Updated on 26/05/2026
2. Nelson Mandela: Freedom Walk to Freedom (Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela)
नेल्सन मंडेला ने रंग भेद की नीति के खिलाफ संघर्ष किया। दक्षिणी अफ्रीका में प्रजातान्त्रिक चुनाव 1994 में हुए।
मंडेला दक्षिण अफ्रीका के प्रथम अश्वेत राष्ट्रपति बने। उद्घाटन समारोह यूनियन बिल्डिंगस में 10 मई, 1994 को प्रिटोरिया में सम्पन्न हुआ। इस उद्घाटन समारोह में संसार के 140 से अधिक देशों के नेता नेल्सन मंडेला के प्रति सम्मान व्यक्त करने आए थे। सर्वप्रथम मिस्टर डी क्लार्क को द्वितीय उपराष्ट्रपति के रूप में शपथ दिलाई गई। थाबो म्बेकी को प्रथम उपराष्ट्रपति की शपथ दिलाई गई। तब मंडेला ने संविधान को मानने एवं उसकी रक्षा करने की प्रतिज्ञा की। उसने यह भी प्रतिज्ञा की कि वह लोगों की भलाई के प्रति स्वयं को समर्पित कर देंगे। उसने सभी अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मेहमानों का धन्यवाद किया। उसने इस नई आजादी को न्याय, शान्ति और मानव सम्मान की जीत बताया। उसने देशवासियों को गरीबी, दुःख और भेद-भाव से स्वतन्त्र करने की प्रतिज्ञा की। इसके बाद सेना के बड़े जनरलों ने मंडेला को सलामी दी। उद्घाटन के उस दिन मंडेला इतिहास को याद करते हैं। रंगभेद की नीति ने उसके देश और उसके निवासियों में लम्बे समय तक रहने वाला घाव उत्पन्न कर दिया। इसी नीति के कारण महान् स्वतन्त्रता सेनानी उत्पन्न हुए थे। वे सभी असाधारण उत्साह, बुद्धिमान एवं उदारता पूर्ण व्यक्ति थे। वह दक्षिण-अफ्रीका के देशभक्तों को श्रद्धांजलि देता है। वह स्वयं को उन सभी देशभक्तों का मात्र योगफल (सार) मानता है जो उससे पहले जा चुके थे।
*Ch.-2. Nelson Mandela: Freedom Walk to Freedom (Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela)*
*1. On what day was the inauguration taking place?*
Ans. On 10 May 1994
*2. Where did the ceremonies take place?*
Ans. In Pretoria (South Africa)
*3. Where was the inauguration taking place?*
Ans. In a lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
*4. How many countries’ dignitaries attended the ceremony?*
Ans. 140
*5. Who were some of the great freedom fighters?*
Ans. Oliver Tambos, Walter Sisulus, Yusuf Dadoos
*6. Who is robbed of humanity?*
Ans. The oppressor and the oppressed
*7. Who was Zenani?*
Ans. Nelson Mandela’s daughter
*8. Who was appointed the President of South Africa?*
Ans. Nelson Mandela
*9. Who was appointed the first deputy president of South Africa?*
Ans. Thabo Mbeki
*10. Who was appointed the second deputy president of South Africa?*
Ans. Mr. de Klerk
*11. Which type of government was installed in South Africa under the leadership of Nelson Mandela?*
Ans. Democratic and non-racial
*12. What was the author overwhelmed with?*
Ans. Overwhelmed with a sense of history
*13. What did the author learn from his comrades?*
Ans. The meaning of courage
*14. How many national anthems were sung in the inauguration ceremony?*
Ans. Two national anthems (‘Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika’ and ‘Die Stem’)
*15. What does Nelson Mandela feel hungry for?*
Ans. For freedom
*16. What changed Mandela’s life?*
Ans. Hunger for freedom
*17. Which organization did Mandela join?*
Ans. African National Congress
*18. According to Mandela, what comes naturally?*
Ans. Love
*19. According to Mandela, what is courage?*
Ans. Victory over the sense of fear
*20. What are the twin obligations of every man?*
Ans. Towards his family and towards his country
*21. How were people treated in South Africa?*
Ans. They were punished and isolated
22. What did the "Apartheid" policy create in South Africa?
Ans. A deep and lasting wound in the country and its people.
23.What system of racial domination emerged in South Africa after the Anglo-Boer war?
Ans. The system of Apartheid (racial discrimination against the Black-skinned people).
Textual Questions
*1. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?*
Ans. Mandela thanks all the international leaders for giving him the privilege to host the nations. He says so because South Africans were considered as outlaws. He also thanks them for coming to celebrate victory of justice, peace and human dignity with the people of his country.
*2. What ideas does he set out for the future of South Africa?*
Ans. Mandela's hopes for the future of South Africa were very high. He took the oath to liberate all South Africans from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation and suffering. He also wanted an ideal society without any discrimination based on gender, caste or religion.
*3. What 'twin obligations' does Mandela mention?*
Ans. Mandela mentions that every man has two obligations. The first obligation is to his family, parents, wife and children. The second is to his people, his community and his country.
*4. How did Mandela's hunger for freedom change his life?*
Ans. The hunger for freedom became the hunger for the freedom of his people. This desire of a non-racial society transformed him into a self-sacrificing man. Thus he joined the African National Congress and this changed him from sacred young man into a bold man.
*5. How was 10th May a special day in South Africa?*
Ans. 10th May 1994 was 'special 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.
*6. What does Mandela mean by 'transitory freedoms'?*
Ans. Mandela felt so because as a student he wanted transitory freedom - freedom to stay out at night, to read books. He wanted basic freedom of marrying and having a family. He wanted freedom for all.
*7. Why did the South African jets and helicopters leave a smoke trail at the ceremony?*
Ans. The jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue, and gold colors to form the pattern of the new South African flag, symbolizing military loyalty to the newly installed democracy.
Long-Answer
*1. What were the May 10 ceremonies about? Where did they take place?*
Ans. 10th May 1994 was a special 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. The ceremonies took place in a lovely sandstone amphitheatre in the Union Buildings (Pretoria, South Africa). Mandela's hopes for the future of South Africa were very high. He had taken the oath to liberate all South Africans. He set the ideals to liberate the people from bondage of poverty, deprivation and suffering. He also wanted society without any discrimination based on gender, caste, religion, race, and colour. Mandela thanked all the international leaders for giving him the privilege to host the nation. He also thanked them for celebrating a common victory of justice, peace and human dignity with the people of his country.