🚨 LATEST UPDATE Assam Jatiya Bidyalay (AJB) Class 4 to 8 English Notes are LIVE now! Click here to read. | B.A. FYUGP and ASSEB Notes coming soon...

Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Question Answers | ASSEB / SEBA


Welcome to PoraGhar Axom! If you are searching for comprehensive and easy-to-understand notes for Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 (X) English Lesson 2, you have come to the right place. Our solutions are fully updated according to the newly formed ASSEB DIVISION I structure, while also perfectly catering to the traditional SEBA Board Class 10 syllabus that students strictly follow. In this post, we provide a simple English summary, line-by-line Assamese translation, complete textual question-answers, and grammar solutions to help you achieve top marks in your upcoming HSLC board exams.

💡

Did You Know? (āĻ•িāĻŦা āϜাāύাāύে?)

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison before becoming the first black president of South Africa. His resilience and forgiveness made him a global icon of peace and reconciliation.

📖 Summary of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (Class 10)

"Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" is an extract from the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, a prominent figure in the SEBA Class 10 English syllabus. The chapter describes the historic inauguration ceremony on May 10, 1994, marking the end of apartheid and the establishment of South Africa's first democratic, non-racial government. Mandela reflects on the sacrifices of thousands of patriots who fought against racial discrimination. He defines courage not as the absence of fear but the triumph over it, and emphasizes that love is more natural to the human heart than hate. The text concludes with his profound realization of the twin obligations every person holds and the indivisible nature of true freedom.

1. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom: Line-by-Line Assamese Translation

BEFORE YOU READ

āĻĒāĻĸ়াā§° āφāĻ—āϤে

• ‘Apartheid’ is a political system that separates people according to their race.

• ‘āĻŦā§°্āĻŖāĻŦৈāώāĻŽ্āϝ’ (Apartheid) āĻš'āϞ āĻāύে āĻāĻ• ā§°াāϜāύৈāϤিāĻ• āĻŦ্āĻ¯ā§ąāϏ্āĻĨা āϝিāϝ়ে āĻŽাāύুāĻšāĻ• āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāϕ⧰ āϜাāϤি āĻŦা āĻŦā§°্āĻŖā§° āφāϧাā§°āϤ āĻĒৃāĻĨāĻ• āϕ⧰ে।

Can you say which of the three countries named below had such a political system until very recently?

āφāĻĒুāύি āĻ•’āĻŦ āĻĒাā§°িāĻŦāύে āϝে āϤāϞāϤ āύাāĻŽ āωāϞ্āϞেāĻ– āϕ⧰া āϤিāύিāĻ–āύ āĻĻেāĻļā§° āĻ­িāϤ⧰āϤ āĻ•োāύāĻ–āύ āĻĻেāĻļāϤ āĻ…āϤি āĻļেāĻšāϤীāϝ়াāĻ•ৈ āĻāύে āĻāĻ• ā§°াāϜāύৈāϤিāĻ• āĻŦ্āĻ¯ā§ąāϏ্āĻĨা āφāĻ›িāϞ?

(i) United States of America (ii) South Africa (iii) Australia

(i) āφāĻŽেā§°িāĻ•া āϝুāĻ•্āϤ⧰াāώ্āϟ্ā§° (ii) āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•া (iii) āĻ…āώ্āϟ্ā§°েāϞিāϝ়া

• Have you heard of Nelson Mandela?

• āφāĻĒুāύি āύেāϞāĻ›āύ āĻŽেāĻŖ্āĻĄেāϞাā§° āύাāĻŽ āĻļুāύিāĻ›েāύে?

Mandela, and his African National Congress, spent a lifetime fighting against apartheid.

āĻŽেāĻŖ্āĻĄেāϞা āφ⧰ু āϤেāĻ“ঁā§° āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াāύ āύেāϚāύেāϞ āĻ•ংāĻ—্ā§°েāĻ›ে āĻŦā§°্āĻŖāĻŦৈāώāĻŽ্āϝ⧰ āĻŦিā§°ুāĻĻ্āϧে āϝুঁāϜ āĻĻি āϏāĻŽāĻ—্ā§° āϜীā§ąāύ āĻ…āϤিāĻŦাāĻšিāϤ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞ।

Mandela had to spend thirty years in prison.

āĻŽেāĻŖ্āĻĄেāϞাāχ āϤ্ā§°িāĻļ āĻŦāϛ⧰ āĻ•াāϞ āĻ•াā§°াāĻ—াā§°āϤ āĻ•āϟাāĻŦ āϞāĻ—া āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ।

Finally, democratic elections were held in South Africa in 1994, and Mandela became the first black President of a new nation.

āĻ…ā§ąāĻļেāώāϤ, ⧧⧝⧝ā§Ē āϚāύāϤ āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াāϤ āĻ—āĻŖāϤাāύ্āϤ্ā§°িāĻ• āύিā§°্āĻŦাāϚāύ āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ িāϤ āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ āφ⧰ু āĻŽেāĻŖ্āĻĄেāϞা āĻāĻ–āύ āύāϤুāύ ā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°ā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽāĻ—ā§°াāĻ•ী āĻ•ৃāώ্āĻŖাংāĻ— ā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°āĻĒāϤি āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ।

In this extract from his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, Mandela speaks about a historic occasion, ‘the inauguration’.

āϤেāĻ“ঁā§° āφāϤ্āĻŽāϜীā§ąāύী, 'āϞং ā§ąাāĻ• āϟু āĻĢ্ā§°িāĻĄāĻŽ'ā§° āĻĒā§°া āϞোā§ąা āĻāχ āĻ…ংāĻļāϟোāϤ āĻŽেāĻŖ্āĻĄেāϞাāχ āĻāĻ• āϐāϤিāĻšাāϏিāĻ• āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ াāύ, ‘āωāĻĻ্āĻŦোāϧāύী āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ াāύ’ (the inauguration)-ā§° āĻŦিāώāϝ়ে āĻŦā§°্āĻŖāύা āϕ⧰িāĻ›ে।

Can you guess what the occasion might be?

āφāĻĒুāύি āĻ…āύুāĻŽাāύ āϕ⧰িāĻŦ āĻĒাā§°িāĻŦāύে āĻāχ āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ াāύāϟো āĻ•ি āĻš'āĻŦ āĻĒাā§°ে?

Check your guess with this news item (from the BBC) of 10 May 1994.

⧧⧝⧝ā§Ē āϚāύ⧰ ā§§ā§Ļ āĻŽে’ā§° āĻāχ āĻŦাāϤ⧰িāϟোā§° (āĻŦিāĻŦিāϚিā§° āĻĒā§°া āϏংāĻ—্ā§°āĻšীāϤ) āϏৈāϤে āφāĻĒোāύাā§° āĻ…āύুāĻŽাāύāϟো āĻŽিāϞাāχ āϚাāĻ“āĻ•।

news clipping

Mandela Becomes South Africa’s First Black President

āĻŽেāĻŖ্āĻĄেāϞা āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽ āĻ•ৃāώ্āĻŖাংāĻ— ā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°āĻĒāϤি āĻš'āϞ

Nelson Mandela has become South Africa’s first Black President after more than three centuries of White rule.

āϤিāύি āĻļāϤিāĻ•াāϤāĻ•ৈ⧟ো āĻ…āϧিāĻ• āĻ•াāϞ⧰ āĻļ্āĻŦেāϤাংāĻ— āĻļাāϏāύ⧰ āĻ…āύ্āϤāϤ āύেāϞāĻ›āύ āĻŽেāĻŖ্āĻĄেāϞা āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽ āĻ•ৃāώ্āĻŖাংāĻ— ā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°āĻĒāϤি āĻšৈāĻ›ে।

Mr Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) party won 252 of the 400 seats in the first democratic elections of South Africa’s history.

āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āχāϤিāĻšাāϏ⧰ āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽāϟো āĻ—āĻŖāϤাāύ্āϤ্ā§°িāĻ• āύিā§°্āĻŦাāϚāύāϤ āĻļ্ā§°ীāϝুāϤ āĻŽেāĻŖ্āĻĄেāϞাā§° āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াāύ āύেāϚāύেāϞ āĻ•ংāĻ—্ā§°েāĻ› (ANC) āĻĻāϞে ā§Ēā§Ļā§Ļ āĻ–āύ āφāϏāύ⧰ āĻ­িāϤ⧰āϤ ⧍ā§Ģ⧍ āĻ–āύ āφāϏāύ āϞাāĻ­ āϕ⧰ে।

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.

