Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Question Answer

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Questions and Answers

Oral Comprehension Check :

Question 1.
Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone ?
समारोह कहाँ पर हुआ था? क्या आप भारत की किसी इमारत का नाम बता सकते हैं जो कि रेतीले पत्थर से बनी हो?
Answer:
The ceremonies took place in the lonely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union buildings in Pretoria. Parliament House, President’s House are made of sandstone. Red Fort and Jama Masjid are made of red sandstone.

Question 2.
Can you say how May 10 is ‘an autumn day’ in South Africa ?
क्या आप बता सकते हैं कि 10 मई दक्षिण अफ्रीका में एक शरद ऋतु का दिन कैसे है ?
Answer:
In South Africa, May 10 is ‘an autumn day’ because South Africa is in southern hemisphere and seasons come first over there and then in India.

Question 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 ?
मंडेला ने अपने भाषण के शुरुआत में कहा था, “एक विलक्षण इन्सानी बर्बरता”। इसका क्या अभिप्राय है? अंत में “शानदार इंसानी जीत” से उनका क्या अर्थ है?
Answer:
Mandela mentioned an extraordinary human disaster’ by which he meant the sufferings and deprivations the people of Africa who suffered due to racial discrimination which lasted very long. By ‘the glorious human achievement’ he meant the freedom got by South Africa after a long struggle. After a long time, they got the opportunity to conduct the first democratic elections in the country.

Question 4.
What does Mandela thank the | international leaders for?
मंडेला अंतर्राष्ट्रीय नेताओं को किस लिए धन्यवाद करते हैं ?
Answer:
Mandela thanks the international leaders for coming to take possession with the people of his country over a common victory for justice, peace, and human dignity.

Question 5.
What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa ?
दक्षिण अफ्रीका के भविष्य के लिए उसने क्या निर्देश निर्धारित | किए थे?
Answer:
He pledged to liberate his people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations. He promised never to let his country experience the oppression again.

Question 6.
What do the military generals do ? How has their attitude changed and why?
उच्च सेना अधिकारी क्या करते थे? उनका बर्ताव कैसे और क्यों बदल गया?
Answer:
The military generals saluted and pledged their loyalty in front of Mr. Mandela. They, a few years ago had arrested Mr. Mandela. Their attitude had changed because the country had got freedom from the racial dominations.

Question 7.
Why weretwonational anthems sung?
दो राष्ट्रीय गान क्यों गाए गए?
Answer:
The two national anthems were sung in order to show the vision of whites and blacks. This showed that the blacks sung the old anthem of the republic in order to remind them the old prestige of the country.

Question 8.
How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country (i) in the first decade (ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century ?
नेलसन मंडेला ने अपने देश की सरकार की प्रणालियों का बखान कैसे किया है (i) पहले दशक में (ii) बीसवीं सदी के, आखिरी दशक में?
Answer:
i. In the first decade of the twentieth century, the white-skinned peoples of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark-skinned peoples of their own land. They created one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies.

ii. In the last decade of the twentieth century, that system had been overturned and replaced by one that recognised the rights and freedoms of all people, regardless of the colour of their skin.

Question 9.
What does courage mean to Mandela?
मंडेला को हिम्मत से क्या मतलब था?
Answer:
According to Mandela, courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Mandela learned the meaning of courage from the comrades.

Question 10.
Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
वह किसे प्राकृतिक सोचते हैं – ‘प्यार करने को’ अथवा ‘घृणा करने को?
Answer:
He thinks the feeling of love comes more naturally than hate.

Question 11.
What twin obligations does Mandela mention?
मंडेला ने किन दोहरी जिम्मेदारियों का जिक्र किया है?
Answer:
Twin obligations are-obligations towards one’s family, one’s parents, wife and children; obligations towards one’s people, community and country.

Question 12.
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 freedom”?
मंडेला के लिए एक लड़के के तौर पर और एक विद्यार्थी के तौर पर आज़ादी के क्या अभिप्राय है? उन्होंने “अस्थायी आज़ादी” और “मूल और इज्ज़तदार आज़ादी” में क्या अंतर बताया है ?
Answer:
As a boy, Mandela felt that being free means freedom to run in the fields near his mother’s hut, freedom to swim in the clear stream that flowed across near his village, freedom to roast mealies in the shade of stars and freedom to ride on the broad back of slow-moving bulls.

As a student he felt that freedom is what he got for himself to roam around at night, to read books of his own choice and to go to the place of his choice. According to Mandela, “Transitory freedom’ is what lasts for a small duration such as those mentioned during his childhood and his student life.

For him transitory freedom was-being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased, etc. Mandela as a young man, realised the basic and honourable freedom” for achieving his potentials for earning his keep, for marrying and having a family.

Question 13.
Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
क्या मंडेला मानते हैं कि दबाने वाला भी आज़ाद है ? क्यों / क्यों नहीं?
Answer:
According to Mandela, the oppressor is also not free because the man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He is just like the oppressed. Both have been robbed of their humanity.

Textbook Questions :

Thinking about the Text :

Question 1.
Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of ?
अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय नेताओं ने इतने बड़े स्तर पर शुभारम्भ में क्यों भाग लिया था? इससे किस जीत का पता चलता था?
Answer:
A large number of international leaders attended the inauguration because they had come to witness the formation of the first ever democratic, nonracial government in South Africa after almost three centuries of white-skinned rule. It signified the triumph or victory of humanity and democracy.

Question 2.
What does Mandela mean when he says he is simply the sum of all those African patriots’ who had gone before him ?
मंडेला का अपने इस कथन कि वह सभी अफ्रीकी देशभक्तों का जोड़ हैं जो उनसे पहले गए-से क्या अभिप्राय है?
Answer:
Mandela said that he is simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before him as he was a part and parcel of struggle for independence and had suffered like them. The day of independence had come through the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of his people, whose suffering and courage could never be counted or repaid. Today they were not there to see what they had done and helped achieve.

Question 3.
Would you agree that the depths of oppression create ‘the heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument ?
‘दबाव की गहराई से ‘इंसानी चरित्र की ऊँचाइयों का निर्माण होता है’। क्या आप इस तथ्य से सहमत हैं ? मंडेला ने इसे कैसे बखान किया है? अपने उदाहरण से इस तथ्य को समझाइए।
Answer:
Yes, there is no doubt that the depths of oppression create the heights of character. From decades of oppression emerged men like Yusuf Dadoos, Bram Fischers, Robert Sobuk, the great freedom fighters of South Africa.

They had extra ordinary courage, wisdom and generosity and because of those traits these people were able to bear the depths of oppression of the rulers. Strong character produces strong men who are strong mentally.

Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, were such people who bore strong character. They were able to bear the depths of oppression.

