CLASS-X ENGLISH FIRST FLIGHT

LESSON-2 MODULE-1{Prepared by S.K.Nair TGT(ss)AECS Kudankulam}

NELSON MANDELA-LONG WALK TO

FREEDOM--- BY NELSON ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• Nelson Mandela was a South African anti -apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist who played a key role in ending the apartheid regime of the 20th century.He served as the country’s first black president from 1994 to 1999, and is considered one of the most significant figures of the 20th century.He was the winner of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in bringing the apartheid regime to a peaceful end and laying the foundation for a truly democratic South Africa.

INTRODUCTION-LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

• “Long walk to freedom” is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, who was the former South African president. This chapter is the extracts from the “Long walk to freedom” book. It includes the description of the inauguration ceremony and citations from his speech and about his journey to being a freedom fighter.

• In South Africa a brutal practice named “apartheid” was very popular in those days. It referred to the discrimination between people on the basis of their race and colour. It was one of the most brutal societies in which dark-skinned people were deprived of their basic rights.

• This lesson gives us an overview of the struggles of Mandela for making the society with no discrimination on the basis of their colour, caste , race , age and gender.

The Inauguration ceremony

• 10th May dawned, it was bright and clear symbolizing the beginning of a new regime. The ceremony took place in the Union building’s amphitheatre in Pretoria, attended by politicians and dignitaries from more than 110 countries around the world. For decades this place 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.

ADDRESS BY THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA

• Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the swearing-in ceremony because not too long ago , the South Africans were considered outlaws. He thus thanked all of them for having come to witness the historical ceremony.This was a gesture of international recognition to a newly born free democratic nation and it could be considered as a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.

• Mandela mentions in his speech, “an extraordinary human disaster” and at the end he speaks “a glorious human achievement”

• By an extraordinary human disaster Mandela means to state the practice of apartheid in South Africa. During this, there was a racial segregation based on colour, and the blacks suffered a lot. They were not allowed to demand freedom or any right. Mandela himself did spend many years on infamous ‘Robben Island’ as a prisoner where he was beaten mercilessly.

• Great glorious human achievement because a black person became the president of a country where the blacks were not even considered human beings and were treated badly.

MILITARY GENERALS SALUTED THE NEW PRESIDENT-A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE

• After the spectacular display by the South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers in perfect formations over the Union Buildings, the highest military generals of South African defense force saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty which was of great significance as during apartheid era they would have arrested him.

• The change in their attitude was because of the struggle and sacrifice put in by many heroes of South Africa. This struggle not only ensured the freedom of a nation struggling with apartheid , but brought a change in the mindsets of many.

• On the auspicious occasion of the inauguration, two national anthems were sung; One by the Whites and the other by the Blacks ,symbolizing the equality of the Blacks and the Whites.

MANDELA’S TRIBUTES TO THE MARTYRS

• Mandela pays tributes to the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of people.

• He says he is the sum of all those African patriots who have gone before him.

• He was pained that he was not able to thank them and they were not able to see what their sacrifices had brought,

• He named a few patriots like Oliver Tambos, Walter Sisulus, Chief Luthulis etc who were men of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their like may never be known again.

• Mandela attributes everything to the people of his country as they are the greatest asset of the nation.

DEPTHS OF OPPRESSION CREATE ‘HEIGHTS OF CHARACTER’

• Nelson Mandela illustrates this by giving examples of great heroes of South Africa like Oliver Tambos, Walter Sisulus,Chief Luthulis and others who were inspired to sacrifice their lives in the long freedom struggle.

• During Indian freedom struggle too , we had galaxy of leaders with exemplary character like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Subash Chandra Bose, Sardhar Vallabai Patel and many more.

• ‘FREEDOM IS MY BIRTHRIGHT AND I SHALL HAVE IT’

• BAL GANGADHAR TILAK

• THANK YOU.