āφāϜি āĻĒ্ā§°িāϟোā§°িāϝ়াā§° āχāωāύিāϝ়āύ āĻŦিāϞ্āĻĄিংāϛ⧰ āĻāĻŽ্āĻĒিāĻĨিāϝ়েāϟাā§°āϤ āĻāχ āωāĻĻ্āĻŦোāϧāύী āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ াāύ āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ িāϤ āĻšāϝ়, āϝ'āϤ āĻŦিāĻļ্āĻŦā§° ā§§ā§Ēā§Ļ āĻ–āύāϤāĻ•ৈ⧟ো āĻ…āϧিāĻ• āĻĻেāĻļā§° ā§°াāϜāύীāϤিāĻŦিāĻĻ āφ⧰ু āĻ—āĻŖ্āϝāĻŽাāύ্āϝ āĻŦ্āϝāĻ•্āϤিāϏāĻ•āϞে āĻ…ংāĻļāĻ—্ā§°āĻšāĻŖ āϕ⧰ে।

“Never, never again will this beautiful land experience the oppression of one by another,” said Nelson Mandela in his address.

āύেāϞāĻ›āύ āĻŽেāĻŖ্āĻĄেāϞাāχ āϤেāĻ“ঁā§° āĻ­াāώāĻŖāϤ āĻ•āϝ়, “āĻāχ āϧুāύীāϝ়া āĻĻেāĻļāĻ–āύে āĻ•েāϤিāϝ়াāĻ“, āĻ•েāϤিāϝ়াāĻ“ āφ⧰ু āφāύ āĻāϜāύ⧰ āĻĻ্āĻŦাā§°া āφāύ āĻāϜāύ⧰ āĻ“āĻĒā§°āϤ āϕ⧰া āĻ…āϤ্āϝাāϚাā§°ā§° āϏāύ্āĻŽুāĻ–ীāύ āύāĻš'āĻŦ।”

… Jubilant scenes on the streets of Pretoria followed the ceremony with blacks, whites and coloureds celebrating together...

… āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ াāύāϟোā§° āĻĒিāĻ›āϤ āĻĒ্ā§°িāϟোā§°িāϝ়াā§° ā§°াāϜāĻĒāĻĨāϤ āφāύāύ্āĻĻāĻŽুāĻ–ā§° āĻĒā§°িā§ąেāĻļā§° āϏৃāώ্āϟি āĻšāϝ় āϝ'āϤ āĻ•ৃāώ্āĻŖাংāĻ—, āĻļ্āĻŦেāϤাংāĻ— āφ⧰ু āĻŦā§°্āĻŖāϏংāϕ⧰ āϞোāĻ•āϏāĻ•āϞে āĻāĻ•েāϞāĻ—ে āωāĻĻāϝাāĻĒāύ āϕ⧰ে...

More than 100,000 South African men, women and children of all races sang and danced with joy.

āϏāĻ•āϞো āĻŦā§°্āĻŖā§° ā§§ āϞাāĻ–āϤāĻ•ৈ⧟ো āĻ…āϧিāĻ• āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āĻĒুā§°ুāώ, āĻŽāĻšিāϞা āφ⧰ু āĻļিāĻļুā§ąে āφāύāύ্āĻĻāϤ āĻ—ীāϤ āĻ—াāϝ় āφ⧰ু āύাāϚে।

TENTH May dawned bright and clear.

ā§§ā§Ļ āĻŽে'ā§° āĻĒুā§ąা āφāĻ›িāϞ āĻ…āϤিāĻļāϝ় āωāϜ্āϜ্āĻŦāϞ āφ⧰ু āĻĢā§°āĻ•াāϞ।

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.

āϝোā§ąা āĻ•েāχāĻĻিāύāĻŽাāύ āϧ⧰ি āωāĻĻ্āĻŦোāϧāύী āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ াāύ⧰ āφāĻ—āϤে āϏāύ্āĻŽাāύ āϜāύাāĻŦāϞৈ āĻ…āĻšা āĻŦিāĻļ্āĻŦā§° āύেāϤাāϏāĻ•āϞ āφ⧰ু āĻ—āĻŖ্āϝāĻŽাāύ্āϝ āĻŦ্āϝāĻ•্āϤিāϏāĻ•āϞে āĻŽোāĻ• āφāύāύ্āĻĻāĻĻাāϝ়āĻ•āĻ­াā§ąে āĻ†ā§ąā§°ি ā§°াāĻ–িāĻ›িāϞ।

The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South African soil.

āĻāχ āωāĻĻ্āĻŦোāϧāύী āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ াāύāϟো āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āĻŽাāϟিāϤ āφāύ্āϤঃā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°ীāϝ় āύেāϤাāϏāĻ•āϞ⧰ āϏ⧰্āĻŦāĻŦৃāĻšā§Ž āϏāĻŽাā§ąেāĻļ āĻš'āĻŦ।

The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

āĻĒ্ā§°িāϟোā§°িāϝ়াā§° āχāωāύিāϝ়āύ āĻŦিāϞ্āĻĄিংāĻ›ে āĻ—āĻ āύ āϕ⧰া āϧুāύীāϝ়া āĻŦেāϞেāĻĒাāĻĨā§°ā§° āĻāĻŽ্āĻĒিāĻĨিāϝ়েāϟাā§°āϤ āĻāχ āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ াāύāϏāĻŽূāĻš āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ িāϤ āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ।

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.

āĻĻāĻļāĻ• āĻĻāĻļāĻ• āϧ⧰ি āĻāχāĻ–āύ āφāĻ›িāϞ āĻļ্āĻŦেāϤাংāĻ—ā§° āφāϧিāĻĒāϤ্āϝ⧰ āĻ•েāύ্āĻĻ্ā§°, āφ⧰ু āĻāϤিāϝ়া āχ āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽāĻ–āύ āĻ—āĻŖāϤাāύ্āϤ্ā§°িāĻ•, āĻŦā§°্āĻŖāĻŦৈāώāĻŽ্āϝāĻšীāύ āϚ⧰āĻ•াā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϤিāώ্āĻ াā§° āĻŦাāĻŦে āĻŦিāĻ­িāύ্āύ āĻŦā§°্āĻŖ āφ⧰ু āϜাāϤিā§° āĻāĻ• ā§°াāĻŽāϧেāύু āϏāĻĻৃāĻļ āϏāĻŽাā§ąেāĻļā§° āϏ্āĻĨাāύ āĻšৈ āĻĒā§°িāĻ›ে।

On that lovely autumn day I was accompanied by my daughter Zenani.

āϏেāχ āϧুāύীāϝ়া āĻļā§°ā§Ž āĻ•াāϞ⧰ āĻĻিāύāϟোāϤ āĻŽোā§° āϞāĻ—āϤ āĻŽোā§° āĻ•āύ্āϝা āϜেāύাāύি āφāĻ›িāϞ।

On the podium, Mr de Klerk was first sworn in as second deputy president.

āĻŽāĻž্āϚāϞৈ āĻ—ৈ āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽে āĻļ্ā§°ীāϝুāϤ āĻĄি āĻ•্āϞাā§°্āĻ•ে āĻĻ্āĻŦিāϤীāϝ় āωāĻĒ-ā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°āĻĒāϤি āĻšিāϚাāĻĒে āĻļāĻĒāϤ āĻ—্ā§°āĻšāĻŖ āϕ⧰ে।

Then Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as first deputy president.

āϤাā§° āĻĒিāĻ›āϤ āĻĨাāĻŦো āĻāĻŽ্āĻŦেāĻ•িāϝে āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽ āωāĻĒ-ā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°āĻĒāϤি āĻšিāϚাāĻĒে āĻļāĻĒāϤ āĻ—্ā§°āĻšāĻŖ āϕ⧰ে।

When it was my turn, I pledged to obey and uphold the Constitution and to devote myself to the wellbeing of the Republic and its people.

āϝেāϤিāϝ়া āĻŽোā§° āĻĒাāϞ āφāĻšিāϞ, āĻŽāχ āϏংāĻŦিāϧাāύ āĻŽাāύি āϚāϞিāĻŦāϞৈ āφ⧰ু ā§°āĻ•্āώা āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āφ⧰ু āĻ—āĻŖā§°াāϜ্āϝ āφ⧰ু āχāϝ়াā§° āϜāύāϏাāϧাā§°āĻŖā§° āĻŽংāĻ—āϞ⧰ āĻŦাāĻŦে āύিāϜāĻ•ে āωāϛ⧰্āĻ—া āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āĻļāĻĒāϤ āĻ—্ā§°āĻšāĻŖ āϕ⧰িāϞোঁ।

To the assembled guests and the watching world, I said:

āϏāĻŽāĻŦেāϤ āĻšোā§ąা āĻ…āϤিāĻĨিāϏāĻ•āϞ āφ⧰ু āϚাāχ āĻĨāĻ•া āĻŦিāĻļ্āĻŦāĻŦাāϏীāĻ• āĻŽāχ āĻ•'āϞোঁ:

Today, all of us do, by our presence here... confer glory and hope to newborn liberty.