Question 4.
How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience ?
मंडेला की आजादी की समझ उम्र और अनुभव के साथ कैसे
Answer:
For Mandela as a boy, freedom meant to run freely in the nearby fields, to ride on the broad backs of the slow-moving bulls, to swim in the clear stream that ran through his village or to see stars at night.

As he grew young, freedom meant only to be free for himself, i.e., roam around freely at night, to read the books he liked and to go to the place of his choice. As a young man he wanted freedom of achieving his potential, of earning his keep, of marrying and having a family.

But slowly with age and experience he realised that not only was he not free but his people were also not free. He found that their freedom was curtailed. He realised that freedom is indivisible – the chains on anyone of his people were chains on him. Thus, his scope and concept of freedom widened.

Question 5.
How did Mandela’s ‘hunger of freedom change his life?
मंडेला की ‘स्वाधीनता की भूख’ ने उनका जीवन कैसे परिवर्तित कर दिया?
Answer:
Mandela’s hunger for his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people. The desire for the freedom of his people to live ‘their lives with dignity and self-respect animated his life.

It transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, it drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, it turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, it forced a life loving man to live like a monk.

Mandela was no more virtuous or self-sacrificing but he could not even enjoy the poor and limited freedom he was allowed when he knew that his people were not free. He felt the chains on his people on himself.

Additional Questions Extract based Questions

Answer the questions that follow the extracts in 30-40 words :

1. The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by Union Buildings in Pretoria. For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.

Question i.
Which ceremony is being referred here? Where did it take place?
Answer:
African President Nelson Mandela’s inauguration ceremony is being referred to here. It was held in the sandstone amphitheatre in Pretoria.

Question ii.
What significant change is pointed out in this passage?
Answer:
The ampitheatre in Pretoria had been the seat of White people for several decades. But, with Nelson Mandela winning the election and Mandela becoming the first Black President, it had become the site of a gathering of different coloured people from across the world.

2. On that lovely autumn day I was accompanied by my daughter Zenani. On the podium, Mr. de Klerk was first sworn in as Second Deputy President. Then Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as First Deputy President. When it was my turn, I pledged to obey and uphold the Constitution and to devote myself to the wellbeing of its people.

Question i.
Which occasion is being referred to here? What is its significance?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela’s inauguration ceremony is being referred to here. It was a historical occasion because Nelson Mandela became the first Black President of the democratic nation after decades of White people’s rule on the land.

Question ii.
How did Mandela exhibit his patriotism in his pledge?
Answer:
Mandela exhibited his patriotism by pledging that he would obey and uphold the Constitution of the nation and would devote himself to the well-being of the people

3. Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.

Question i.
Who is the speaker of these lines? Which land us to he talking about and why?
Answer:
Mandela is the speaker. He is talking about South Africa which had been ruled by the White people for more than three centuries. Finally, after a long fight by Mandela and others, Mandela’s party won the democratic elections and he became the first Black President of the nation.

Question ii.
Explain “The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement”
Answer:
In his speech during the inauguration ceremony, Mandela, as the first Black President, turned emotional. He called his party’s win as a glorious achievement, after a long fight for over three centuries of the White rule. So he declared that it would never ever see the sun set or decline.

4. A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular array of South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Building.

Question i.
Which event is referred to here? Write its significance.
Answer:
Nelson Mandela’s inauguration ceremony as a President is referred here. After three centuries of apartheid, his party won the democratic elections as he became the first Black President of South Africa.

Question ii.
What is the significance of the spectacle described here?
Answer:
It was the inauguration ceremony of Nelson Mandela as the first Black President. The array of South Africa jets helicopters and troop carriers show the Black people’s regained honour.

5. It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and selfrespect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family loving husband into a man without home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk.

Question i.
What, according to Mandela, animated. his life? What did it result in?
Answer:
Mardela’s desire to free his people from apartheid and help them lead a life of self respect and dignity, animated his life. That resulted in his sacrificing himself, fighting for the rights of his people.

Question ii.
What transformation came in Mandela as he decided to fight for his people’s rights?
Answer:
Mandela became bold from frightened a young man, a law defying person from a law abiding attorney, and then a homeless person and a monk sacrificing all his desires.

6. But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free, but my brothers and sisters were not free, I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who looked like I did, that is when I joined the African National Congress, and that is when the hunger for my own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of my people.

It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self respect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turn a family-loving husband in to a man without home.

Question i.
Under what circumstances did Mandela join the African National Party?
Answer:
When Mandela was a young man, he learned what freedom actually mean. He realised that his freedom had actually taken away due to apartheid. Then he understood that not only was men. That made him join the African National Party

Question ii.
Comment on the greater hunger that Mandela refers to here.
Answer:
The greater hunger was the freedom of his people from apartheid, which discriminated the Blacks from the Whites. Mandela wanted his people to enjoy self-respect and dignity in the hands of the Whites.

7. Today, all of us do, by our presence here confer glory and hope to new born liberty. Out of the experience of an extra ordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud. We who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil.

We thank all our distinguished international guests for having come to take possessions with the people of our country of what is, after all, a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity. We have at last achieved our political emancipation.

Question i.
For what occasion were the people gathered? How was it significant?
Answer:
The people were all gathered to witness the inauguration ceremony of Nelson Mandela and his party’s victory in the democratic election, and his swearing in as the country’s first Black President. It was a historical occasion as it marked the end of apartheid after three centuries of White people’s supremacy on the land.

Question ii.
Why did Mandela call it a victory of justice, peace and dignity?
Answer:
Mandela called it a victory of justice, peace and dignity because for nearly three centuries, South Africa was dominated by the White people. The native Africans who were black skinned were discriminated upon and their basic rights were withheld.

8. Perhaps it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamond.

Question i.
Who does Mandela glorify in these lines? Why?
Answer:
Mandela glorifies the great Patriots of his nation, those great men who had fought against apartheid. He praises them to make the readers understand the extreme kind of oppression that the native black Africans underwent in the form of discrimination under the supremacy of the White people.

Question ii.
In what way does Mandela glorify Africa’s great Patriots of the past?
Answer:
Mandela compares his country’s Patriots of the past with invaluable gems and minerals. Africa is rich in minerals and diamonds but, according to Mandela, his people are his country’s wealth, as they showed extreme patriotic zeal and solidarity in their fight against apartheid.

Short answer type questions

Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words.

Question 1.
What ideals does Mandela set out for the future of South Africa in his speech?
Answer:
The ideal Mandela set out for the future of South Africa in his speech was to liberate the people of South Africa from continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations.

Question 2.
Why is 10th May, 1994 important for South Africa ?
Answer:
10th May, 1994 is important for South Africa because first democratic non-racial government elections were held on this day in the country. Nelson Mandela became the first black president of the country.

