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By Ankit Gupta
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Updated on 12 Jun 2025, 12:01 IST
The chapter Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is the second prose in Class 10 English First Flight textbook. This inspiring lesson is taken from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography titled Long Walk to Freedom. In this chapter, students learn about Nelson Mandela’s journey, struggles, and his fight against apartheid in South Africa. The long walk to freedom was not just his personal journey but also the journey of millions who suffered under racial discrimination.
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 tells the story of how South Africa got freedom from apartheid, a system where people were treated unfairly because of their skin color. Nelson Mandela, who later became the first Black President of South Africa, spent many years in prison fighting for equal rights. His story is full of courage, patience, and sacrifice. The chapter teaches important lessons about freedom, equality, and human rights.
The Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Question Answer section helps students understand the chapter better. These solutions explain the meaning of difficult words, important lines, and the central idea of the story. With the help of Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Question Answer, students can easily prepare for exams and write proper answers.
Reading the Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Summary makes it simple to revise the entire chapter quickly. The summary gives a clear idea of how Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to his people. His long walk to freedom was filled with struggles, but his strong willpower and determination helped him lead South Africa to a new beginning.
Do Check: NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English
Students of Class 10 should study the Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 carefully. It is not only an important chapter for exams but also teaches valuable life lessons. By reading the Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Summary and practicing Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Question Answer, students can gain confidence in writing answers and understanding the message of the story.
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In short, Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom is a powerful chapter that inspires students to value freedom and justice. The Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 chapter shows how one man’s courage can bring change to an entire nation.
The chapter Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is a part of the Class 10 English textbook. It talks about Nelson Mandela's struggle against apartheid in South Africa and his journey towards bringing freedom to his country. The NCERT Solutions help students understand the meaning of the chapter, important questions, and answers in simple language. With the help of this PDF, students can easily prepare for their exams and improve their understanding of the chapter. You can download the Class 10 Nelson Mandela NCERT Solutions PDF to study anytime and revise important topics quickly.
Q1. Where did the ceremony take place? Can you name public buildings in India made of sandstone?
Answer: The ceremony happened at the Union Building in Pretoria. In India, there are many famous sandstone buildings like the Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Supreme Court (all in New Delhi), and the Madras High Court in Chennai.
Q2. Why is 10 May called an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Answer: South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, so its seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere. That’s why May is autumn there. On 10 May, the country held a grand event with leaders from many countries to celebrate the start of its first democratic government.
Q3. What does Mandela mean by “an extraordinary human disaster”? What is the “glorious human achievement”?
Answer: By “an extraordinary human disaster,” Mandela refers to the years of unfair treatment and suffering of black and coloured people under apartheid rule. The “glorious human achievement” is the success of forming a free, democratic government where everyone, regardless of colour, has equal rights.
Q4. Why does Mandela thank international leaders?
Answer: Mandela thanked all the foreign leaders for attending the ceremony. Their presence showed global support for South Africa’s new democracy and helped highlight the country’s long struggle for justice and equality.
Q5. What goals does Mandela have for South Africa’s future?
Answer: Mandela wanted South Africa to be free from poverty, discrimination, and inequality. His dream was a peaceful nation where people of all colours—black, white, and coloured—could live together with equal rights and dignity.
Q1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Answer: Earlier, the military oppressed and arrested black people. But after Mandela became president, even the top military officers saluted him and pledged loyalty to the new democratic South Africa, showing their changed attitude.
Q2. Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer: To show unity and equality, two anthems were sung on the inauguration day — one for the black community and one for the white community. This represented the coming together of all races in the country.
Q3. How does Mandela describe the government systems:
(i) In the first decade:
In the early years, white people treated themselves as superior and denied black people basic rights, creating one of the worst cases of racial discrimination.
(ii) In the final decade of the 20th century:
By this time, apartheid ended and South Africa became a free country where everyone had equal rights, no matter their skin colour.
Q4. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer: For Mandela, courage doesn’t mean having no fear. It means facing fear bravely and overcoming it.
Q5. What does Mandela believe is more natural — love or hate?
