First Flight — Prose • Class 10 • NCERT

Chapter 2: Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

📖 Prose Class 10 ✍️ Nelson Mandela NCERT First Flight

📖 Chapter Summary

This chapter is an extract from Nelson Mandela's autobiography 'Long Walk to Freedom'. It describes the historic day of 10th May 1994, when Mandela was sworn in as the first black President of South Africa after decades of apartheid rule. The chapter captures the grand inauguration ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where dignitaries from around the world gathered. Mandela reflects on the long and painful struggle against apartheid, paying tribute to the thousands of freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives. He speaks about the two noblest of human qualities — courage and forgiveness. The chapter ends with Mandela's vision of a free South Africa where people of all races can live together with dignity and equality.

📖 NCERT Chapter — First Flight

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Chapter 2

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

NCERT First Flight • Class 10

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✅ NCERT Exercise Solutions

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Oral Comprehension Check

6 Q

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 in the amphitheatre of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. In India, the Red Fort, India Gate, and the Rashtrapati Bhavan are some public buildings made of sandstone.

Q2. Can you say how 10 May is an 'autumn day' in South Africa?

Ans: 10 May 1994 is called an 'autumn day' because South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, where May is an autumn month. It was a bright, clear day.

Q3. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Ans: Mandela thanked the international leaders for coming to witness the historic occasion and for their support in South Africa's struggle against apartheid.

Q4. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?

Ans: Mandela set out the ideals of a free, equal, and democratic South Africa where there would be no discrimination based on race, colour, or religion.

Q5. What 'twin obligations' does Mandela mention?

Ans: The twin obligations are — obligations to one's family (parents, wife, children) and obligations to one's people, community, and country.

Q6. How did Mandela's understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

Ans: As a child, Mandela thought he was free. As a young man, he realised his freedom was an illusion. Later he understood that true freedom includes the freedom of all people.

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Thinking about the Text

6 Q

Q1. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student?

Ans: As a boy, being free meant running in the fields, swimming in the stream, and riding the broad backs of slow-moving bulls. As a student, he could stay out at night and read what he pleased.

Q2. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why does he think so?

Ans: No, Mandela does not think the oppressor is free. He believes the oppressor is also a prisoner of hatred, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness. Both the oppressed and the oppressor are robbed of their humanity.

Q3. What twin obligations does Mandela mention?

Ans: Mandela mentions two obligations — first, to his family, and second, to his people, community, and country.

Q4. What 'twin obligations' does Mandela mention?

Ans: The twin obligations are to family and to the community/country.

Q5. How did Mandela's hunger for freedom change his life?

Ans: Mandela's hunger for freedom of his people changed him from a family-loving man to a man who joined the African National Congress and dedicated his life to the freedom struggle.

Q6. What are the ideals that Mandela set for the future of his country?

Ans: Mandela wanted a South Africa free from all forms of discrimination, where everyone has equal rights and opportunities.

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Fill in the Blanks

8 Q

Q1. Nelson Mandela became the first ______ President of South Africa.

Ans: black

Q2. The inauguration ceremony took place at the ______ Buildings in Pretoria.

Ans: Union

Q3. Mandela spent ______ years in prison for fighting against apartheid.

Ans: 27

Q4. According to Mandela, ______ is not the absence of fear.

Ans: courage

Q5. Mandela said no one is born ______ another person.

Ans: hating

Q6. The two noblest human qualities Mandela mentioned are courage and ______.

Ans: forgiveness

Q7. Mandela thanked the ______ community for supporting South Africa's struggle.

Ans: international

Q8. 10 May 1994 was a ______ day in South African history.

Ans: red-letter

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Match the Following

6 Q

Q1. 1. Nelson Mandela → ?

Ans: First black President of South Africa

Q2. 2. Union Buildings → ?

Ans: Location of the inauguration ceremony in Pretoria

Q3. 3. 27 years → ?

Ans: Time Mandela spent in prison

Q4. 4. Apartheid → ?

Ans: The system of racial discrimination in South Africa

Q5. 5. Courage → ?

Ans: Triumph over fear

Q6. 6. Forgiveness → ?

Ans: One of the two noblest human qualities

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Relative Clauses (Grammar)

6 Q

Q1. Combine: Mandela was a great leader. He fought against apartheid.

Ans: Mandela, **who** fought against apartheid, was a great leader.

Q2. Combine: This is the day. Mandela became President.

Ans: This is the day **when** Mandela became President.

Q3. Combine: Pretoria is a city. The ceremony took place there.

Ans: Pretoria is the city **where** the ceremony took place.

Q4. Complete: Mandela was a man ______ (who/which) inspired millions.

Ans: Mandela was a man **who** inspired millions.

Q5. Complete: This is the reason ______ (why/which) Mandela fought for freedom.

Ans: This is the reason **why** Mandela fought for freedom.