āφāϜি āφāĻŽাā§° āϏāĻ•āϞোā§ąে, āχāϝ়াāϤ āφāĻŽাā§° āωāĻĒāϏ্āĻĨিāϤিā§°ে... āĻ¨ā§ąāϜাāϤ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাāϞৈ āĻ—ৌā§°ā§ą āφ⧰ু āφāĻļা āĻ•āĻĸ়িāϝ়াāχ āφāύিāĻ›োঁ।

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.

āĻŦāĻšু āĻĻিāύ āϧ⧰ি āϚāϞি āĻĨāĻ•া āĻāĻ• āĻ…āϏাāϧাā§°āĻŖ āĻŽাāĻ¨ā§ąীāϝ় āĻŦিāĻĒā§°্āϝāϝ়ā§° āĻ…āĻ­িāϜ্āĻžāϤাā§° āĻĒā§°া āĻāύে āĻāĻ–āύ āϏāĻŽাāϜ⧰ āϜāύ্āĻŽ āĻš'āĻŦ āϞাāĻ—িāĻŦ āϝিāĻ–āύ āϏāĻŽাāϜāĻ• āϞৈ āϏāĻŽāĻ—্ā§° āĻŽাāĻ¨ā§ąāϜাāϤি āĻ—ৌā§°ā§ąাāύ্āĻŦিāϤ āĻš'āĻŦ।

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.

āφāĻŽি, āϝিāϏāĻ•āϞāĻ• āĻŦেāĻ›ি āĻĻিāύ āĻšোā§ąা āύাāχ āĻ…āĻĒā§°াāϧী āĻŦুāϞি āĻ—āĻŖ্āϝ āϕ⧰া āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ, āφāϜি āφāĻŽাā§° āύিāϜ⧰ āĻŽাāϟিāϤে āĻŦিāĻļ্āĻŦā§° āĻĻেāĻļāϏāĻŽূāĻšāĻ• āφāϤিāĻĨ্āϝ āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĻাāύ āϕ⧰াā§° āĻāĻ• āĻŦিā§°āϞ āϏুāϝোāĻ— āϞাāĻ­ āϕ⧰িāĻ›োঁ।

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.

āφāĻŽি āφāĻŽাā§° āϏāĻ•āϞো āĻŦিāĻļিāώ্āϟ āφāύ্āϤঃā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°ীāϝ় āĻ…āϤিāĻĨিāĻ• āϧāύ্āϝāĻŦাāĻĻ āϜāύাāχāĻ›োঁ āĻ•াā§°āĻŖ āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāĻ•ে āφāĻŽাā§° āĻĻেāĻļā§° āϜāύāϏাāϧাā§°āĻŖā§° āϏৈāϤে āĻāύে āĻāĻ• āϜāϝ়āϤ āĻ…ংāĻļāĻ—্ā§°āĻšāĻŖ āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āφāĻšিāĻ›ে, āϝিāϟো āφāϚāϞāϤে āύ্āϝাāϝ়, āĻļাāύ্āϤি āφ⧰ু āĻŽাāĻ¨ā§ąীāϝ় āĻŽā§°্āϝাāĻĻাā§° āĻāĻ• āωāĻŽৈāĻšāϤীāϝ়া āϜāϝ়।

We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation.

āφāĻŽি āĻ…ā§ąāĻļেāώāϤ āφāĻŽাā§° ā§°াāϜāύৈāϤিāĻ• āĻŽুāĻ•্āϤি āϞাāĻ­ āϕ⧰িāϞোঁ।

We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.

āĻĻā§°িāĻĻ্ā§°āϤা, āĻŦāĻž্āϚāύা, āĻĻুāĻ–-āĻ•āώ্āϟ, āϞিংāĻ— āφ⧰ু āĻ…āύ্āϝাāύ্āϝ āĻŦৈāώāĻŽ্āϝ⧰ āĻ•্ā§°āĻŽাāĻ—āϤ āĻŦাāύ্āϧোāύ⧰ āĻĒā§°া āφāĻŽাā§° āϏāĻ•āϞো āϜāύāϏাāϧাā§°āĻŖāĻ• āĻŽুāĻ•্āϤ āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āφāĻŽি āĻļāĻĒāϤ āĻ—্ā§°āĻšāĻŖ āϕ⧰িāĻ›োঁ।

Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.

āĻ•েāϤিāϝ়াāĻ“, āĻ•েāϤিāϝ়াāĻ“, āφ⧰ু āĻ•েāϤিāϝ়াāĻ“ āĻāύে āύāĻš'āĻŦ āϝে āĻāχ āϧুāύীāϝ়া āĻĻেāĻļāĻ–āύে āφāĻ•ৌ āĻāϜāύ⧰ āĻĻ্āĻŦাā§°া āφāύ āĻāϜāύ⧰ āĻ“āĻĒā§°āϤ āϕ⧰া āĻ…āϤ্āϝাāϚাā§°ā§° āϏāύ্āĻŽুāĻ–ীāύ āĻš'āĻŦ।

The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.

āĻāύে āĻāĻ• āĻ—ৌā§°ā§ąāĻŽāϝ় āĻŽাāĻ¨ā§ąীāϝ় āϏাāĻĢāϞ্āϝ⧰ āĻŦেāϞি āĻ•েāϤিāϝ়াāĻ“ āĻŽাā§° āύাāϝাāĻŦ।

Let freedom reign. God bless Africa!

āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাā§° ā§°াāϜāϤ্āĻŦ āϚāϞি āĻĨাāĻ•āĻ•। āĻ­āĻ—ā§ąাāύে āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াāĻ• āφāĻļীā§°্āĻŦাāĻĻ āϕ⧰āĻ•!

A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe

āĻ•েāχ āĻŽুāĻšূā§°্āϤāĻŽাāύ⧰ āĻĒিāĻ›āϤে āφāĻŽি āϏāĻ•āϞোā§ąে āĻŦিāϏ্āĻŽāϝ়āϤ āφāĻŽাā§° āϚāĻ•ু āĻ“āĻĒā§°āϞৈ āϤুāϞি āϚাāχāĻ›িāϞো

as a spectacular array of South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings.

āϝেāϤিāϝ়া āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āϜেāϟ, āĻšেāϞিāĻ•āĻĒ্āϤাā§° āφ⧰ু āϏৈāύ্āϝ āĻ•āĻĸ়িāĻ“ā§ąা āĻŦিāĻŽাāύ⧰ āĻāĻ• āĻĻā§°্āĻļāύীāϝ় āĻļাā§°ীāϝ়ে āχāωāύিāϝ়āύ āĻŦিāϞ্āĻĄিংāϛ⧰ āĻ“āĻĒā§°েā§°ে āύিāĻ–ুঁāϤ āĻ—āĻ āύāϤ āĻ—ā§°্āϜāύ āϕ⧰ি āĻ—ৈāĻ›িāϞ।

It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force,

āĻāϝ়া āĻ•েā§ąāϞ āύিā§°্āĻ­ুāϞāϤা āφ⧰ু āϏাāĻŽā§°িāĻ• āĻļāĻ•্āϤিā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĻā§°্āĻļāύ āύাāĻ›িāϞ,

but a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected.

āĻŦā§°āĻž্āϚ āĻ—āĻŖāϤāύ্āϤ্ā§°ā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϤি, āĻŽুāĻ•্āϤ āφ⧰ু āύিāĻ•াāĻ­াā§ąে āύিā§°্āĻŦাāϚিāϤ āĻšোā§ąা āĻāĻ–āύ āύāϤুāύ āϚ⧰āĻ•াā§°ā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϤি āϏাāĻŽā§°িāĻ• āĻŦাāĻšিāύীā§° āφāύুāĻ—āϤ্āϝ⧰ āĻāĻ• āύিāĻĻā§°্āĻļāύ āφāĻ›িāϞ।

Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police,

āĻŽাāϤ্ā§° āĻ•েāχ āĻŽুāĻšূā§°্āϤāĻŽাāύ⧰ āφāĻ—āϤে, āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϤিā§°āĻ•্āώা āĻŦাāĻšিāύী āφ⧰ু āφ⧰āĻ•্āώীā§° āϏ⧰্āĻŦোāϚ্āϚ āϏেāύাāĻĒāϤিāϏāĻ•āϞে,

their chests bedecked with ribbons and medals from days gone by, saluted me and pledged their loyalty.

