Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Let’s Begin1. You have read the story about Nelson Mandela in your textbook, First Flight, and the struggle of the people of South Africa. Mandela draws our attention to the meaning and importance of freedom and leading a life with freedom. He states that freedom comes with responsibilities. Discuss with your peers, how freedom and responsibilities go hand in hand.
Freedom and responsibility are inseparable because true freedom means having the power to make choices, and every choice has consequences that one must own. As Mandela articulated, "to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." If we exercise our freedom without responsibility (for example, by infringing on the rights of others or neglecting our duties to our community), we create chaos and oppression, which ultimately destroys freedom. Therefore, maintaining liberty requires the responsibility to uphold the law, respect others, and contribute to the well-being of society.
Reading Comprehension
Text I
Given below is a speech by Sardar Patel, one of the prominent figures of India’s freedom struggle. This is one of the convocation speeches delivered by him. Read the speech and answer the questions that follow.
Q.1. The occasion of the speech of Sardar Patel here is ____________________________________________________.
(a) an address to a public gathering
(b) a convocation address at a university
(c) a speech in Indian Parliament
(d) a speech delivered to civil servants
Answer: (b) a convocation address at a university
Explanation: The text explicitly mentions, "This is one of the convocation speeches delivered by him."
Q.2. Patel feels that future generations will heap curses on us if ____________________________________________.
(a) we fail to protect our freedom
(b) we fail to protect the corrupt people in public life
(c) we wage war against other nations
(d) we understand the need for peace
Answer: (a) we fail to protect our freedom
Explanation: Patel states, "If we fail to make the best use of our freedom... future generations will heap curses on us." This implies failing to protect, retain, and utilize the freedom won.
Q.3. The first and foremost thing Patel stressed to be done is _____________________________________________.
(a) to make the country strong and united
(b) to give employment to everyone
(c) to fight a war against those who oppressed us
(d) to make every citizen feel happy
Answer: (a) to make the country strong and united
Explanation: The text says, "We must concentrate on one thing alone, viz., how to make our country strong and united."
Q.4. One major characteristic of university education, as Sardar Patel believes, is _________________.
(a) character
(b) duty
(c) knowledge
(d) power
Answer: (a) character
Explanation: Patel states, "The most essential requisite is character... if your character is lacking... you will be wasting an opportunity of a lifetime."
Q.5. What did Patel not mean when he said, “You have to realise that India has to attain its rightful place in the comity of nations”? Tick the right answer.
(a) Friendly and cordial relationship with other nations
(b) Group of nations which wage war against other
(c) Community of people
(d) Nations from a continent
Answer: (b) Group of nations which wage war against other
Explanation: "Comity of nations" refers to friendly and mutual recognition between nations. Therefore, "wage war" is what he did NOT mean.
Q.6. ‘India abounds in the resources of nature and manpower’ means _________________________________.
(a) India has a vibrant economy
(b) India’s natural resources and population are a great resource
(c) India’s lack of manpower
(d) Indians are great resource for development
Answer: (b) India’s natural resources and population are a great resource
Explanation: The phrase "abounds in" means to have in large numbers or amounts.
Q.7. What is the greatest danger for India as Patel believes in his speech?
(a) India has a vibrant economy.
(b) India’s natural resources and population are a great resource.
(c) India’s lack of manpower.
(d) Indians are great resource for development.
Answer: (Note: The options provided in the source text for Q7 appear to be erroneous repetitions of Q6 options and do not fit the question. Based on the reading text, the correct answer is Disunity.)
Correct Answer from text: The real danger of India lies in our disunity.
Q.8. Complete the following statement based on your understanding of Patel’s speech.
The first and foremost duty of the young nation is _____________________________________________________
Answer: to make the country strong and united, and to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining freedom with discipline and character.
Vocabulary
1. Use the following words and phrases in your own sentences.
(a) Precincts
The police officer patrolled the precincts of the university to ensure the safety of the students.
(b) Comity of nations
To maintain peace, it is vital that our country maintains its respectful standing in the comity of nations.
(c) Unassailable
The team built an unassailable lead in the first half of the match, guaranteeing their victory.
(d) Mutual cooperation
The two neighbors decided that mutual cooperation was the best way to resolve their property dispute.
2. Sardar Patel called upon young students to understand the meaning of freedom and ways to sustain it. Here are two key words which he stressed upon—‘Freedom’ and ‘Responsibility’. Working in pairs, find words and phrases which convey the feeling of these words and write below.
Freedom: Liberty, Emancipation, Independence, Autonomy, Rights, Liberation.
Responsibility: Duty, Obligation, Accountability, Burden, Discipline, Debt.