Q6. Combine: He spent 27 years in prison. It was a long time.

Ans: He spent 27 years in prison, **which** was a long time.

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Additional Exercises

4 Q

Q1. Change to indirect speech: Mandela said, 'I am the servant of the people.'

Ans: Mandela said that he was the servant of the people.

Q2. Change to passive voice: Mandela thanked the international leaders.

Ans: The international leaders were thanked by Mandela.

Q3. Use the correct form of verb: Mandela ______ (spend) 27 years in prison.

Ans: Mandela **spent** 27 years in prison.

Q4. Rewrite using 'so...that': Mandela was very tired. He could not speak more.

Ans: Mandela was **so** tired **that** he could not speak more.

❓ Important Questions

Q1. Who was Nelson Mandela? Why is he famous?

Nelson Mandela was the first black President of South Africa. He is famous for his lifelong struggle against apartheid and for his message of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Q2. What is apartheid? How did Mandela fight against it?

Apartheid was a system of racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa. Mandela fought against it through peaceful protests, then armed struggle, and finally through negotiations after his release from prison.

Q3. What is meant by 'Long Walk to Freedom'?

'Long Walk to Freedom' refers to the long and difficult struggle of the South African people for freedom and equality. It is also the title of Mandela's autobiography.

Q4. What is the significance of the chapter for students?

The chapter teaches students about the values of courage, forgiveness, equality, and the importance of standing up against injustice.

📄 Previous Year Questions (PYQ)

Board exam mein pichle saalon mein aaye questions — practice ke liye best.

2024 Q1. What twin obligations does Mandela mention?

Mandela mentions two obligations — to his family, and to his people, community, and country.

2024 Q2. What did freedom mean to Mandela in his boyhood?

In his boyhood, freedom meant running in the fields, swimming in the clear stream, and riding the broad backs of slow-moving bulls.

2023 Q3. Why does Mandela say that the oppressor is not free?

Mandela says the oppressor is not free because he is a prisoner of hatred, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness. Both the oppressed and the oppressor are robbed of their humanity.

2023 Q4. What are the two noblest human qualities according to Mandela?

According to Mandela, the two noblest human qualities are courage and forgiveness.

2022 Q5. How did Mandela's understanding of freedom change over the years?

As a boy he thought he was free. As a young man he realised his freedom was an illusion. Later he understood that true freedom means freedom for all people.

2022 Q6. What is the significance of 10 May 1994 in South African history?

10 May 1994 was the day Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first black President of South Africa, marking the end of apartheid.

2021 Q7. Why did Mandela join the African National Congress?

Mandela joined the ANC when he realised that his own freedom was incomplete without the freedom of his people.

2020 Q8. What did Mandela learn about courage?

Mandela learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

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This chapter is an extract from Nelson Mandela's autobiography 'Long Walk to Freedom'.

यह अध्याय नेल्सन मंडेला की आत्मकथा 'लॉन्ग वॉक टू फ्रीडम' का एक अंश है।

It describes the historic day of 10th May 1994.

यह 10 मई 1994 के ऐतिहासिक दिन का वर्णन करता है।

On this day, Mandela was sworn in as the first black President of South Africa.

इस दिन मंडेला दक्षिण अफ्रीका के पहले अश्वेत राष्ट्रपति के रूप में शपथ लिए।

The inauguration ceremony took place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

उद्घाटन समारोह प्रिटोरिया के यूनियन बिल्डिंग्स में हुआ।

Dignitaries and leaders from more than 140 countries attended the ceremony.

140 से अधिक देशों के गणमान्य व्यक्तियों और नेताओं ने समारोह में भाग लिया।

Mandela had spent 27 years in prison for fighting against apartheid.

मंडेला ने रंगभेद के खिलाफ लड़ने के लिए 27 साल जेल में बिताए थे।

He paid tribute to the thousands of freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives.

उन्होंने उन हज़ारों स्वतंत्रता सेनानियों को श्रद्धांजलि दी जिन्होंने अपने प्राणों की आहुति दी।

Mandela spoke about two noble human qualities — courage and forgiveness.

मंडेला ने मानव के दो महान गुणों के बारे में बताया — साहस और क्षमा।

He said courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

उन्होंने कहा कि साहस का मतलब डर का न होना नहीं, बल्कि डर पर विजय पाना है।

The chapter ends with Mandela's vision of a free and equal South Africa.

अध्याय मंडेला के एक स्वतंत्र और समान दक्षिण अफ्रीका के सपने के साथ समाप्त होता है।

He believed that no one is born hating another person because of their skin colour.

उनका मानना था कि कोई भी इंसान किसी दूसरे से उसके रंग के कारण नफरत लेकर पैदा नहीं होता।

His life teaches us the power of patience, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

उनका जीवन हमें धैर्य, बलिदान और क्षमा की शक्ति सिखाता है।