āϝিāϏāĻ•āϞ⧰ āĻŦুāĻ•ু āĻ…āϤীāϤ⧰ ā§°িāĻŦāύ āφ⧰ু āĻĒāĻĻāĻ•েā§°ে āϏāϜাāχ āϤোāϞা āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ, āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāĻ•ে āĻŽোāĻ• āĻ›াāϞাāĻŽ āϜāύাāχāĻ›িāϞ āφ⧰ু āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāϕ⧰ āφāύুāĻ—āϤ্āϝ⧰ āĻļāĻĒāϤ āĻ–াāχāĻ›িāϞ।

I was not unmindful of the fact that not so many years before

āĻŽāχ āĻāχ āĻ•āĻĨাāϟোā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϤি āĻ…āĻŽāύোāϝোāĻ—ী āύাāĻ›িāϞো āϝে āĻŦেāĻ›ি āĻŦāϛ⧰⧰ āφāĻ—ā§° āĻ•āĻĨা āύāĻšāϝ়,

they would not have saluted but arrested me.

āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāĻ•ে āĻŽোāĻ• āĻ›াāϞাāĻŽ āϜāύোā§ąাā§° āĻĒā§°িā§ąā§°্āϤে āĻ—্ā§°েāĻĒ্āϤাā§°āĻšে āϕ⧰িāϞেāĻšেঁāϤেāύ।

Finally a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail

āĻ…ā§ąāĻļেāώāϤ āχāĻŽ্āĻĒাāϞা āϜেāϟ⧰ āĻāϟা āĻ­ি-āφāĻ•ৃāϤিā§° (chevron) āĻļাā§°ীāϝ়ে āϧোঁā§ąাā§° ā§°েāĻ–া āĻā§°ি āĻ—ৈāĻ›িāϞ

of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag.

āύāϤুāύ āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āĻĒāϤাāĻ•াā§° āĻ•'āϞা, ā§°āĻ™া, āϏেāωāϜীāϝ়া, āύীāϞা āφ⧰ু āϏোāĻŖাāϞী ā§°āϙ⧰।

The day was symbolised for me by the playing of our two national anthems,

āϏেāχ āĻĻিāύāϟো āĻŽোā§° āĻŦাāĻŦে āφāĻŽাā§° āĻĻুāϟা ā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°ীāϝ় āϏংāĻ—ীāϤ āĻĒā§°িā§ąেāĻļāύ⧰ āĻĻ্āĻŦাā§°া āĻĒ্ā§°āϤীāĻ•াāϝ়িāϤ āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ,

and the vision of whites singing ‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika’ and blacks singing ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem of the Republic.

āφ⧰ু āĻļ্āĻŦেāϤাংāĻ—āϏāĻ•āϞে āĻ—োā§ąা ‘āύāĻ•োāϚি āĻ›িāĻ•েāϞেāϞ –āφāχāφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•া’ āφ⧰ু āĻ•ৃāώ্āĻŖাংāĻ—āϏāĻ•āϞে āĻ—োā§ąা āĻ—āĻŖā§°াāϜ্āϝ⧰ āĻĒুā§°āĻŖি ā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°ীāϝ় āϏংāĻ—ীāϤ ‘āĻĄাāχ āώ্āϟেāĻŽ’ā§° āĻĻৃāĻļ্āϝ⧰ āϜ⧰িāϝ়āϤে।

Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem they once despised,

āϝāĻĻিāĻ“ āϏেāχāĻĻিāύা āĻ•োāύোā§ąেāχ āĻāϏāĻŽāϝ়āϤ āϘিāĻŖ āϕ⧰া ā§°াāώ্āϟ্ā§°ীāϝ় āϏংāĻ—ীāϤāϟোā§° āĻ•āĻĨা āύাāϜাāύিāĻ›িāϞ,

they would soon know the words by heart.

āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāĻ•ে āĻ…āϤি āϏোāύāĻ•াāϞেāχ āĻļāĻŦ্āĻĻāĻŦোā§° āĻŽুāĻ–āϏ্āĻĨ āϕ⧰িāĻŦ āĻĒাā§°িāĻŦ āĻŦুāϞি āĻŽāχ āύিāĻļ্āϚিāϤ āφāĻ›িāϞো।

On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed with a sense of history.

āωāĻĻ্āĻŦোāϧāύী āĻ…āύুāώ্āĻ াāύ⧰ āĻĻিāύা, āĻŽāχ āχāϤিāĻšাāϏ⧰ āĻ…āύুāĻ­ā§ąāϤ āφāĻĒ্āϞুāϤ āĻšৈ āĻĒā§°িāĻ›িāϞো।

In the first decade of the twentieth century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before my own birth,

āĻŦিংāĻļ āĻļāϤিāĻ•াā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽ āĻĻāĻļāĻ•āϤ, āĻ­āϝ়ংāϕ⧰ āĻংāϞো-āĻŦোā§ąā§° āϝুāĻĻ্āϧ⧰ āĻ•েāχāĻŦāϛ⧰āĻŽাāύ āĻĒিāĻ›āϤ āφ⧰ু āĻŽোā§° āϜāύ্āĻŽā§° āφāĻ—āϤে,

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.

āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āĻŦāĻ—া āĻ›াāϞ⧰ āϞোāĻ•āϏāĻ•āϞে āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāϕ⧰ āĻŽāϤাāύৈāĻ•্āϝ āĻĻূā§° āϕ⧰ি āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāϕ⧰ āύিāϜ⧰ āĻĻেāĻļā§° āĻ•'āϞা āĻ›াāϞ⧰ āϞোāĻ•āϏāĻ•āϞ⧰ āĻŦিā§°ুāĻĻ্āϧে āĻŦā§°্āĻŖ āφāϧিāĻĒāϤ্āϝ⧰ āĻāĻ• āĻŦ্āĻ¯ā§ąāϏ্āĻĨা āĻ—āĻĸ়ি āϤুāϞিāĻ›িāϞ।

The structure they created formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world has ever known.

āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāĻ•ে āϏৃāώ্āϟি āϕ⧰া āĻāχ āĻ—াঁāĻĨāύিāϟোā§ąে āĻŦিāĻļ্āĻŦāχ āĻĻেāĻ–া āĻĒোā§ąা āφāϟাāχāϤāĻ•ৈ āĻ•āĻ োā§°, āφāϟাāχāϤāĻ•ৈ āĻ…āĻŽাāĻ¨ā§ąীāϝ় āϏāĻŽাāϜ⧰ āĻ…āύ্āϝāϤāĻŽ āĻāĻ• āĻ­েāϟি āĻ—āĻĸ়ি āϤুāϞিāĻ›িāϞ।

Now, in the last decade of the twentieth century, and my own eighth decade as a man,

āĻāϤিāϝ়া, āĻŦিংāĻļ āĻļāϤিāĻ•াā§° āĻļেāώ⧰ āĻĻāĻļāĻ•āϤ, āφ⧰ু āĻāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻš āĻšিāϚাāĻĒে āĻŽোā§° āύিāϜ⧰ āĻ…āώ্āϟāĻŽ āĻĻāĻļāĻ•āϤ,

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.

āϏেāχ āĻŦ্āĻ¯ā§ąāϏ্āĻĨা āϚিā§°āĻĻিāύ⧰ āĻŦাāĻŦে āĻ“āĻĢā§°াāχ āĻĒেāϞোā§ąা āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ āφ⧰ু āϤাā§° āĻ াāχāϤ āĻāύে āĻāĻ• āĻŦ্āĻ¯ā§ąāϏ্āĻĨা āϏ্āĻĨাāĻĒāύ āϕ⧰া āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ āϝিāϝ়ে āĻ›াāϞ⧰ ā§°āϙ⧰ āĻ•োāύো āĻŦিāϚাā§° āύāϕ⧰াāĻ•ৈ āϏāĻ•āϞো āϞোāϕ⧰ āĻ…āϧিāĻ•াā§° āφ⧰ু āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাāĻ• āϏ্āĻŦীāĻ•ৃāϤি āĻĻিāĻ›িāϞ।

That day had come about through the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of my people,

āϏেāχ āĻĻিāύāϟো āĻŽোā§° āĻšেāϜাā§° āĻšেāϜাā§° āϞোāϕ⧰ āĻ…āĻ•āϞ্āĻĒāύীāϝ় āϤ্āϝাāĻ—ā§° āϜ⧰িāϝ়āϤে āφāĻšিāĻ›িāϞ,

people whose suffering and courage can never be counted or repaid.