Question 3.
What unintended effect was produced by decades of oppression ?
Answer:
The decades of oppression made him a strong person. He set out the goal to liberate the people of South Africa from continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering and other discrimination. He decided to have freedom and justice for all

Question 4.
When did Mandela’s hunger for self turn into hunger for freedom for all his people?
Answer:
Mandela gradually realized that freedom was curtailed for those people who looked like he did, , but not for the whites. Consequently, he joined the African National Congress, and that was when his “hunger for freedom” became a “greater hunger.”

Question 5.
What did Nelson Mandela pledge when he was sworn in as President ? (2010-1081414-B1)
Answer:
Nelson Mandela pledged to uphold the Constitution of his country and devote himself to liberate his people from the bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations. There would be freedom and justice for all.

Question 6.
When and what transformation took place in Mandela?
Or
Mandela had ‘hunger for freedom’. How did it change his life ?
Answer:
It was his desire for freedom for all that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, a law-abiding attorney into a criminal, a familyloving person into a man without any home and a life-loving man into a monk.

Question 7.
Describe the inauguration ceremony when Nelson Mandela took the oath.
Answer:
The inaugural ceremony took place in the amphi-theatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Politicians and dignitaries from 140 countries around the world attended it. It was a rainbow gathering. The flags of different colours decorated the whole-vast area.

First, the 2nd Deputy President, then the 1st Deputy President and then Mr. Mandela, the first, black President of South Africa took oath. After Mandela’s address, there was display of military force. Two National Anthems sung by the whites and the blacks concluded the ceremony.

Question 8.
What hope did Mandela express for his country in his speech ?
Answer:
In his speech Mr. Mandela expressed the hope that his beautiful land would never experience the oppression of one by another. He also hoped that the sun of that glorious achievement, that is, their freedom would never set.

Question 9.
Why did the Inauguration ceremony take place in the amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria ? Explain (give at least two reasons).
Answer:
For decades, this had been the seat of white supremacy. Black people were never allowed in that area. Second reason was that it was so big that such a large gathering could easily be accommodated there. Another reason was that it was a mark of prestige showing the end of an era and the beginning of a new dawn.

Question 10.
What does Mandela refer to as ‘so glorious a human achievement’?
Answer:
The glorious achievement referred to by Nelson Mandela is the Independence of South Africa from the rule of racial discrimination from the policy of Apartheid. The democratic government was formed and South Africa had her first black President.

Question 11.
Mention the difficulties faced by Nelson Mandela.
Answer:
Nelson Mandela, in his struggle for freedom, had to suffer a lot. In his endeavour to serve his people, he was ripped off his family and home. He was punished and isolated. He suffered hunger, injustice and oppression. He remained in jail for several years where he was tortured cruelly.

Question 12.
How did a law abiding advocate become a criminal ?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela was an attorney by profession. When he demanded equal rights for placks, he was declared an outlaw by the whites who were governing South Africa at that time. The whites considered themselves to be superior and never allowed the blacks to be at par with them. Whosoever, demanded equality was declared an outlaw, a criminal. Thus Nelson Mandela became a criminal from an attorney.

Question 13.
What does Mandela refer to as an extraordinary human disaster’?
Answer:
The extraordinary human disaster referred by Nelson Mandela is the policy of apartheid. Apartheid is a political system that separates people according to their race. In other words, the policy of racial discrimination. The white skinned people considered themselves to be superior and started ruling, dominating and oppressing the black AfricAnswer:

Question 14.
What did freedom mean to Mandela in childhood ?
Answer:
In his childhood, freedom meant to Mandela, liberty to run in the fields near his hut, swim in the stream, roast mealies under the stars and ride the broad back of slow moving bulls. He had a totally different concept of freedom during that period.

Question 15.
An incident involving a white guard in jail helped Mandela continue his struggle against the racial government. What was the incident ?
Answer:
Once when Nelson Mandela and his comrades were tortured, he saw a glimmer of humanity in the eyes of a white guard. He was moved by the torture being inflicted on the freedom fighters. That momentary reaction of the guard was enough to motivate Mandela to keep the struggle for freedom going on.

Long answer type questions

Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words:

Question 1.
Which two obligations, according to Nelson Mandela does every man have in life ? How could a man not fulfill these obligations in a country like South Africa ?
Answer:
Mandela tells us about the two obligations in every man’s life. One, he says, is towards one’s family, parents and children and the other, towards one’s nation, community and to people. He adds that in a civil and humane society, each man is able to fulfill these two obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities.

But, in a country like South Africa, a citizen of that nation finds it impossible to fulfill both these obligations due to discrimination. In South Africa, the blacks were oppressed and isolated, and were punished when they rebelled. The blacks were deprived of their basic freedom and dignified life. Mandela describes this as a ‘twilight existence of secrecy and rebellion.

Question 2.
What meaning did Nelson Mandela find in the word ‘freedom’ as a boy and as a student? How does he contrast the meanings of these transitory freedoms’ with ‘the basic and honourable freedoms’?
Answer:
As a boy, Mandela was born free: He was free to run in the fields, free to swim in the clear stream, free to roast mealies under the stars. As long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribal life, he was not troubled by the laws of man or God. But as he became a young man, he discovered that his freedom had already been taken from him.

As a student, he wanted freedom only for himself, and this calls the transitory freedom’.. of being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he chose. Later, he realized as a young man in Johannesburg, that he yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms from being discriminated; from being a victim of injustice and the freedom to live a dignified life.

Question 3.
Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long…The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.”
Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech used these two words ‘an extraordinary human disaster’and so’glorious a human achievement’. What did he mean by that ?
Answer:
The extraordinary human disaster was the rule of apartheid in South Africa. This disaster of racial discrimination brought oppression, deprivation, cruelty and suffering for the black people of South Africa. Blacks were not allowed to visit the places reserved for the whites. They led a life of humiliation.

At last on 10 May, 1994, after more than three centuries of white rule, Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress Party won the elections. Nelson Mandela became the first black President of South Africa. The coming into power of non-racial government was a glorious human achievement.

Question 4.
“It was this freedom..that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a frightening young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man oto live like a monk.”
What were the difficulties faced by Nelson Mandela in achieving freedom for his people?
Answer:
In his endeavour to get freedom for his countrymen from the rule of apartheid, Nelson Mandela had to undergo many hardships and sufferings. This great patriot had to sacrifice the declared an outlaw for demanding equality for all his fellow black AfricAnswer:

He was punished, isolated and put into jail. He and his comrades were oppressed and tortured beyond tolerance. He suffered hunger, oppression and injustice but kept the flame of independence burning in his heart. His undaunted courage, persistent struggle and unparallel sacrifice bore fruit and South Africa got freedom from the rule of apartheid on 10 May, 1994.