Using the words write at least five sentences describing ‘Freedom’ and ‘Responsibility’. One has been done for you. Example: Freedom is not free.
1. True liberty can only be sustained when citizens accept the obligation to uphold the law.
2. While we celebrate our independence, we must acknowledge the heavy burden of building a just society.
3. Emancipation from foreign rule is just the first step; the real test is the discipline to remain united.
4. Every citizen has the right to autonomy, but they also have an accountability to their neighbors.
5. We owe a debt of gratitude to our ancestors for our liberation, which we repay through civic duty.
Grammar
Use of Articles
1. You have come across the use of articles ‘a’, ‘an’, and ‘the’ in the lesson. The tasks in the textbook give you the idea that the use of ‘the’ with proper noun carries a special meaning. Read the following paragraph from the speech you have read above. The articles are missing in the paragraph. With the help of your partner, fill in the blanks.
The weapons of the world war were: violence, brute force, political and military moves, and counter moves. As a result of the churning of the ocean, the world has emitted poison. That poison is spreading all over and there is none to swallow it. The countries which were free have managed to digest it somewhat, but we, who have just attained our freedom, it is hard to do the same. Therefore, those who think that having attained freedom they have attained everything, have really attained nothing! The freedom that we have won is yet to be consolidated.
2. Which article most frequently occurs in the passage? Why is it so? Can you replace it with some other article? Why / Why not? Discuss with your peers and make notes.
The article "the" occurs most frequently. This is because the passage refers to specific, definite entities like "the world war," "the ocean," "the world," and "the freedom" that has been won. It acts as a definite article pointing to particular things previously known or unique. Generally, it cannot be replaced with "a" or "an" because those are indefinite articles used for non-specific items, which would change the meaning (e.g., "a world war" suggests any war, not the specific one mentioned).
3. Fill in the blanks with suitable articles.
(a) ______ boy and ______ girl were shopping in a market. ______ boy was from Kerala and ______ girl was from Nagaland.
Answer: A boy and a girl were shopping in a market. The boy was from Kerala and the girl was from Nagaland.
(b) Can you turn off ______ light?
Answer: Can you turn off the light?
(c) He has taken ______ taxi to ______ station.
Answer: He has taken a taxi to the station.
(d) Is there ______ police station nearby?
Answer: Is there a police station nearby?
(e) My sister works in ______ bank.
Answer: My sister works in a bank.
(f) He has been looking for ______ job for the last seven years.
Answer: He has been looking for a job for the last seven years.
(g) Would you like to eat ______ apple?
Answer: Would you like to eat an apple?
(h) He goes to the theatre once ______ month.
Answer: He goes to the theatre once a month.
(i) This morning I bought ______ newspaper and ______ magazine. ______ newspaper is on my table and I forgot where I have placed ______ magazine.
Answer: This morning I bought a newspaper and a magazine. The newspaper is on my table and I forgot where I have placed the magazine.
(j) We would like to have dinner at ______ good restaurant.
Answer: We would like to have dinner at a good restaurant.
Editing
1. The following passage has an error in each line. Find the error and write the correct word or words against the line.
I don’t mean that some peoples are born clear headed
Error: peoples | Correction: people
and is therefore natural writers, whereas others
Error: is | Correction: are
are naturally fuzzy and will never wrote well.
Error: wrote | Correction: write
Thinking clearly was a conscious act that writers
Error: was | Correction: is
must forced on themselves, as if they were working
Error: forced | Correction: force
on any other project that requires logic: makes
Error: makes | Correction: making
shopping list or doing an algebra problems.
Error: problems | Correction: problem
Good writing do not come naturally,
Error: do | Correction: does
though most people seems to think it does.
Error: seems | Correction: seem
Professional writer are constantly bearded by
Error: writer | Correction: writers
people who say they’d like to “trying a little
Error: trying | Correction: try
writing sometime” — meaned when they
Error: meaned | Correction: meaning
retire from their real profession.
Listening
1. Your teacher or any one student will read out the text given below to the whole class. Listen carefully. Working in groups of four, note down in short the important points as you listen. Discuss in your group. Recreate and write the text you have listened to.
(Text provided in source: "A few minutes ago, walking back from lunch, I started to cross the street when I heard the sound of a coin dropping...")
Recreated Text: While returning from lunch and crossing the street, the narrator heard the distinct sound of a coin falling. Even though it was likely a small amount (a one rupee coin dropped by a woman), the sound immediately caught the attention of the narrator and several others nearby. The incident highlights how the unique tinkling sound of money on pavement grabs people's attention regardless of the coin's value.
