifice.
4. 4He says every person has duties to family and country, but apartheid cruelly blocks these natural obligations.
5. 5Mandela reflects that courage means winning over fear, and prison teaches him the real value of freedom.
6. 6He ends by saying hatred is learned, love can be taught, and both oppressor and oppressed need liberation.

Characters & key ideas

Word meanings · शब्दार्थ

Extra questions & answers (board-style)

Before You Read

Activity: Matching Expressions with Meanings

Oral Comprehension Check I

Oral Comprehension Check II

Oral Comprehension Check III

Thinking about the Text

Thinking about Language I: Noun and Verb Forms

Thinking about Language II: Using the Definite Article with Names

Thinking about Language III: Idiomatic Expressions

Speaking

Writing I: Looking at Contrasts

Writing II: Contrasting Past with Present or Future

Writing III: Expressing Your Opinion

What You Can Do

Homophones and Similar Spellings

A Tiger in the Zoo: Introductory Reading Task

Thinking about the Poem: A Tiger in the Zoo

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