Question 5.
Give the character-sketch of Nelson Mandela.
Answer:
Nelson Mandela is a great patriot. He loves his country and countrymen. For him the greatest wealth of South Africa is her people. He has a sacrificing nature. He sacrificed his life of comfort, family and home and plunged into the struggle for freedom.

He believes in equality for all. He opposed the rule of apartheid for which he was declared an outlaw. He was oppressed and tortured in jail for several years but he never broke. It shows his traits of tolerance, courage and perseverance.

Before you read :

Apartheid’ is a political system that separates people according to their race. Can you say which of the three countries named below had such a political system until very recently? (i) North America (ii) South Africa (iii) Australia

Vocabulary :

• Political system (पॉलिटिकल सिस्टम) – system related to politics राजनीतिक व्यवस्था
• Apartheid (अपारथिड) – colour bar रंगभेद
• Race (रेस)- a major division of human kind having distinct physical characteristics जाति

अनुवाद : ‘अपारथिड’ एक ऐसी राजनीतिक प्रणाली है जो लोगों को उनके रंगभेद के आधार पर विभाजित करती है। क्या आप बता सकते हैं कि निम्न तीन देशों में से किस में इस प्रकार की राजनीतिक प्रणाली हाल ही तक जारी थी? (i) उत्तरी अमरीका (ii) दक्षिण अफ्रीका (ii) ऑस्ट्रेलिया
Answer:
South Africa.

Have you heard of Nelson Mandela ? Mandela, and his African National Congress, spent a lifetime fighting against apartheid. Mandela had to spend thirty years in prison. Finally, democratic elections were held in South Africa in 1994, and Mandela became the first black President of a new nation.

In this extract from his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela speaks about a historic occasion, the inauguration”. Can you guess what the occasion might be? Check your guess with this news item (from the BBC) of May 10, 1994.

Vocabulary:

• Democratic (डेमोक्रेटिक) – asystem of government by the whole population प्रजातांत्रिक
• Elections (इलेक्शन्स) – the process of electing चुनाव
• Autobiography (ऑटोबायोग्राफी) – a personal account of one’s own life for publication आत्मकथा
• Historic occasion (हिस्टोरिक अकेज़न) – an occasion or time which created history, ऐतिहासिक अवसर
• Inauguration (इन्ओ गुरेशन) – a beginning एक शुरुआत।

अनुवाद : क्या आपने नेलसन मंडेला के बारे में सुना है ? मंडेला, और उनकी अफ्रीकी नेशनल कांग्रेस ने, अपारथिड के खिलाफ लड़ने में अपना जीवन बिता दिया। मंडेला को पैंतीस साल जेल में गुजारने पड़े। अंत में, 1994 में दक्षिण अफ्रीका में प्रजातांत्रिक चुनाव हुए, और मंडेला उस नए देश के पहले अश्वेत राष्ट्रपति बने। उनकी आत्मकथा ‘लॉन्ग वाक टू फ्रीडम’ के इस भाग में मंडेला एक ऐतिहासिक अवसर ‘एक शुरुआत’ के बारे में बात कर रहे हैं। क्या आप उस अवसर का अन्दाज़ा लगा सकते हैं? बीबीसी द्वारा लिए गए मई 10, 1994 में प्रकाशित इस समाचार को पढ़ कर अपना अंदाजा लगाइए।

Mandela Becomes South Africa’s first Black President Nelson Mandela has become South Africa’s first black President after more than three centuries of white rule. Mr. Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) party won 252 of the 400 seats in the first democratic elections of South Africa’s history.

The inauguration ceremony took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria today, attended by politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world. “Never, never again will this beautiful land experience the oppression of one by another”-Nelson Mandela.

Jubilant scenes on the streets of Pretoria followed the ceremony with blacks, whites and coloureds celebrating together… More than 100,000 South African men, women and children of all races sang and danced with joy.

Vocabulary :

• Centuries (सेन्चुरीज़) – hundreds of years सदियाँ
• Amphitheatre (एम्फीथियेटर) – a big hall of a building without roof used for some functions or ceremonies, एक हॉल जिसमें बड़े-बड़े कार्यक्रम किए जाते हैं
• Dignitaries (डिगनिटरिज़) – great known personalities जानी-मानी हस्तियाँ
• Oppression (ऑपरेशन) – to suppress someone, to rule on others, किसी को दबाना
• Jubilant (जुबिलेंट) – full of joy and happiness खुशी से भरपूर

अनुवाद : तीन सदियों से भी ज्यादा श्वेत-शासन के बाद नेलसन मंडेला, दक्षिण अफ्रीका के पहले अश्वेत राष्ट्रपति बन गए हैं। श्रीमान नेलसन मंडेला की अफ्रीकी नेशनल कांग्रेस (अ.ने.का.) पार्टी दक्षिण अफ्रीकी इतिहास के पहले प्रजातांत्रिक चुनावों में 400 में से 252 सीटों पर विजयी रही।

आज, प्रीटोरिया में यूनियन बिल्डिंग की रंगशाला में शुभारंभ समारोह हुआ, जिसमें संसार के 140 से भी अधिक देशों के राजनीतिज्ञों और बड़ी-बड़ी हस्तियों ने भाग लिया। “अब फिर कभी यह सुन्दर धरती एक का दूसरे पर शासन (दबाव) नहीं भुगतेगी।”

-नेलसन मंडेला …..समारोह के उपरांत प्रीटोरिया की गलियों में खुशी का दृश्य था। श्वेत, अश्वेत और भिन्न रंगों के लोग एक साथ भाग ले रहे थे…. सभी जातियों के एक लाख से भी अधिक दक्षिण अफ्रीकी पुरुष, महिलाएँ और बच्चे एक साथ खुशी से नाच और गा रहे थे।

Complete text with hindi translation :

Text (Page 17): Tenth May dawned bright and clear. For the past few days, I had been pleasantly besieged by dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before the inauguration The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South African soil.

Vocabulary :

• Dawned (61-3) – Time just before sunrise पौ फटना
• Pleasantly (प्लिजेंटली) – giving pleasure, lovely प्यारा, प्रसन्नता
• Besieged by(बिसीज्ड बाई) – to be surrounded closely by चारों तरफ से घिरे होना
• Gathering (गैदरिंग) – to collect all together इकट्टठा होना, जमघट

अनुवाद : 10 मई की सुबह साफ और चमकदार थी। पिछले कुछ दिनों से मैं खुशी से बड़ी-बड़ी हस्तियों और संसारभर के नेताओं से घिरा हुआ था जो कि मुझे ‘शुभारंभ’ से पहले ही इज्जत प्रदान करने आए थे। अंतर्राष्ट्रीय नेताओं के जमघट का सबसे बड़ा मौका होगा।

Text (Page 17): The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site nations for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.

