NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 2 Long Walk To Freedom
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Page No 18:
Question 1:
Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in
India that are made of sandstone?
Answer:
The ceremonies took place in the sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union
Buildings in Pretoria.
The Parliament House in New Delhi, the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New
Delhi, the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi and Madras High Court in Chennai
are some examples of Indian public buildings that are made of sandstone.
Page No 18:
Question 2:
Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Answer:
10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa because on this day there was the
largest gathering of international leaders on South African soil for the
installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.
Page No 19:
Question 3:
At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human
disasterâ€.
What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious … human achievement†he speaks of at the
end?
Answer:
The ‘extraordinary human disaster’ that Mandela mentioned at the
beginning of his speech refers to the inhuman practice of apartheid i.e., the
racial discrimination suffered by the blacks at the hands of whites in South
Africa. At the end, the ‘glorious human achievement’ that he spoke of
refers to the establishment of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial
government.
Page No 19:
Question 4:
What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Answer:
Mandela felt privileged to be the host to the nations of the
world because not too long ago, the South Africans were considered
outlaws. He thus thanked all the international leaders for having come to
witness his investiture as President since this event could be considered as a
common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.
Page No 19:
Question 5:
What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Answer:
Mandela had high hopes for the future of South Africa. He pledged to
liberate all South Africans from the continuing bondage of poverty,
deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. He also stressed
that the beautiful land of South Africa would never ever experience racial
discrimination again.
Page No 21:
Question 1:
What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Answer:
The highest military generals of the South African defence force and police
saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty. When the military generals saluted
Mandela, he was not unmindful of the fact that not too many years ago, they
would not have saluted him, but arrested him. This change in attitude was due
to the fact that a new, non-racial government was elected and Mandela was then
the President of South Africa.
Page No 21:
Question 2:
Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer:
On the day of the inauguration, two national anthems were sung, one by the
whites, and the other by the blacks. This symbolized the equality of blacks and
whites.
Page No 21:
Question 3:
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?
Answer:
(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 system
had been overturned forever and replaced by one that recognized the rights and
freedoms of all peoples, regardless of the colour of their skin.
Page No 21:
Question 4:
What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer:
On seeing men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking and thus
showing strength and resilience that defied the imagination, Mandela
learnt that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.
Page No 21:
Question 5:
Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Answer:
For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.
Page No 24:
Question 1:
What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Answer:
Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to
his family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people,
his community and his country.
Page No 24:
Question 2:
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”?
Answer:
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 him, whereas the honourable freedoms had to do more with his and his
people’s position in the society.
Page No 24:
Question 3:
Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Answer:
Mandela does not feel that the oppressor is free because according to
him an oppressor is a prisoner of hatred, who is locked behind the bars of
prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He feels that both the oppressor and the
oppressed are robbed of their humanity.
Page No 24:
Question 1:
Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the
inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Answer:
Before Nelson Mandela became the President, South Africa was in the
grips of apartheid and was thus declared an outlaw by other nations. When
Mandela became the President, he abolished apartheid and thus diplomatic
relations were rebuilt with many countries. The inauguration of a new,
non-racial government was a historic moment in South African as well as world
history. Thus, several distinguished international leaders attended this
inauguration. It signified the triumph of justice, peace and human dignity.
Page No 24:
Question 2:
What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those
African patriots” who had gone before him?
Answer:
When Mandela says that he was ‘simply the sum of all African
patriots,’ he means that he could identify with the unimaginable sacrifices of
all those noble and courageous men who fought for the collective freedom of the
African people. He was pained that he could not thank them and that they could
not see what their sacrifices had wrought.
Page No 24:
Question 3:
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?
Answer:
Yes, I agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of
character”. Mandela thought that the decades of brutality and oppression had an
unintended effect of creating many African patriots with unimaginable heights
of character. Thus, he felt that the greatest wealth of South Africa is its
people. In similar manner, Bhagat Singh remained courageous while facing utmost
cruelty at the hands of British.
Page No 24:
Question 4:
How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Answer:
As a boy, Mandela did not have a hunger for freedom because he thought
that he was born free. He believed that as long as he obeyed his father and
abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in every possible manner. He
had certain needs as a teenager and certain needs as a young man. Gradually, he
realized that he was selfish during his boyhood. He slowly understands that it
is not just his freedom that is being curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks.
It is after attaining this understanding that he develops a hunger for the
freedom of his people.
Page No 24:
Question 5:
How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer:
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
became the 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 him from a frightened
young man into a bold man.
Page No 24:
Question 1:
There are nouns in the text (formation, government) which are formed
from the corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suffixing − (at)ion or ment.
There may be change in the spelling of some verb − noun pairs: such as rebel, rebellion; constitute, constitution.
1. Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text.
|
Noun |
Verb |
|
rebellion |
rebel |
|
constitution |
constitute |
2. Read the paragraph below. Fill in the blanks with the noun forms of the
verbs in brackets.
Martin Luther King’s __________ (contribute) to our history as an
outstanding leader began when he came to the __________ (assist) of Rosa Parks,
a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In
those days American Blacks were confined to positions of second class
citizenship by restrictive laws 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 the System. Martin Lither King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent
__________ (resist) to racial injustice.
Answer:
1.
|
Noun |
Verb |
|
Rebellion |
Rebel |
|
Constitution |
Constitute |
|
Formation |
Form |
|
Government |
Govern |
|
Obligation |
Oblige |
|
Transformation |
Transform |
|
Discrimination |
Discriminate |
|
Deprivation |
Deprive |
|
Demonstration |
Demonstrate |
|
Oppression |
Oppress |
|
Imagination |
Imagine |
2. Martin Luther King’s contribution (contribute) to our
history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the assistance (assist)
of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white
passenger. In those days American Blacks were confined to positions of second
class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would
mean subjugation (subjugate) and humiliation (humiliate) by
the police and the legal system. Beatings, imprisonment (imprison)
and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King’s
tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance (resist) to racial
injustice.
Page No 25:
Question 2:
Here are some more examples of ‘the’ used with proper names. Try to say
what these sentences mean. (You may consult a dictionary if you wish. Look at
the entry for ‘the’)
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 means that Mr Singh regularly invites famous personalities
such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.
2. This means that Madhuri Dixit is compared to a landmark in acting
in the form of legendary actress Madhubala.
3. This means that history is not only the story of the great fighters
and leaders such as Alexander, Napoleon and Hitler, but also of ordinary
people.
Page No 26:
Question 3:
Idiomatic Expressions
Match, the italicised phrases in Column A with the phrase nearest meaning in
Column B. (Hint: First look for the sentence in the text which the phrase in
column A occurs.)
|
|
A |
|
B |
|
1. |
I was not unmindful of the fact. |
(i) |
had not forgotten: was aware of the fact |
|
|
|
(ii) |
was not careful about the fact |
|
|
|
(iii) |
forgot or was not aware of the fact |
|
2. |
When my comrades and I were pushed to our limits |
(i) |
pushed by the guards to the wall |
|
|
|
(ii) |
took more than our share of beatings |
|
|
|
(iii) |
felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer |
|
3. |
To reassure me and keep me going |
(i) |
make me go on walking |
|
|
|
(ii) |
help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation |
|
|
|
(iii) |
make me remain without complaining |
|
4. |
The basic and honourable freedoms of … earning my keep… |
(i) |
earning enough money to live on |
|
|
|
(ii) |
keeping what I earned |
|
|
|
(iii) |
getting a good salary |
Answer:
|
A |
B |
||
|
1. |
I was not unmindful of the fact |
(i) |
had not forgotten; was aware of the fact |
|
2. |
When my comrades and I were pushed to our limits |
(iii) |
felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer |
|
3. |
To reassure me and keep me going |
(ii) |
help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation |
|
4. |
The basic and honourable freedoms of … earning my keep… |
(i) |
earning enough money to live on |
Page No 27:
Question 1:
I. Looking at Contrasts
Nelson Mandela’s writing is marked by balance: many sentences have two
parts in balance.
Use the following phrases to complete the sentences given below.
(i) they can be taught to love.
(ii) I was born free.
(iii) but the triumph over it.
(iv) but he who conquers that fear.
(v) to create such heights of character.
1. It requires such depths of oppression ______________
2. Courage was not the absence of fear ______________
3. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid ______________
4. If people can learn to hate ______________
5. I was not born with a hunger to be free. ______________
Answer:
I.1 to create such heights of character.
I.2 but the triumph over it
I.3 but he who conquers that fear.
I.4 they can be taught to love
I.5 I was born free
Page No 27:
Question 2:
​II. This text repeatedly contrasts the past with the present or the
future. We can use coordinated clauses to contrast two views, for emphasis or
effect.
Given below are sentences carrying one part of the contrast. Find in the
text the second part of the contrast, and complete each item. Identify the
words which signal the contrast. This has been done for you in the first item.
1. For decades the Union Buildings had been the seat of white
supremacy, and now ___________
2. Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force
and police .... saluted me and pledged their loyalty. ... not so many years
before they would not have saluted ____________
3. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem ..., they
would soon _____________
4. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil,
___________
5. The Air Show was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military
force, but _____________
6. It was this desire for the freedom of my people ... that transformed
_____________ into a bold one, that drove to become a criminal, that turned
into a man without a home.
Answer:
2. but arrested me.
3. know the words by heart.
4. but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people
5. but a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy
6. a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law – abiding attorney
to become a criminal, that turned a family – loving husband into a man without
a home.
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