āϝিāϏāĻ•āϞ āϞোāϕ⧰ āĻĻুāĻ–-āĻ•āώ্āϟ āφ⧰ু āϏাāĻšāϏ āĻ•েāϤিāϝ়াāĻ“ āĻšিāϚাāĻĒ āĻŦা āĻĒā§°িāĻļোāϧ āϕ⧰িāĻŦ āύোā§ąাā§°ি।

I felt that day, as I have on so many other days,

āĻŽāχ āϏেāχāĻĻিāύা āĻ…āύুāĻ­ā§ą āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞো, āϝিāĻĻā§°ে āφāύ āĻŦāĻšুāϤো āĻĻিāύāϤ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞো,

that I was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before me.

āϝে āĻŽāχ āĻ•েā§ąāϞ āĻŽোā§° āφāĻ—āϤে āϝোā§ąা āϏেāχ āϏāĻ•āϞো āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াāύ āĻĻেāĻļāĻĒ্ā§°েāĻŽিāϕ⧰ āĻāĻ• āϏāĻŽāώ্āϟি āφāĻ›িāϞো।

That long and noble line ended and now began again with me.

āϏেāχ āĻĻীāϘāϞীāϝ়া āφ⧰ু āĻŽāĻšাāύ āĻļাā§°ীāϟো āĻļেāώ āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ āφ⧰ু āĻāϤিāϝ়া āĻŽোā§° āĻĒā§°া āĻĒুāύ⧰ āφ⧰āĻŽ্āĻ­ āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ।

I was pained that I was not able to thank them

āĻŽāχ āĻĻুāĻ– āĻĒাāχāĻ›িāϞো āϝে āĻŽāχ āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāĻ•āĻ• āϧāύ্āϝāĻŦাāĻĻ āĻĻিāĻŦ āĻĒā§°া āύাāĻ›িāϞো

and that they were not able to see what their sacrifices had wrought.

āφ⧰ু āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāĻ•ে āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāϕ⧰ āϤ্āϝাāĻ—ে āĻ•ি āĻĢāϞ āĻ•āĻĸ়িāϝ়াāχ āφāύিāϞে āϏেāϝ়া āϚাāĻŦāϞৈ āϏāĻ•্āώāĻŽ āĻšোā§ąা āύাāĻ›িāϞ।

The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people.

āĻŦā§°্āĻŖāĻŦৈāώāĻŽ্āϝ⧰ āύীāϤিāϝ়ে āĻŽোā§° āĻĻেāĻļ āφ⧰ু āĻŽোā§° āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻŽাāϜāϤ āĻāĻ• āĻ—āĻ­ীā§° āφ⧰ু āϏ্āĻĨাāϝ়ী āφāϘাāϤ⧰ āϏৃāώ্āϟি āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞ।

All of us will spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt.

āϏেāχ āĻ—āĻ­ীā§° āφāϘাāϤ⧰ āĻĒā§°া āφ⧰োāĻ—্āϝ āϞাāĻ­ āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āφāĻŽি āϏāĻ•āϞোā§ąে āĻŦāĻšু āĻŦāϛ⧰, āϝāĻĻি āĻĒ্ā§°āϜāύ্āĻŽ āύāĻšāϝ়, āĻ•āϟাāĻŦ āϞাāĻ—িāĻŦ।

But the decades of oppression and brutality had another, unintended, effect,

āĻ•িāύ্āϤু āĻĻāĻļāĻ• āĻĻāĻļāĻ• āϧ⧰ি āϚāϞা āĻ…āϤ্āϝাāϚাā§° āφ⧰ু āύিāώ্āĻ ুā§°āϤাā§° āφāύ āĻāϟা āĻ…āĻĒ্ā§°āϤ্āϝাāĻļিāϤ āĻĒ্ā§°āĻ­াā§ą āφāĻ›িāϞ,

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 —

āφ⧰ু āϏেāϝ়া āφāĻ›িāϞ āϝে āχ āφāĻŽাā§° āϏāĻŽāϝ়ā§° āĻ…āϞিāĻ­াā§° āϟাāĻŽ্āĻŦো, ā§ąাāϞ্āϟাā§° āϚিāϚুāϞু, āϚিāĻĢ āϞুāĻĨুāϞি, āχāωāϚুāĻĢ āĻĻাāĻĻু, āĻŦ্ā§°াāĻŽ āĻĢিāϚাā§°, ā§°āĻŦাā§°্āϟ āϚোāĻŦুāĻ•ā§ąেā§° āĻĻā§°ে āϞোāϕ⧰ āϜāύ্āĻŽ āĻĻিāĻ›িāϞ —

men of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their like may never be known again.

āĻāύে āĻ…āϏাāϧাā§°āĻŖ āϏাāĻšāϏ, āĻĒ্ā§°āϜ্āĻžা āφ⧰ু āωāĻĻাā§°āϤাā§° āĻ…āϧিāĻ•াā§°ী āϞোāĻ• āϝিāϏāĻ•āϞ⧰ āĻĻā§°ে āϞোāĻ• āĻšāϝ়āϤো āφ⧰ু āĻ•েāϤিāϝ়াāĻ“ āĻĒোā§ąা āύাāϝাāĻŦ।

Perhaps it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character.

āĻšāϝ়āϤো āϚ⧰িāϤ্ā§°ā§° āĻāύে āωāϚ্āϚāϤা āϏৃāώ্āϟি āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āĻ…āϤ্āϝাāϚাā§°ā§° āĻāύে āĻ—āĻ­ীā§°āϤাā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϝ়োāϜāύ।

My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil,

āĻŽোā§° āĻĻেāĻļāĻ–āύ āχāϝ়াā§° āĻŽাāϟিā§° āϤāϞāϤ āĻĨāĻ•া āĻ–āύিāϜ āĻĒāĻĻাā§°্āĻĨ āφ⧰ু ā§°āϤ্āύ⧰ে āϚāĻšāĻ•ী,

but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.

āĻ•িāύ্āϤু āĻŽāχ āϏāĻĻাāϝ় āϜাāύো āϝে āχāϝ়াā§° āϏ⧰্āĻŦāĻļ্ā§°েāώ্āĻ  āϏāĻŽ্āĻĒāĻĻ āĻš'āϞ āχāϝ়াā§° āϜāύāϏাāϧাā§°āĻŖ, āϝিāϏāĻ•āϞ āφāϟাāχāϤāĻ•ৈ āĻŦিāĻļুāĻĻ্āϧ āĻšীā§°াāϤāĻ•ৈāϝ়ো āĻ…āϧিāĻ• āϏুāύ্āĻĻā§° āφ⧰ু āϏāϤ্āϝ।

It is from these comrades in the struggle that I learned the meaning of courage.

āϏংāĻ—্ā§°াāĻŽā§° āĻāχ āϏāϤীā§°্āĻĨāϏāĻ•āϞ⧰ āĻĒā§°াāχ āĻŽāχ āϏাāĻšāϏ⧰ āĻ…ā§°্āĻĨ āĻļিāĻ•িāĻ›িāϞো।

Time and again, I have seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea.

āĻŦাā§°ে āĻŦাā§°ে, āĻŽāχ āĻĻেāĻ–িāĻ›ো āĻĒুā§°ুāώ āφ⧰ু āĻŽāĻšিāϞাāχ āĻāϟা āϧাā§°āĻŖাā§° āĻŦাāĻŦে āύিāϜ⧰ āϜীā§ąāύ āĻŦিāĻĒāĻĻāϤ āĻĒেāϞোā§ąা āφ⧰ু āϤ্āϝাāĻ— āϕ⧰া।

I have seen men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking,

āĻŽāχ āĻĒুā§°ুāώāϏāĻ•āϞāĻ• āĻ­াāĻ™ি āύāĻĒā§°াāĻ•ৈ āφāĻ•্ā§°āĻŽāĻŖ āφ⧰ু āύিā§°্āϝাāϤāύ⧰ āϏāύ্āĻŽুāĻ–ীāύ āĻšোā§ąা āĻĻেāĻ–িāĻ›ো,

showing a strength and resilience that defies the imagination.