Vocabulary :

• Sandstone (सैंडस्टोन) – a kind of stone लाल पत्थर
• Amphitheatre (एम्फीथियेटर) – building without roof with many rows of seats rising in steps एक इमारत जिसकी छत नहीं होती, जो विभिन्न कार्यक्रमों और आयोजनों के काम आती है
• Decades (डिकेड्स) – Ten years दशक
• Installation (इंसटालेशन) – to set up स्थापित करना
• Democratic (डेमोक्रटिक) – a system of govt. by the whole population प्रजातान्त्रिक
• Non-racial (नॉन-रेशियल) – not according to the human races, differentiation गैर-जातिवादी

अनुवाद : प्रीटोरिया की यूनियन बिल्डिंग द्वारा बनाई गई सुन्दर रंगशाला में समारोह हुए। कई दशकों से यह सीट श्वेत सम्राटों की थी, और अब यह स्थान था, विभिन्न राष्ट्रों और रंगों से मिलकर बने इन्द्रधनुषी जमघट का, जो कि दक्षिण अफ्रीका की पहली प्रजातान्त्रिक, गैर जातिवादी सरकार स्थापित करने के लिए इकट्ठा हुए थे।

Text (Pages 17-18): On that lovely autumn day I was accompanied by my daughter Zenani. On the podium, Mr. de Klerk was first sworn in as second deputy president. Then Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as first deputy president. When it was my turn, I pledged to obey and uphold the constitution and to devote myself to the well-being of the republic and its people. To the assembled guests and the watching world, I said :

Vocabulary:

• Accompanied (अकम्पनीड) – to give company to someone साथ देना
• Podium (पोडियम) – stage मंच
• Deputy (डेप्यूटी) – vice, a person deputed to work in the absence of the boss उप
• Sworn (स्वान) – topledge शपथ लेना
• Pledge (प्लैज )- to promise/swear प्रतिज्ञा करना
• Assemble (असेम्बल) – to collect all together at one place इकट्ठा होना

अनुवाद : उस प्यारे शरद ऋतु के दिन मेरी बेटी, ज़िनानी मेरे साथ थी। मंच पर, श्रीमान डी क्लार्क ने सबसे पहले द्वितीय उप-राष्ट्रपति की शपथ ली। उनके बाद, थाबो बेकी ने पहले (प्रथम) उप-राष्ट्रपति की शपथ ली। जब मेरी बारी आई, मैंने प्रतिज्ञा की कि मैं अपने संविधान का पालन करूंगा और उसका सम्मान करूंगा, और गणतंत्र और उसके लोगों की भलाई के लिए अपने आप को अर्पित करता हूँ। इकट्ठा हुए मेहमानों और संसार भर में देख रहे लोगों को मैंने कहा

Text (Page 18) : Today, all of us do, by our presence here… confer glory and hope to newborn liberty. Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud.

We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil. We thank all of our distinguished international guests for having come to take possession with the people of our country of what is, after all, a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.

We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.

Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement. Let freedom reign. God bless Africa!

Vocabulary :

• Confer (कन्फर) – togive (a medal) देना
• Liberty (लिबर्टी) – freedom स्वतंत्रता
• Extraordinary (एक्स्ट्रा आरडिनरी) – remarkable विलक्षण
• Disaster (डिज़ास्टर) – destruction कहर
• We, who were outlaws (वी हू वर आउटलॉज) – because of its policy of apartheid, many countries had earlier broken democratic relations with South Africa जातिवाद के कारण अलग-थलग पड़ना
• Emancipation (इमानसीपेशन) – freedom from restrictions मुक्ति आजादी
• Deprivation (डिप्राइवेशन) – state of not having one’s rightful benefits अधिकारों से वंचित
• Discrimination (डिसक्रिमिनेशन) – to treat keeping differences भेदभाव
• Reign (रेन) – to rule राज्य करना
• Privilege (प्रिविलेज) – a chance or honour मौका देना/मिलना।

अनुवाद : आज, हम सभी, अपनी उपस्थिति द्वारा, नवजात स्वतंत्रता को सम्मान और उम्मीद प्रदान करते हैं। लंबे समय तक चली विलक्षण इंसानी बर्बरता के अनुभव से एक ऐसे समाज का जन्म होगा जिस पर संपूर्ण इंसानियत को गर्व होगा।

हमें, जिन्हें बहुत लंबे समय तक जातिवाद की नीतियों के कारण अलग रखा गया, आज मौका मिला है कि हम अपनी ही मिट्टी पर संसार के राष्ट्रों के मेज़बान बनें। हम अपने सभी प्रतिशिष्ट अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय मेहमानों का धन्यवाद करते हैं जो हमारे देश के लोगों की आखिरकार साधारण न्याय की, शान्ति की और इंसानी सम्मान की विजय पर हमारा साथ देने आए हैं।

आखिरकार, हमने अपनी राजनीतिक स्वतंत्रता प्राप्त कर ही ली। हम अपने आप से शपथ लेते हैं कि अपने सभी लोगों को लगातार चल रही गरीबी की जंजीरों से, तकलीफों से, जाति और अन्य भेदभावों से आजादी दिलवाएँगे। अब फिर कभी यह सुन्दर धरती एक का दूसरे पर शासन नहीं, नहीं, नहीं झेलेगी। अब इस एक इंसानी प्राप्ति का सूर्य कभी अस्त नहीं होगा। स्वतंत्रता शासन करे। भगवान अफ्रीका को आर्शीवाद दे।

Text (Page 19): A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular array of South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected.

Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police, their chests bedecked with ribbons and medals from days gone by, saluted me and pledged their loyalty.

I was not unmindful of the fact that not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me. Finally, a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag.

Vocabulary :

• Awe (आँ) – fear/surprise mixed with respect विस्मय/आदर के साथ
• Spectacular (स्पेकटेकुलर) – amazing आश्चर्यजनक
• Array (ए) – impressive display/series कतार
• Precision (प्रीसिजन) – exact/ accurate निश्चित विधिपूर्वक/सूक्ष्मता
• Demonstration (डिमान्सस्ट्रेशन) – to show some-thing in order to explain कुछ दिखा कर समझाना
• Loyalty (लायलटी) – faithfulness वफादारी
• Defence (डिफेन्स) – to protect बचाव
• Bedecked (बेडेक्ड) – decorated सजाना, श्रृंगार करना
• Unmindful (अनमाइंडफुल) – not paying attention बेखबर, बेपरवाह
• Chevron (शेवरॉन) – a pattern in the shape of a V-‘V’ की शक्ल का नमूना

