UP Board class 10 English chapter 2 – “Nelson Mandela Long Walk To Freedom” solutions are available on this page. It covers all the question answers of this chapter. This solution is aligned with the latest syllabus of 2024-25 session.
Chapter 2 of the UP Board Class 10 English book, Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, offers a powerful glimpse into the historic struggle for freedom and equality in South Africa. This extract from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography captures the profound moment when he took office as the first Black President of South Africa, symbolizing the end of apartheid. Mandela reflects on the harsh realities of racial discrimination and the long fight against oppression. He emphasizes unity, equality, and the belief that love is more natural than hatred, inspiring a vision of hope and reconciliation for the future of the nation.
UP Board Class 10 English Chapter 2 Solutions
Contents
| Subject | English |
| Class | 10th |
| Chapter | Nelson Mandela Long Walk To Freedom |
| Author | Nelson Rohlihlahla Mandela |
| Board | UP Board |
Oral Comprehension Check
Page No: 18
1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Answer: The ceremonies were held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. In India, notable public buildings made of sandstone include the Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and the Supreme Court in New Delhi, as well as the Madras High Court in Chennai.
2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Answer: 10 May is called an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa because it marks the beginning of a new era with the inauguration of the country’s first non-racial, democratic government, a historic moment celebrated by the largest gathering of international leaders.
Page No: 19
3. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious … human achievement” he speaks of at the end?
Answer: By “extraordinary human disaster,” Mandela refers to the long years of racial oppression and suffering faced by black South Africans under apartheid. The “glorious human achievement” he speaks of is the end of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic government, symbolized by a black person becoming president.
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Answer: Mandela thanks the international leaders for their presence, acknowledging their support in the global fight against apartheid. He sees their attendance as a shared victory for justice, peace, and human dignity, especially since South Africans were once shunned by the world.
5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Answer: Mandela envisions a future where poverty is eradicated, suffering is alleviated, and there is no discrimination based on race or gender. He dreams of a society where all people live in equality and dignity.
Page No: 21
1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Answer: The highest military generals saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty, a significant change from their previous role in enforcing apartheid. Their attitude shifted from hostility to respect, symbolizing the new era of equality in South Africa.
2. Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer: Two national anthems were sung, one representing the white population and the other representing the black population. This gesture symbolized the unity and equality between blacks and whites in the newly democratic South Africa.
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 20th century, the government was built on racial oppression, with whites dominating and suppressing the black population.
(ii) By the last decade of the 20th century, the apartheid regime had been dismantled, replaced by a system that guaranteed equal rights and freedoms for all.
4. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer: To Mandela, courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to triumph over it. He believes that brave individuals are those who face their fears and conquer them.
5. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Answer: Mandela believes that love comes more naturally to human beings than hate, as it aligns with the innate kindness in human hearts.
Page No: 24
1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Answer: Mandela mentions that every person has two main obligations: one towards their family, which includes parents, spouse, and children, and the other towards their community, people, and country.
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, freedom for Mandela meant enjoying simple pleasures and being carefree. However, as he grew older, he realized that these were temporary freedoms. True freedom, according to Mandela, involves living with dignity, having the right to work, and contributing meaningfully to society, which gives life honor and purpose.
3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Answer: Mandela believes the oppressor is not free because they are trapped by hatred, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness. He argues that both the oppressor and the oppressed lose their humanity in a system of oppression.
Thinking about the Text
1. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Answer: The presence of many international leaders showed global support for the end of apartheid and South Africa’s new beginning. It symbolized the triumph of justice, equality, and the victory of a non-racial, democratic society over decades of racial oppression.
2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?
Answer: Mandela means that he stands on the shoulders of those who fought and sacrificed for freedom before him. He acknowledges that his success is a continuation of their struggle and achievements, as they paved the way for South Africa’s freedom and equality.
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 oppression can build strong character. Mandela illustrates this by highlighting the courage of South African freedom fighters who, through their suffering, developed resilience and leadership. Similarly, during India’s freedom struggle, leaders like Gandhi and Nehru rose to prominence, their character shaped by the challenges of British rule.
4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Answer: As a boy, Mandela saw freedom as personal and simple, like the ability to play and follow tribal customs. With age, he realized true freedom meant fighting for the rights of all oppressed people, not just his own, and that his personal freedom was intertwined with the freedom of his community.
5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer: Mandela’s desire for personal freedom grew into a passion for freeing all South Africans from racial oppression. This led him to join the African National Congress, transforming him from a young man focused on his own life into a leader dedicated to achieving equality and justice for all.
Thinking about Language
I. 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.
Answer
| 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. 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
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.
II. 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’)
- Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.
- Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.
- History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.
Answer
- This means that Mr Singh regularly invites famous personalities such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.
- This means that Madhuri Dixit is compared to a landmark in acting in the form of legendary actress Madhubala.
- 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.
III. 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.)
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 |