Speaking
1. You have read the speeches of Nelson Mandela and Sardar Patel. You know their beliefs and ideas on freedom and responsibilities for a new born nation. Discuss with your partner and put down your ideas on what freedom means to you. Prepare an outline.
Outline on "What Freedom Means to Me":
1. Introduction: Freedom is more than just the absence of physical chains.
2. Personal Freedom: The ability to pursue education, choose a career, and express opinions without fear.
3. Social Freedom: Living in a society free from discrimination based on caste, color, or gender (as emphasized by Mandela).
4. Responsibility: Acknowledging that my freedom ends where another's begins; the duty to contribute to national unity (as emphasized by Patel).
5. Conclusion: True freedom is a balance of rights and duties.
2. Prepare a speech for the morning assembly reflecting on the following questions.
(a) How do you feel today about the country’s freedom?
(b) Are we free and independent?
(c) Are we serious about our responsibilities as citizens?
Draft Speech:
Respected Principal, teachers, and dear friends,
Today, I want to talk about our freedom. When we look back at the sacrifices made by leaders like Mandela and Patel, I feel immense pride in our country's freedom. We are politically free and independent; we make our own laws and choose our own leaders. However, are we truly free in every sense? We still battle issues like poverty and intolerance. Furthermore, are we serious about our responsibilities? Often, we claim our rights but ignore our duties. As Sardar Patel said, we must build our character to deserve this freedom. Let us pledge today to be responsible citizens who not only enjoy freedom but work to preserve it for others. Jai Hind.
Writing
1. Make pairs. One of you takes the role of Nelson Mandela and the other becomes the interviewer.
(a) The interviewer prepares a questionnaire on Nelson Mandela—Mandela as a person and his contributions to the removal of Apartheid.
(b) The interviewee responds to them. The interviewer’s task is to note down the answers also.
(c) The interviewer, through the questions, tries to get an overview of Mandela’s life.
For interviewer (Sample Questions)
1. Mr. Mandela, what was the defining moment that made you join the struggle for freedom?
2. How did your 30 years in prison change your perspective on humanity?
3. You speak often of "courage." What does courage mean to you personally?
4. How did it feel to see the same generals who once arrested you now saluting you?
5. What is your message to the youth of the world regarding hate and love?
For interviewee (Sample Answers)
1. It was not a single moment, but a steady accumulation of a thousand slights and indignities against my people that produced in me an anger and a desire to fight the system.
2. Prison taught me that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. It took away my fear and taught me patience.
3. I learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is he who conquers that fear.
4. It was a profound moment. It symbolized that the military's loyalty had shifted to democracy and the new non-racial government.
5. No one is born hating another person. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart.
2. Make groups of four and find out the background information on Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. All three of them fought against all odds and used non-violence to achieve their aim. Choose any two of the above stated leaders and do a comparative study of their principles and lives.
Comparative Study: Nelson Mandela vs. Mahatma Gandhi
1. Principle of Non-Violence: Gandhi championed Ahimsa (total non-violence). Mandela started with non-violence but briefly adopted armed struggle (Umkhonto we Sizwe) when all other methods failed, before returning to negotiation and peace.
2. Oppression: Gandhi fought against British colonial rule in India. Mandela fought against the Apartheid regime (institutionalized racism) in South Africa.
3. Imprisonment: Both spent significant time in prison for their beliefs (Mandela for 27 years, Gandhi for many years cumulatively).
4. Inclusivity: Both believed in a nation where all people, regardless of religion or race, were equal. Gandhi strove for Hindu-Muslim unity; Mandela for a "Rainbow Nation" of blacks and whites.
5. Result: Both successfully led their nations to independence and democracy, becoming the "Father of the Nation" in their respective countries.
Project
1. You have learnt about the freedom struggles of many nations after the Second World War and how many leaders spearheaded freedom movements in their countries. Based on the learning from history and political science, write about any two leaders from different nations.
Example Profile 1: Martin Luther King Jr. (USA)
(a) Thoughts: Believed in racial equality and the "American Dream" where people are judged by character, not skin color.
(b) Uniqueness: Used Christian values and Gandhian non-violent resistance to fight segregation.
(c) Honesty/Integrity: Remained committed to non-violence despite threats to his life and family.
(d) Leadership: Led the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington.
(e) Speech: Famous for the "I Have a Dream" speech.
(f) Contribution: Instrumental in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Example Profile 2: Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam)
(a) Thoughts: Believed in national independence from colonial rule (French and later American influence).
(b) Uniqueness: Merged communism with nationalism; lived a very simple, austere life unlike many dictators.
(c) Leadership: Founded the Viet Minh independence movement.
(d) Contribution: Led Vietnam to independence from France and was a key figure in the Vietnam War for reunification.