अनुवाद : कुछ क्षणों बाद ही हम सभी ने आदर भरे विस्मय से अपनी नज़रें उठाई। एक शानदार दक्षिणी अफ्रीकी जेट, हेलिकॉप्टरों और ट्रप की कतारों पर जो कि यूनियन बिल्डिंग के ऊपर से एक बढ़िया युक्तियाँ बना रहे थे। वह न केवल एक सेना शक्ति और निश्चितता का प्रदर्शन था बल्कि एक नमूना था सेना की वफादारी का, प्रजातन्त्र में और साफ और सही तरीके से चुनी गई नई सरकार के लिए।

केवल कुछ क्षण पहले ही, दक्षिण अफ्रीका की सेना और पुलिस बल के उच्च अधिकारियों ने जिनके सीने रिबन और मैडलों से दमक रहे थे. मझे सलामी दी थी और अपनी वफादारी की शपथ ली थी। मैं इस तथ्य से भी बेखबर नहीं था कि कुछ साल पहले तक वे मुझे सलामी नहीं देते बल्कि मुझे गिरफ्तार करते। अंत में इम्पाला जेटों की ‘V’ कला आई जो दक्षिण अफ्रीका के झंडे के काले, लाल, हरे, नीले और सुनहरे रंग का धुंआ छोड़ रहे थे।

Text (Page 19): The day was symbolised for me by the playing of our two national anthems, and the vision of whites singing Nkosi Sikelel’-iAfrika’ and blacks singing ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem of the republic. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem they once despised, they would soon know the words by heart.

Vocabulary :

• Symbolised (सिम्बोलाइज्ड) – to indicate something प्रतीक
• Despised (डिस्पाइस्ड) – having a low opinion of निम्न स्तर का समझना।

अनुवाद : मेरा दिन मेरे लिए यादगार तब बन गया जब हमारे दो राष्ट्रीय गान गाए गए। और जब मैंने देखा कि गोरों ने गाया ‘कांसी-सीके-लेल-आई अफ्रीका’ और अश्वेतों ने गणतंत्र का पुराना गान ‘डाई स्टेम’ गाया। हालांकि उस दिन किसी भी झुंड को राष्ट्रीय गान की सही धुन नहीं पता थी जिसे उन्होंने कभी बहुत ही निम्न नज़रों से देखा था, पर वे जल्द ही शब्दों को दिल से याद कर लेंगे।

Text (Pages 19-20) : On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed with a sense of history. In the first decade of the twentieth century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before my own birth, the white-skinned peoples of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark-skinned peoples of their own land.

The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world has ever known. Now, in the last decade of the twentieth century, and my own eighth decade as a man, that system had been overturned forever and replaced by one that recognised the rights and freedoms of all peoples, regardless of the colour of their skin.

Vocabulary :

• White-skinned (ह्वाइट-स्किन्ड)white people श्वेत चमड़ी वाले
• Erected (इरेक्टेड) – straight standing सीधा
• Domination (डोमिनेशन) – to rule someone हावी होना
• Harshest (हारशेस्ट) – impolite सबसे कठोर, रूखा
• Inhumane (इनघूमेन) – not upto humanity शैतानी

अनुवाद : शुभारंभ के दिन, मैं इतिहास के एहसास से अत्यंत खुश था। बीसवीं सदी के पहले दशक में ऐंग्लो बोअर युद्ध के कुछ सालों बाद और मेरे अपने जन्म से कुछ साल पहले ही दक्षिण अफ्रीका के सफेद चमड़ी (गोरे) लोगों ने अपने आपसी झगड़े मिटाकर अपनी ही धरती के अश्वेत चमड़ी वाले लोगों के खिलाफ अपने अंतर और रंगभेद की एक प्रणाली खड़ी कर दी थी।

उन्होंने जो ढाँचा खड़ा किया उसने संसार में जाने वाले ऐसे समाजों की रचना की जो कि सबसे ज्यादा कठोर, बैहशी माना जाता है और अब बीसवीं सदी के आखिरी दशक में और मेरे अपने आठवें दशक में वो ढाँचा/प्रणाली हमेशा के लिए पलट गई है और उसकी जगह एक ऐसे समाज ने ले ली है जो चमड़ी के रंग को ध्यान में न रखते हुए, सभी लोगों के अधिकारों और आज़ादी को पहचानता है।

Text (Page 20): That day had come about through the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of my people, people whose suffering and courage can never be counted or repaid. I felt that day, as I have on so many other days, that I was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before me.

That long and noble line ended and now began again with me. I was pained that I was not able to thank them and that they were not able to see what their sacrifices had wrought.

Vocabulary :

• Unimaginable (अनइमैजिनेबल) – which cannot be imagined अकाल्पनिक
• Sacrifice(सैक्रिफाइस) – to die for a cause बलिदान
• Repaid (रीपेड) – to pay again पुनः देना
• Patriots (पेट्रिओट्स)-country lover देशभक्त
• Wrought (रॉट)-done, achieved कुछ कर दिखाना

अनुवाद : मेरे हज़ारों लोगों के अकाल्पनिक बलिदानों के बाद यह दिन आया था। वह लोग जिनकी हिम्मत और पीड़ाओं को कभी भी गिना या चुकाया नहीं जा सकता। मुझे उस दिन ऐसा लगा जैसे आगे भी बहुत सारे दिन लगे थे, मानो मैं उन सभी अफ्रीकी देशभक्तों का, जो कि मेरे सामने शहीद हो गए, जोड़ हूँ। वह लम्बी और पवित्र रेखा समाप्त हुई और अब मेरे साथ फिर से प्रारंभ हो गई। मुझे दुःख था कि मैं उन लोगों का धन्यवाद नहीं कर सका और कि वे लोग यह नहीं देख पाए कि उनके बलिदानों ने क्या प्राप्त किया।

Text (Pages 20-21) : The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people. All of us will spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. But the decades of oppression and brutality had another, unintended, effect, and that was that it produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of our time-men of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their like may never be known again.

Perhaps it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.

Vocabulary :

• Policy (पॉलिसी) – rule नीति
• Profound (प्रोफाउन्ड) – deep and strong गहरा और मजबूत
• Oppression (ऑप्रेशन) – to suppress दबाव
• Brutality (बूटालिटी) – inhuman behaviour बैहशीपन, बेरहमपना
• Intended (इन्टेनडेड) – to do something knowingly जानबूझ कर
• Generosity (जैनरोसिटी) – to do something with open heartedness दयालुता, दिलदारी

अनुवाद : रंगभेद की नीति ने मेरे देश और मेरे लोगों पर एक गहरा और कभी न भूलने वाला घाव छोड़ा है। हम सभी को यदि सदियाँ नहीं तो कई वर्ष लगेंगे, इस गहरे और मजबूत घाव को भरने में। लेकिन दशकों के उत्पीड़न और बेरहमी ने एक और कभी न खत्म होने वाला असर छोड़ा है और उसी के कारण पैदा हुए हमारे समय के ऑलिवर टामबोस, दावाल्टर सिसुलस, मुखिया लुथुलिस, दा युनुस दादूस, दा ब्राम फिस्चरस, दा रॉबर्ट सोबुकवेस-ऐसे लोग जिनकी विलक्षण जांबाज़ी, अकलमंदी और दान वीरता के जैसा फिर कभी कोई नहीं जाना जाएगा।

