Class 10 English Nelson Mandela Exercise Question and answer

Nelson Mandela Class 10 Questions and Answers (NCERT Textbook Solutions) - Study Mitra

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (Complete NCERT Exercise Solutions)

Welcome back to Study Mitra! Mastering the NCERT textbook exercises is the first step toward scoring high in your English board exams. Below are the precise and structured solutions for "Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom", covering Thinking about the Text, Language, and Writing sections.

Part 1: Thinking about the Text (All 5 Questions in Short Paragraphs)

Q1. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?

Answer: A large number of international leaders attended the historic inauguration to show global solidarity with South Africa's first democratic, non-racial government. For decades, South Africa was isolated and treated as an international outlaw due to its cruel system of apartheid. The presence of these world leaders formally ended that isolation and signified a magnificent global triumph of justice, peace, and human dignity over racial discrimination.

Q2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is "simply the sum of all those African patriots" who had gone before him?

Answer: By saying he is the sum of all past African patriots, Mandela humbly means that the dawn of freedom was not his personal achievement alone, but the result of the collective sacrifices made by thousands of freedom fighters before him. He views himself merely as a part of that long, noble line of patriots and acknowledges that his leadership was built entirely on their struggles and undying resilience.

Q3. 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 fully agree that the depths of oppression can forge extraordinary heights of human character. Mandela illustrates this by stating that the decades of intense white brutality under apartheid produced legendary leaders of unmatched courage and wisdom like Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu. Similarly, the harsh British oppression in India produced towering giants of character like Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, proving that intense suffering refines the human spirit.

Q4. How did Mandela's understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

Answer: Mandela's understanding of freedom changed deeply as he grew up. As an innocent boy in his village, freedom simply meant running in the fields and swimming in clear streams. As a student, it shifted toward transitory, personal freedoms like staying out late or reading what he pleased. However, as a mature man, he realized that his boyhood freedom was a mere illusion and that the real freedom and dignity of his entire community had been brutally stolen.

Q5. How did Mandela's 'hunger for freedom' change his life?

Answer: The intense hunger for his people's freedom completely transformed Mandela's ordinary life. It pulled him out of his comfort zone, turning a frightened, law-abiding young attorney into a bold rebel who openly defied unjust segregation laws. This passion branded him a criminal in the eyes of the law, drove a family-loving husband away from his home, and forced a life-loving man to live the dangerous, isolated existence of a monk.

Part 2: Thinking about Language (Exercise 1 & 2)

1. Nouns from Verbs (Suffixing -ation or -ment)

• Verb: Form — Noun: Formation
• Verb: Govern — Noun: Government
• Verb: Oblige — Noun: Obligation
• Verb: Transform — Noun: Transformation
• Verb: Oppress — Noun: Oppression
• Verb: Deprive — Noun: Deprivation
• Verb: Discriminate — Noun: Discrimination

2. Fill in the Blanks with Noun Forms

Martin Luther King's (i) contribution to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the (ii) assistance of Rosa Parks... To break these laws would mean (iii) subjugation and (iv) humiliation by the police... Beatings, (v) imprisonment and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King's tactics involved non-violent (vi) resistance to racial injustice.

Part 3: Writing (Exercise 1 - Selected Two Topics)

Topic 1: True liberty is freedom from poverty, deprivation and all forms of discrimination.

Paragraph: Real freedom is not just having political independence or a democratic constitution. True liberty exists only when the citizens of a country are completely free from the painful cycles of poverty, social deprivation, and racial or gender discrimination. A truly free nation ensures equal human rights, growth opportunities, and dignity for every single human being.

Topic 2: Do you think there is colour prejudice in our own country?

Paragraph: Yes, color prejudice exists in our country, though it is different from South Africa's old apartheid laws. In our society, it appears in everyday conversations where fairness is often associated with beauty and success, while dark skin tones face subtle bias. However, unlike apartheid, our laws and Constitution strictly forbid any such discrimination based on appearance.

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We hope these NCERT solutions provide you with a clear understanding of the chapter. Nelson Mandela's "Long Walk to Freedom" is not just a story; it's a lesson in humanity.

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