āĻāύে āĻāĻ• āĻļāĻ•্āϤি āφ⧰ু āϏ্āĻĨিāϤিāϏ্āĻĨাāĻĒāĻ•āϤা āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĻā§°্āĻļāύ āϕ⧰া āĻĻেāĻ–িāĻ›ো āϝিāϝ়ে āĻ•āϞ্āĻĒāύাāĻ•ো āĻšাā§° āĻŽāύাāχ।

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

āĻŽāχ āĻļিāĻ•িāĻ›িāϞো āϝে āϏাāĻšāϏ āĻŽাāύে āĻ­āϝ়ā§° āĻ…āύুāĻĒāϏ্āĻĨিāϤি āύāĻšāϝ়, āĻŦā§°āĻž্āϚ āχāϝ়াā§° āĻ“āĻĒā§°āϤ āϜāϝ়āϞাāĻ­ āϕ⧰াāϟোāĻšে।

The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

āϏাāĻšāϏী āĻŽাāύুāĻš āϏেāχāϜāύ āύāĻšāϝ় āϝিāϝ়ে āĻ­āϝ় āĻ…āύুāĻ­ā§ą āύāϕ⧰ে, āĻŦā§°āĻž্āϚ āϏেāχāϜāύāĻšে āϝিāϝ়ে āϏেāχ āĻ­āϝ়āĻ• āϜāϝ় āϕ⧰ে।

No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion.

āĻ›াāϞ⧰ ā§°ং, āĻŦা āϤেāĻ“ঁā§° āĻĒāϟāĻ­ূāĻŽি, āĻŦা āϤেāĻ“ঁā§° āϧ⧰্āĻŽā§° āĻŦাāĻŦে āφāύ āĻāϜāύ āĻŦ্āϝāĻ•্āϤিāĻ• āϘিāĻŖ āϕ⧰ি āĻ•োāύো āϜāύ্āĻŽ āύāĻšāϝ়।

People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love,

āĻŽাāύুāĻšে āϘিāĻŖ āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āĻļিāĻ•িāĻŦ āϞাāĻ—িāĻŦ, āφ⧰ু āϝāĻĻি āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāĻ•ে āϘিāĻŖ āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āĻļিāĻ•িāĻŦ āĻĒাā§°ে, āϤেāύ্āϤে āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāĻ•āĻ• āĻ­াāϞ āĻĒাāĻŦāϞৈāϝ়ো āĻļিāĻ•াāĻŦ āĻĒাā§°ি,

for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.

āĻ•িāϝ়āύো āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻšৃāĻĻāϝ়āϞৈ āĻ­াāϞāĻĒোā§ąা āχāϝ়াā§° āĻŦিāĻĒā§°ীāϤāϟোāϤāĻ•ৈ āĻ…āϧিāĻ• āϏ্āĻŦাāĻ­াā§ąিāĻ•āĻ­াā§ąে āφāĻšে।

Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits,

āĻ•াā§°াāĻ—াā§°ā§° āφāϟাāχāϤāĻ•ৈ āĻ…āύ্āϧāĻ•াā§° āϏāĻŽāϝ়āĻŦোā§°āϤো, āϝেāϤিāϝ়া āĻŽোāĻ• āφ⧰ু āĻŽোā§° āϏāϤীā§°্āĻĨāϏāĻ•āϞāĻ• āφāĻŽাā§° āϧৈā§°্āϝ⧰ āϏীāĻŽাāϞৈ āĻ েāϞি āĻĻিāϝ়া āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ,

I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second,

āϤেāϤিāϝ়া āĻŽāχ āĻāϜāύ āϚāĻ•ীāĻĻাā§°ā§° āĻŽাāϜāϤ āĻŽাāĻ¨ā§ąāϤাā§° āĻāĻ• āϜিāϞিāĻ•āύি āĻĻেāĻ–িāĻŦāϞৈ āĻĒাāχāĻ›িāϞো, āĻšāϝ়āϤো āĻŽাāϤ্ā§° āĻāĻ• āĻ›েāĻ•েāĻŖ্āĻĄā§° āĻŦাāĻŦে,

but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going.

āĻ•িāύ্āϤু āĻŽোāĻ• āφāĻļ্āĻŦāϏ্āϤ āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āφ⧰ু āĻŽোāĻ• āφāĻ—ুā§ąাāχ āύিāĻŦāϞৈ āϏেāϝ়াāχ āϝāĻĨেāώ্āϟ āφāĻ›িāϞ।

Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.

āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻŽāĻ™্āĻ—āϞāĻŽāϝ়āϤা āĻāύে āĻāĻ• āĻļিāĻ–া āϝাāĻ• āϞুāĻ•ুā§ąাāχ ā§°াāĻ–িāĻŦ āĻĒাā§°ি āĻ•িāύ্āϤু āĻ•েāϤিāϝ়াāĻ“ āύুāĻŽুā§ąাāĻŦ āύোā§ąাā§°ি।

In life, every man has twin obligations —

āϜীā§ąāύāϤ, āĻĒ্ā§°āϤিāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻĻুāϟা āĻĻাāϝ়িāϤ্āĻŦ āĻĨাāĻ•ে —

obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children;

āύিāϜ⧰ āĻĒā§°িāϝ়াāϞ⧰ āĻĒ্ā§°āϤি, āĻĒিāϤৃ-āĻŽাāϤৃā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϤি, āĻĒāϤ্āύী āφ⧰ু āϏāύ্āϤাāύ⧰ āĻĒ্ā§°āϤি āĻĻাāϝ়িāϤ্āĻŦ;

and he has an obligation to his people, his community, his country.

āφ⧰ু āϤেāĻ“ঁā§° āύিāϜ⧰ āĻŽাāύুāĻš, āϏāĻŽাāϜ āφ⧰ু āĻĻেāĻļā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϤিāĻ“ āĻĻাāϝ়িāϤ্āĻŦ āĻĨাāĻ•ে।

In a civil and humane society,

āĻāĻ–āύ āϏāĻ­্āϝ āφ⧰ু āĻŽাāĻ¨ā§ąীāϝ় āϏāĻŽাāϜāϤ,

each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities.

āĻĒ্ā§°āϤিāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšে āύিāϜ⧰ āχāϚ্āĻ›া āφ⧰ু āϏাāĻŽā§°্āĻĨ্āϝ āĻ…āύুāϏ⧰ি āϏেāχ āĻĻাāϝ়িāϤ্āĻŦāϏāĻŽূāĻš āĻĒাāϞāύ āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āϏāĻ•্āώāĻŽ āĻšāϝ়।

But in a country like South Africa,

āĻ•িāύ্āϤু āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াā§° āĻĻā§°ে āĻāĻ–āύ āĻĻেāĻļāϤ,

it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and colour to fulfil both of those obligations.

āĻŽোā§° āĻĻā§°ে āϜāύ্āĻŽ āφ⧰ু āĻŦā§°্āĻŖā§° āĻāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻŦাāĻŦে āĻāχ āĻĻুāϝ়োāϟা āĻĻাāϝ়িāϤ্āĻŦ āĻĒাāϞāύ āϕ⧰াāϟো āĻĒ্ā§°াāϝ় āĻ…āϏāĻŽ্āĻ­ā§ą āφāĻ›িāϞ।

In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being

āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াāϤ, āĻāϜāύ āĻ•ৃāώ্āĻŖাংāĻ— āĻŽাāύুāĻšে āϝāĻĻি āĻŽাāύুāĻš āĻšিāϚাāĻĒে āϜীāϝ়াāχ āĻĨাāĻ•িāĻŦāϞৈ āϚেāώ্āϟা āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞ,

was punished and isolated.

āϤেāύ্āϤে āϤেāĻ“ঁāĻ• āĻļাāϏ্āϤি āĻĻিāϝ়া āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ āφ⧰ু āĻ…āĻ•āϞāĻļā§°ীāϝ়া āϕ⧰ি ā§°āĻ–া āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ।

In South Africa, a man who tried to fulfil his duty to his people

āĻĻāĻ•্āώিāĻŖ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াāϤ, āϝিāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšে āύিāϜ⧰ āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϤি āĻĨāĻ•া āĻĻাāϝ়িāϤ্āĻŦ āĻĒাāϞāύ āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āϚেāώ্āϟা āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞ,

was inevitably ripped from his family and his home

āϤেāĻ“ঁāĻ• āύিāĻļ্āϚিāϤāĻ­াā§ąে āĻĒā§°িāϝ়াāϞ āφ⧰ু āϘ⧰⧰ āĻĒā§°া āφঁāϤ⧰াāχ āĻ…āύা āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ

and was forced to live a life apart, a twilight existence of secrecy and rebellion.