शायद चरित्र की इतनी ऊँचाई प्राप्त करने के लिए इतने गहरे उत्पीड़न की ज़रूरत है। मेरा देश धरती के अंदर पाए जाने वाले खनिजों और बहुमूल्य पत्थरों से भरपूर है, परंतु मैंने हमेशा माना है कि इसकी सबसे बड़ी सम्पदा इसके लोग हैं जो कि सबसे शुद्ध होरे से भी अधिक शुद्ध और सच्चे हैं।

Text (Page 21): It is from these comrades in the struggle that I learned the meaning of courage. Time and again, I have seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea. I have seen men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking, showing a strength and resilience that defies the imagination. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Vocabulary :

• Comrades (कामरेड्स) – soldiers सिपाही
• Torture (टॉरचर) – sufferings, humiliations प्रताड़ना
• Resilience (रिसिलिएन्स) – ability to deal with any kind of hardship and recover from its effect मुसीबतों से लड़ने की और उनसे उबरने की शक्ति;
• Conquer (कॉनकर)to win जीतना
• Triumph (ट्रायम्फ)-joy, victory विजय

अनुवाद : मैंने हिम्मत का अर्थ ही इन्हीं युद्ध में लड़ रहे सिपाहियों से सीखा। समय-समय पर बार-बार मैंने पुरुषों और महिलाओं को एक तथ्य के लिए जोखिम लेते हुए और अपनी जानें देते हुए देखा है। मैंने देखा हैं पुरुषों को बिना टूटे (अडिग) हमलों और प्रताड़नाओं को सहते हुए जो कि हिम्मत और अविकल्पनीय दुखों को सहने की क्षमता का उदाहरण है। मैंने सीखा कि ‘हिम्मत’ डर का ना होना नहीं है बल्कि डर पर विजय पाना है। बहादुर मनुष्य वो नहीं जो डरता नहीं बल्कि वो है जो डर पर विजय पाता है।

Text (Page 21): No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. 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 than its opposite.

Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.

Vocabulary:

• Grimmest (निमेस्ट) – in the saddest moments सबसे दुखी समय में या निराशा में
• Glimmer (ग्लीमर) – shine झलक/चमक
• Reassure (रिअश्योर) – to ascertain आश्वस्त करना
• Extinguished(एस्टिंगुयिश) – to disappear forever from the earth समाप्त हो जाना

अनुवाद : कोई भी इंसान ऐसा पैदा नहीं होता है जो कि दूसरे इंसान से उसकी चमड़ी के रंग, या धर्म या उसके पारिवारिक परिचय की वजह से नफरत करता हो। लोगों को नफरत करना सीखना चाहिए और यदि वे नफरत करना सीखते हैं तो उन्हें प्रेम करना भी सिखाया जा सकता है क्योंकि प्रेम उससे विपरीत इंसानी दिल में कहीं ज्यादा प्राकृतिक तरीके से आता है।

जेल में सबसे निराशा के समय में भी जब मैं और मेरे सिपाही साथियों को दर्द झेलने की आखिरी क्षमता तक पहुंचा दिया जाता था, मैं, उनमें से किसी एक सिपाही की आँखों में, चाहे एक क्षण के लिए ही, इंसानियत की एक झलक देख पाता था, परंतु वह झलक मुझे आश्वस्त करने और आगे बढ़ते रहने के लिए काफी होती थी। मनुष्य की अच्छाई एक ऐसी ज्योति है जो छुपाई तो जा सकती है परंतु समाप्त नहीं की जा सकती।

Text (Pages 21-22): In life, every man has twin obligations obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children, and he has an obligation to his people, his community, his country. In a civil and humane society, each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities.

But in a country like South Africa, it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and colour to fulfil both of those obligations. In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being was punished and isolated.

In South Africa, a man who tried to fulfil his duty to his people was inevitably ripped from his family and his home and was forced to live a life apart, a twilight existence of secrecy and rebellion. I did not in the beginning choose to place my people above my family. but in attempting to serve my people, I found that I was prevented from fulfilling my obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband.

Vocabulary :

• Obligations (ऑब्जिलगेशन) – responsibilities जिम्मेदारी
• Inclination (इन्क्लीनेशन) – natural tendencies of behaviour व्यवहार
• Attempted (अटेम्पटिड) – try to do something कोशिश करना
• Isolated (आइसोलेटिड) – separated from the world सबसे अलग करना
• Inevitably (इनऐविटेबली) – unavoidably अनाकारात्मक
• Rebellion (रिबेल्यिन) – opposition/to oppose विरोधी
• Prevented (प्रिवेटेड) – to protect from something to happen बचाव करना

अनुवाद : जीवन में, प्रत्येक मनुष्य की दो ज़िम्मेदारियाँ होती हैंज़िम्मेदारी अपने परिवार, अपने माता-पिता, अपनी पत्नी और बच्चों के प्रति और उसकी ज़िम्मेदारी होती है अपने लोगों, अपने समुदाय और अपने देश के प्रति। एक नागरिक और इंसानी समाज में, प्रत्येक व्यक्ति अपने झुकाव और योग्यता के आधार पर इन ज़िम्मेदारियों को पूरा करने में समर्थ है।

परन्तु दक्षिण अफ्रीका जैसे देश में, मेरे पैदायिश के सालों में और मेरे रंग के साथ इन दोनों ज़िम्मेदारियों को पूरा करना लगभग नामुमकिन था। दक्षिण अफ्रीका में, अश्वेत मनुष्य जो यदि इंसान की तरह रहने की कोशिश भी करता तो उसे सज़ा दी जाती थी और अलगथलग कर दिया जाता था।

दक्षिण अफ्रीका में, यदि कोई मनुष्य अपने लोगों के प्रति अपना कर्त्तव्य निभाने की कोशिश भी करता तो उसे ज़बरदस्ती अपने परिवार और घर से अलग कर दिया जाता और एक अलग जीवन जीने पर मजबूर किया जाता था, एक विद्रोही और रहस्यमयी धीमी रोशनी वाली जिंदगी में। मैंने शुरुआत में अपने परिवार से ऊपर अपने लोगों को नहीं चुना परंतु अपने लोगों की सेवा करने की कोशिश में, मैंने पाया कि मैं एक बेटे, एक भाई, एक पिता और एक पति की ज़िम्मेदारियों को पूरा नहीं कर पा रहा था।

Text (Page 22): I was not born with a hunger to be free. I was born free–free in every way that I could know. Free to run in the fields near my mother’s hut, free to swim in the clear stream that ran through my village, free to roast mealies under the stars and ride the broad backs of slow-moving bulls. As long as I obeyed my father and abided by the customs of my tribe, I was not troubled by the laws of man or God.