Answer: Mandela believes that love is more natural for the human heart than hate.
Q1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Answer: Mandela says every person has two duties: one towards their family (parents, wife, children), and one towards their country and community.
Q2. What did freedom mean to Mandela as a boy and as a student? How does he compare these to “true freedom”?
Answer: As a child, Mandela thought freedom meant simple things like playing and living happily. He followed rules set by his elders and didn’t feel restricted. As he grew up, he understood that true freedom means having equal rights, respect, and dignity for everyone, not just personal happiness.
Q3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Answer: No, Mandela believes oppressors aren’t truly free. They are trapped by their hatred, prejudice, and narrow thinking, which takes away their humanity.
Q1. Why did many international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it symbolize?
Answer: Leaders from around the world came to celebrate South Africa’s freedom from years of British oppression and racism. Their presence showed global respect for South Africa’s long fight for justice, and it symbolized the victory of peace and equality.
Q2. What does Mandela mean by being “the sum of all those African patriots” before him?
Answer: Mandela meant that his success was built on the sacrifices of freedom fighters who struggled before him. Without their hard work and bravery, South Africa’s freedom would not have been possible. He saw himself as continuing their mission.
Q3. Do you agree that “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela explain this? Can you give your own example?
Answer: Yes, difficulties often bring out people’s inner strength. Mandela faced many hardships and even spent 27 years in prison but came out stronger and more determined. His suffering made him a great leader. Similarly, many leaders and heroes become stronger after going through tough situations.
Q4. How did Mandela’s idea of freedom change over time?
Answer: As a child, Mandela thought freedom was just about personal happiness. But as he grew older, he realized real freedom means equal rights for everyone. This understanding pushed him to fight for his people’s freedom and join politics.
Q5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer: Mandela’s desire for personal freedom turned into a desire for his people’s freedom. He realized that his own freedom was meaningless if his fellow countrymen were not free. This hunger led him to join the African National Congress and devote his life to fighting for equality, eventually making him the first black President of South Africa.
The chapter "Long Walk to Freedom" is taken from the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, who was the first black President of South Africa. In this chapter, Mandela talks about his journey and the struggles faced by the people of South Africa to achieve freedom from apartheid (a system where black people were treated unfairly by the white rulers).
The story starts with the grand ceremony held on 10 May 1994 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where Nelson Mandela took oath as the country’s first black President. Many leaders from different countries came to witness this historic moment. The military, which earlier treated black people badly, now saluted Mandela as a sign of respect.
Mandela recalls how black people in South Africa were not given equal rights for many years. They were treated as slaves in their own land, while the white rulers enjoyed all the powers. Mandela calls this long period of suffering “an extraordinary human disaster.” But with the hard work, patience, and sacrifice of many brave people, South Africa finally became a free and democratic nation.
Mandela thanks those freedom fighters who struggled before him and made this day possible. He believes that no one is born hating others because of their colour. Love comes naturally to people. According to Mandela, courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to overcome fear.
He also talks about two main responsibilities of every person — one towards their family and the other towards their country. As a child, Mandela thought freedom was simply about enjoying life. But as he grew older, he understood that real freedom means equal rights for everyone, the right to live with dignity, and freedom from fear and injustice.
Finally, Mandela explains that even the oppressors (the white rulers) were not truly free because their hatred controlled them. True freedom is when both the oppressed and the oppressors are free from hatred, fear, and injustice.
The main theme is the fight for freedom and equality. Nelson Mandela shares his experiences of ending apartheid and bringing democracy to South Africa.
NCERT Solutions give detailed answers, summaries, and explanations, helping students understand the chapter better and prepare well for exams.
You can download the PDF from trusted educational websites like Infinity Learn. It includes all textbook questions and answers in simple language.
Yes, these solutions follow the CBSE syllabus and marking scheme. They help students write correct answers and score better in exams.
Nelson Mandela calls his struggle for freedom a long walk because it took years of sacrifice, patience, and hardship to achieve equality for all.
Yes, the summary gives a clear and quick understanding of the chapter, making it easier for students to revise before exams.