CBSE Class 10 English Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Summary

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is an excerpt from the autobiography of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, a prominent anti-apartheid activist and leader in South Africa. The excerpt narrates the historic moment when Mandela took the oath as South Africa’s first Black President on 10th May 1994, after more than three centuries of White domination. His party, the African National Congress, had won 252 out of the 400 seats in the first democratic elections in the history of South Africa

Many attended the inauguration of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the first Black President of South Africa, which took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre. In his speech, Mandela addressed the attendees and assured the people of South Africa that his country would never experience suppression by one group over another. While taking his vow as the President, he established democracy in the country and said there would be discrimination against people, irrespective of any factors. He assured the government would treat the people of the country with respect and equality.

The inauguration of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the first Black President of South Africa, was symbolic for Mandela as the people of South Africa sang two anthems – the vision of whites sang ‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika’ and the blacks sang ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem of the Republic. All these events reminded Mandela of how black-skinned people were subjected to exploitation by white people earlier. He felt the pain of his race and said that this type of suppression and racial domination of the white-skinned people against the dark-skinned people on their own land gave rise to one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever seen or known. He believed that no person is born to hate the other person on the basis of skin color, background or religion. However, people must learn to hate because if they learn to hate, they can be taught to love as well, as love comes more naturally to humans than hate. He also mentioned how a person becomes brave, not because he does not feel afraid, but because he knows how to conquer his fears.

Additionally, Mandela stated that every man in life has two major duties. The first one is one’s duty towards one’s family, which includes parents, wife and children, and the second is towards one’s country, compatriots and community. Everyone is able to fulfil those duties according to one’s own interests and inclinations. However, it was difficult for a black man in a country like South Africa before the democratic wave took over the nation by storm. When Mandela became an adult, he realized that freedom was temporary for the black-skinned people of his country. He felt the pain of his race and said that this type of suppression and racial domination of the white-skinned people against the dark-skinned people on their own land gave rise to one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever seen or known. He believed that no person is born to hate the other person on the basis of skin color, background or religion. However, people must learn to hate because if they learn to hate, they can be taught to love as well, as love comes more naturally to humans than hate. He also mentioned how a person becomes brave, not because he does not feel afraid, but because he knows how to conquer his fears.

Mandela stated that freedom was indivisible for all. But people of his colour and race were subjected to tyranny. He knew that the oppressor must be liberated as well as the oppressed because a person who snatches freedom is also a prisoner of oppression. Thus the oppressor is free too and feels chains of oppression.