āφ⧰ু āĻāĻ• āĻĒৃāĻĨāĻ• āϜীā§ąāύ, āĻ—োāĻĒāύীāϝ়āϤা āφ⧰ু āĻŦিāĻĻ্ā§°োāĻšā§° āĻāĻ• āĻ…āϏ্āĻĒāώ্āϟ āϜীā§ąāύ āϝাāĻĒāύ āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āĻŦাāϧ্āϝ āϕ⧰া āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ।

I did not in the beginning choose to place my people above my family,

āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽ āĻ…ā§ąāϏ্āĻĨাāϤ āĻŽāχ āĻŽোā§° āĻĒā§°িāϝ়াāϞāϤāĻ•ৈ āĻŽোā§° āĻŽাāύুāĻšāĻ• āĻ“āĻĒā§°āϤ ā§°āĻ–াā§° āϏিāĻĻ্āϧাāύ্āϤ āϞোā§ąা āύাāĻ›িāϞো,

but in attempting to serve my people,

āĻ•িāύ্āϤু āĻŽোā§° āĻŽাāύুāĻšāĻ• āϏেā§ąা āϕ⧰িāĻŦāϞৈ āϚেāώ্āϟা āϕ⧰োঁāϤে

I found that I was prevented from fulfilling my obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband.

āĻŽāχ āĻĻেāĻ–িāĻ›িāϞো āϝে āĻŽোāĻ• āĻāϜāύ āĻĒুāϤ্ā§°, āĻāϜāύ āĻ­াāϤৃ, āĻāϜāύ āĻĒিāϤৃ āφ⧰ু āĻāϜāύ āϏ্āĻŦাāĻŽী āĻšিāϚাāĻĒে āĻŽোā§° āĻĻাāϝ়িāϤ্āĻŦ āĻĒাāϞāύ āϕ⧰াāϤ āĻŦাāϧা āĻĻিāϝ়া āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ।

I was not born with a hunger to be free.

āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ āĻšোā§ąাā§° āĻšেঁāĻĒাāĻš āϞৈ āĻŽোā§° āϜāύ্āĻŽ āĻšোā§ąা āύাāĻ›িāϞ।

I was born free — free in every way that I could know.

āĻŽāχ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāĻ­াā§ąে āϜāύ্āĻŽāĻ—্ā§°āĻšāĻŖ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞো — āĻŽāχ āϜāύা āϏāĻ•āϞো āĻĻিāĻļā§° āĻĒā§°াāχ āĻŽāχ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ āφāĻ›িāϞো।

Free to run in the fields near my mother’s hut, free to swim in the clear stream that ran through my village,

āĻŽোā§° āĻŽাā§° āϜুāĻĒুā§°ীā§° āĻ•াāώ⧰ āĻĒāĻĨাā§°āϤ āĻĻৌā§°িāĻŦāϞৈ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ, āĻŽোā§° āĻ—াঁā§ąā§° āĻŽাāϜেā§°ে āĻŦৈ āϝোā§ąা āĻĒā§°িāώ্āĻ•াā§° āϜুā§°িāϟোāϤ āϏাঁāϤুā§°িāĻŦāϞৈ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ,

free to roast mealies under the stars and ride the broad backs of slow-moving bulls.

āϤ⧰াā§° āϤāϞāϤ āĻ—োāĻŽāϧাāύ āĻĒুā§°ি āĻ–াāĻŦāϞৈ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ āφ⧰ু āϧীā§° āĻ—āϤিāϤ āϝোā§ąা āώাঁāĻĄ় āĻ—ā§°ুā§° āĻŦāĻšāϞ āĻĒিāĻ িāϤ āωāĻ িāĻŦāϞৈ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ āφāĻ›িāϞো।

As long as I obeyed my father and abided by the customs of my tribe,

āϝিāĻŽাāύ āĻĻিāύāϞৈāĻ•ে āĻŽāχ āĻŽোā§° āĻĻেāωāϤাāĻ• āĻŽাāύি āϚāϞিāĻ›িāϞো āφ⧰ু āĻŽোā§° āϜāύāϜাāϤিā§° ā§°ীāϤি-āύীāϤিāĻŦোā§° āĻĒাāϞāύ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞো,

I was not troubled by the laws of man or God.

āϏিāĻŽাāύ āĻĻিāύāϞৈāĻ•ে āĻŽোāĻ• āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻŦা āĻ­āĻ—ā§ąাāύ⧰ āφāχāύ-āĻ•াāύুāύে āĻ•োāύো āĻ…āϏুāĻŦিāϧা āĻĻিāϝ়া āύাāĻ›িāϞ।

It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion,

āϝেāϤিāϝ়া āĻŽāχ āϜাāύিāĻŦ āĻĒাā§°িāϞো āϝে āĻŽোā§° āϞ’ā§°াāϞি āĻ•াāϞ⧰ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤা āĻ•েā§ąāϞ āĻāĻ• āĻ­্ā§°āĻŽ āφāĻ›িāϞ,

when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me,

āϝেāϤিāϝ়া āĻāϜāύ āϝুā§ąāĻ• āĻšিāϚাāĻĒে āĻŽāχ āĻ†ā§ąিāώ্āĻ•াā§° āϕ⧰িāϞো āϝে āĻŽোā§° āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤা āχāϤিāĻŽāϧ্āϝে āĻŽোā§° āĻĒā§°া āĻ•াāĻĸ়ি āύিāϝ়া āĻšৈāĻ›ে,

that I began to hunger for it.

āϤেāϤিāϝ়াāĻšে āĻŽোā§° āχāϝ়াā§° āĻĒ্ā§°āϤি āĻšেঁāĻĒাāĻš āϜাāĻ—ি āωāĻ িāĻ›িāϞ।

At first, as a student, I wanted freedom only for myself,

āĻĒ্ā§°āĻĨāĻŽāϤে, āĻāϜāύ āĻ›াāϤ্ā§° āĻšিāϚাāĻĒে āĻŽāχ āĻ•েā§ąāϞ āĻŽোā§° āĻŦাāĻŦেāĻšে āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤা āĻŦিāϚাā§°িāĻ›িāϞো,

the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose.

ā§°াāϤি āĻŦাāĻšিā§°āϤ āĻĨাāĻ•িāĻŦ āĻĒā§°া, āϝি āχāϚ্āĻ›া āϤাāĻ•ে āĻĒāĻĸ়িāĻŦ āĻĒā§°া āφ⧰ু āϝ’āϞৈāĻ•ে āĻŽāύ āϝাāϝ় āϤাāϞৈ āϝাāĻŦ āĻĒā§°া āĻ•্āώāĻŖāϏ্āĻĨাāϝ়ী āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাāϏāĻŽূāĻš।

Later, as a young man in Johannesburg,

āĻĒিāĻ›āϞৈ, āϜোāĻšাāύ্āϏāĻŦাā§°্āĻ—āϤ āĻāϜāύ āϝুā§ąāĻ• āĻšিāϚাāĻĒে

I yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of marrying and having a family —

āĻŽāχ āĻŽোā§° āϏāĻŽ্āĻ­াā§ąāύাāĻ• āĻŦাāϏ্āĻ¤ā§ąাāϝ়িāϤ āϕ⧰া, āϜীā§ąিāĻ•া āύিā§°্āĻŦাāĻš āϕ⧰া, āĻŦিāϝ়া āϕ⧰া āφ⧰ু āĻāϟা āĻĒā§°িāϝ়াāϞ āĻ—āĻĸ়ি āϤোāϞাā§° āĻŽৌāϞিāĻ• āφ⧰ু āϏāύ্āĻŽাāύāϜāύāĻ• āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাāϏāĻŽূāĻšā§° āĻŦাāĻŦে āĻšাāĻŦিāϝ়াāϏ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞো —

the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.

āĻāĻ–āύ āĻŦৈāϧ āϜীā§ąāύāϤ āĻ•োāύো āĻŦাāϧা āύোāĻĒোā§ąাā§° āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤা।

But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free,

āĻ•িāύ্āϤু āϤাā§° āĻĒিāĻ›āϤ āĻŽāχ āϞাāĻšে āϞাāĻšে āĻĻেāĻ–িāϞো āϝে āĻ•েā§ąāϞ āĻŽāϝ়েāχ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ āύāĻšāϝ় āĻāύে āύāĻšāϝ়,

but my brothers and sisters were not free.