Vocabulary :

• Abide (अबाइड) – to obey बँधना या मजबूर
• Trouble(ट्रबल) – problem मुसीबत

अनुवाद : मैं आज़ाद होने की भूख के साथ नहीं पैदा हुआ था। मैं आज़ाद पैदा हुआ था-आज़ाद हर प्रकार से जितना मैं जानता था। अपनी माँ की झोंपड़ी के पास के खेतों में दौड़ने की आज़ादी, मेरे गाँव में से गुजरने वाले साफ झरने में तैरने की आज़ादी, तारों की छाँव में भोजन भूनने की आजादी और धीमी गति में चलते हुए बैलों की चौड़ी पीठ पर सवारी करने की आजादी। जब तक मैं अपने पिता के हुक्म का पालन करता रहा और अपने कबीले के रीति-रिवाजों से बंधा रहा तब तक मुझे इंसानी या भगवान के बनाए हुए निर्देशों से कभी परेशानी नहीं हुई।

Text (Page 23) : It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At first, as a student, I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose.

Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of marrying and having a family-the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.

Vocabulary:

• Illusion (इल्यूिजन) – something that appears to be real but is not भ्रम
• Discover (डिस्कवर) – to find out a thing present before खोज करना
• Transitory (ट्रानजिटरी) – not permanent अस्थायी
• Yearned (यन्ड) – attempt to achieve or get something/ long for कुछ पाने की कोशिश
• Obstructed (ऑबस्ट्रकटेड) to interrupt रुकावट

अनुवाद : यह तब हुआ जब मैंने समझना शुरु किया कि मेरी लड़कपन की आज़ादी एक भ्रम है, जब जवानी में मैंने पाया कि मेरी आज़ादी तो मुझसे पहले ही ली जा चुकी है तब मुझमें उसे पाने की भूख पैदा हुई। पहले, एक छात्र के तौर पर, मैं केवल अपने लिए ही आजादी चाहता था, अस्थायी आज़ादियाँ, रात को अकेले बाहर रहने की, अपनी पसंद की पुस्तक पढ़ने की और अपनी चुनी हुई जगह पर जाने की।

बाद में, जोहन्सबर्ग में एक नवयुवक के तौर पर, मैंने अपनी मूलभूत और इज्जतदार अपनी क्षमता के अनुसार, अपनी मेहनत से कमाने, शादी करने और अपना परिवार बनाने की आज़ादी पर जोर दिया वो आज़ादी जो कि निर्देशों की जिंदगी में बाधक न हो।

Text (Pages 22-23): But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free, but my brothers and sisters were not free. I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who looked like I did. That is when I joined the African National Congress, and that is when the hunger for my own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of my people.

It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and selfrespect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk.

I am no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man, but I found that I could not even enjoy the poor and limited freedoms I was allowed when I knew my people were not free. Freedom is indivisible; the chains on anyone of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.

Vocabulary :

• Curtailed (करटेल्ड) – reduced घटाना
• Desire (डिज़ायर) – wish to have something इच्छा
• Animated (एनिमेटेड) – changed बदलना
• Transformed (ट्रांसफॉर्मड) – to change entirely बदलना-एक रूप से दूसरे रूप में
• Law-abiding (लॉ- अबाईडिंग) – to stick to the laws कानून मानने वाला
• Virtuous (वरचुअस) – morally excellent भौतिक
• Indivisible (इनडिविसिबल) cannot be divided अविभाजित

अनुवाद : लेकिन तब धीरे-धीरे मैंने जाना कि न केवल मैं ही आज़ाद नहीं था बल्कि मेरे भाई और बहनें भी आज़ाद नहीं थे। मैंने देखा कि यह न केवल मेरी ही आज़ादी का हनन नहीं था बल्कि वो हर कोई जो मेरे जैसा दिखता था उसकी भी आज़ादी का हनन हो रहा था। जैसे की जब मैंने अफ्रीकी नेशनल कांग्रेस में पदार्पण किया और तब मेरी अपनी आज़ादी की भूख बढ़कर अपने लोगों की आज़ादी में बदल गई।

इस चाहत ने जिसमें मैं अपने लोगों को पूरे सम्मान और इज्जत के साथ जीने की आज़ादी चाहता था, मेरी जिंदगी बदल दी। उसने एक डरे हुए और डरपोक नवयुवक को बदलकर एक दबंग बना दिया, जिसने एक कानूनमानने वाले अझैनी (प्रतिनिधि) को एक मुजरिम बना दिया, जिसने एक परिवार को प्यार करने वाले पति को एक बेघर इंसान बना दिया, जिसने जिंदगी से प्यार करने वाले आदमी को एक साधु बनने पर मजबूर कर दिया।

मैं और किसी दूसरे आदमी से ज्यादा गुणी या आत्मत्याग करने वाला नहीं था परंतु मैंने पाया कि मैं जितनी कम और सीमित आज़ादी मुझे मिली हुई थी उसे भी खुशी से भोग नहीं पा रहा था क्योंकि मैंने पाया कि मेरे लोग आज़ाद नहीं थे। आज़ादी अविभाजीय है; मेरे लोगों में से किसी एक पर भी बेड़ियाँ उन सब पर बेड़ियों के समान थी। और उन सब लोगों पर बेड़ियाँ मेरे ऊपर बेड़ियों के समान थीं।

Text (Page 23):I knew that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.

I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.

Vocabulary :

• Oppressor (ऑप्रैसर) – a man who pressurizes someone दबाव देने वाला
• Prejudice (प्रेजुडिस) – a strong dislike without any reason बिना वजह किसी से नफरत करना
• Narrow-mindedness (नैरोमाइंडिडनेस) – low mentality संकुचित विचार
• Robbed (रॉब्ड) – someone from whom everything is snatched लुटना

अनुवाद : मैं जानता था कि दबाने वाले को भी उतनी ही आजादी चाहिए जितने की दबने वाले को। वो मनुष्य जो दूसरे मनुष्य की आज़ादी छीनता है, वह नफरत का कैदी है वह अनचाही नफरत और संकुचित विचारों की सलाखों के पीछे बंद रहता है। मैं, यदि किसी दूसरे की आज़ादी छीन रहा हूँ तो हकीकत में मैं आज़ाद नहीं हूँ। जैसे कि वास्तव में, मैं आज़ाद नहीं हूँ यदि मेरी आज़ादी किसी ने छीन रखी हो। दबने वाला और दबाने वाला दोनों ही एक समान हैं जिनकी इंसानियत लुटी हुई है।

Class 10 English Question Answer