NELSON MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

This chapter has been taken from Nelson Mandela’s book of the same name ‘Nelson Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom’. It provides us a glimpse of the early life of Nelson Mandela, his education, 30 years in prison and the pains he had suffered in his young age. The chapter recounts his fight for the freedom for his own people who were tortured by whites. In the chapter Mandela gives two contradictory pictures of his own country-one, in which the blacks were tortured and suffered quietly and second, the blacks will be free to live the life of their own.

About the Characters:

1.Nelson Mandela -First black President of South Africa who fought for the equal rights of the black. He suffered a lot of pain for the freedom.

2.Zenani -Daughter of Nelson Mandela who accompanied Mandela in his inauguration day. She was very much close to him.

3.Thabo Mbeki- First Deputy President of South Africa who was very close to Mandela.

4.Mr. Deklerk- Second Deputy President of South Africa

Chapter Highlights

1.    10th of May was, a day of freedom for South Africa and there was huge gathering of international leaders and dignitaries.

2.    Inauguration ceremony or swearing in ceremony was being held in Union Building in Pretoria and first non-racial government took the charge.

3.    Nelson Mandela gave speech on the victory for justice, peace and human dignity.

4.    Mandela pledged to liberate his people from poverty, suffering and discrimination.

5.    A colourful show by jets and helicopters to show military’s loyalty took place.

6.    Singing of two national anthems was done-the old ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ by the whites and the new ‘Die stem’ by the blacks.

7.    A new system that recognised the rights and freedom of all people was formed.

8.    Mandela remembered and thanked the people who sacrificed their lives for the freedom.

9.    Salutation to some great freedom fighters – Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo and others.

10. Mandela said in speech that a country is rich because of its people not because of the minerals. Courage is not the absence of fear but the victory over it. People should love others and not hate them due to colour or religion. Love comes naturally not by force, which is the natural goodness.

11. He also stated that a man should try to make a balance between his duties – duty to his family and duty to his community and country. A black person was treated badly and not allowed to perform his duties.

12. According to Mandela, freedom has many aspects like – for a kid it is to run and play, for an adult it is to fulfil the needs, of his own and his family. Real freedom means equal rights for everyone.

13. Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC). He desired people to live with dignity and respect. He wanted the oppressor and the oppressed to be liberated.

14. Patience and perseverance guided by discipline and system yield the desire result.