āĻŽোā§° āĻ­াāχ-āĻ­āύীāϏāĻ•āϞো āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ āύাāĻ›িāϞ।

I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed,

āĻŽāχ āĻĻেāĻ–িāϞো āϝে āĻ•েā§ąāϞ āĻŽোā§° āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাāĻšে āĻ–ā§°্āĻŦ āϕ⧰া āĻšোā§ąা āύাāĻ›িāϞ,

but the freedom of everyone who looked like I did.

āĻŦā§°āĻž্āϚ āĻŽোā§° āĻĻā§°ে āĻĻেāĻ–া āĻĒ্ā§°āϤিāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤা āĻ–ā§°্āĻŦ āϕ⧰া āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ।

That is when I joined the African National Congress,

āϤেāϤিāϝ়াāχ āĻŽāχ āφāĻĢ্ā§°িāĻ•াāύ āύেāϚāύেāϞ āĻ•ংāĻ—্ā§°েāĻ›āϤ āϝোāĻ—āĻĻাāύ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞো,

and that is when the hunger for my own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of my people.

āφ⧰ু āϤেāϤিāϝ়াāχ āĻŽোā§° āύিāϜ⧰ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাā§° āĻšেঁāĻĒাāĻš āĻŽোā§° āϜāύāϏাāϧাā§°āĻŖā§° āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাā§° āĻŦাāĻŦে āĻāĻ• āĻŦৃāĻšā§Ž āĻšেঁāĻĒাāĻšāϤ āĻĒā§°িāĻŖāϤ āĻšৈāĻ›িāϞ।

It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that animated my life,

āĻŽোā§° āĻŽাāύুāĻšে āĻŽā§°্āϝাāĻĻা āφ⧰ু āφāϤ্āĻŽāϏāύ্āĻŽাāύেā§°ে āϜীāϝ়াāχ āĻĨāĻ•াā§° āĻāχ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাāĻ•াāĻŽāύাāĻšে āĻŽোā§° āϜীā§ąāύāĻ• āωāϜ্āϜীā§ąিāϤ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞ,

that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal,

āϝিāϝ়ে āĻāϜāύ āĻ­āϝ়াāϤুā§° āϝুā§ąāĻ•āĻ• āĻāϜāύ āϏাāĻšāϏী āϝুā§ąāĻ•āϞৈ ā§°ূāĻĒাāύ্āϤ⧰িāϤ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞ, āϝিāϝ়ে āĻāϜāύ āφāχāύ āĻŽাāύি āϚāϞা āĻ…āϧিāĻŦāĻ•্āϤাāĻ• āĻ…āĻĒā§°াāϧী āĻš'āĻŦāϞৈ āĻŦাāϧ্āϝ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞ,

that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk.

āϝিāϝ়ে āĻāϜāύ āĻĒā§°িāϝ়াāϞāĻĒ্ā§°েāĻŽী āϏ্āĻŦাāĻŽীāĻ• āĻ—ৃāĻšāĻšীāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšāϞৈ āĻĒā§°িāĻŖāϤ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞ, āϝিāϝ়ে āĻāϜāύ āϜীā§ąāύāĻĒ্ā§°েāĻŽী āĻŽাāύুāĻšāĻ• āϏāύ্āύ্āϝাāϏীā§° āĻĻā§°ে āϜীāϝ়াāχ āĻĨাāĻ•িāĻŦāϞৈ āĻŦাāϧ্āϝ āϕ⧰িāĻ›িāϞ।

I am no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man,

āĻŽāχ āφāύ āĻĻāĻšāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšāϤāĻ•ৈ āĻŦেāĻ›ি āĻ—ুāĻŖā§ąাāύ āĻŦা āφāϤ্āĻŽāϤ্āϝাāĻ—ী āύāĻšāϝ়,

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.

āĻ•িāύ্āϤু āĻŽāχ āĻĻেāĻ–িāϞো āϝে āϝেāϤিāϝ়া āĻŽāχ āϜাāύো āĻŽোā§° āĻŽাāύুāĻš āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ āύāĻšāϝ়, āϤেāϤিāϝ়া āĻŽāχ āĻŽোāĻ• āĻĻিāϝ়া āϏাāĻŽাāύ্āϝ āφ⧰ু āϏীāĻŽিāϤ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤাāĻ•āĻŖো āωāĻĒāĻ­োāĻ— āϕ⧰িāĻŦ āύোā§ąাā§°ো।

Freedom is indivisible;

āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤা āĻ…āĻŦিāĻ­াāϜ্āϝ;

the chains on anyone of my people were the chains on all of them,

āĻŽোā§° āϝিāĻ•োāύো āĻāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻ—াāϤ āĻĨāĻ•া āĻļিāĻ•āϞি āĻŽোā§° āϏāĻ•āϞো āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻ—াāϤ āĻĨāĻ•া āĻļিāĻ•āϞিā§° āĻĻā§°ে āφāĻ›িāϞ,

the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.

āĻŽোā§° āϏāĻ•āϞো āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āĻ—াāϤ āĻĨāĻ•া āĻļিāĻ•āϞি āĻŽোā§° āĻ—াāϤ āĻĨāĻ•া āĻļিāĻ•āϞি āφāĻ›িāϞ。

I knew that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed.

āĻŽāχ āϜাāύিāĻ›িāϞো āϝে āĻ…āϤ্āϝাāϚাā§°ীāĻ•ো āĻ িāĻ• āĻ…āϤ্āϝাāϚাā§°িāϤ⧰ āĻĻā§°েāχ āύিāĻļ্āϚিāϤāĻ­াā§ąে āĻŽুāĻ•্āϤ āϕ⧰িāĻŦ āϞাāĻ—িāĻŦ。

A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred;

āϝিāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšে āφāύ āĻāϜāύ āĻŽাāύুāĻšā§° āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤা āĻ•াāĻĸ়ি āϞāϝ়, āϤেāĻ“ঁ āϘৃāĻŖাā§° āĻŦāύ্āĻĻী;

he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.

āϤেāĻ“ঁ āĻ•ুāϏংāϏ্āĻ•াā§° āφ⧰ু āϏংāĻ•ীā§°্āĻŖāĻŽāύাā§° āĻļāϞাāĻ•াā§° āφঁā§°āϤ āĻ†ā§ąāĻĻ্āϧ।

I am not truly free if I am taking away someone else’s freedom,

āĻŽāχ āϏঁāϚা āĻ…ā§°্āĻĨāϤ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ āύāĻšāϝ় āϝāĻĻি āĻŽāχ āφāύ āĻ•াā§°োāĻŦাā§° āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤা āĻ•াāĻĸ়ি āϞৈāĻ›ো,

just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me.

āĻ িāĻ• āϝিāĻĻā§°ে āĻŽোā§° āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύāϤা āĻ•াāĻĸ়ি āϞোā§ąা āĻš'āϞে āĻŽāχ āϏ্āĻŦাāϧীāύ āύāĻšāϝ়।

The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.

āĻ…āϤ্āϝাāϚাā§°িāϤ āφ⧰ু āĻ…āϤ্āϝাāϚাā§°ী āĻĻুāϝ়োāĻ•ে āϏāĻŽাāύে āϤেāĻ“ঁāϞোāϕ⧰ āĻŽাāĻ¨ā§ąāϤাā§° āĻĒā§°া āĻŦāĻž্āϚিāϤ āϕ⧰া āĻšāϝ়।

2. Oral Comprehension Check – 1 Answers

1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Answer: The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. In India, public buildings like the Red Fort (New Delhi), Parliament House, and Rashtrapati Bhavan are made of sandstone.

2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Answer: South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are opposite to those in India. Therefore, May falls in the autumn season in South Africa.

3. What does Mandela mean by “an extraordinary human disaster”? What is the “glorious human achievement”?
Answer: The “extraordinary human disaster” refers to apartheid, the system of racial discrimination and oppression in South Africa. The “glorious human achievement” refers to the establishment of a democratic, non-racial government and the achievement of freedom and equality for all people.

4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Answer: Mandela thanks the international leaders for coming to South Africa and sharing in the common victory for justice, peace, and human dignity.

5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Answer: Mandela sets out the ideals of liberating all people from poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender discrimination, and other forms of discrimination, and ensuring freedom, equality, justice, and peace for all.

3. Oral Comprehension Check – 2 Answers

1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Answer: The military generals saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty to the new democratic government. Their attitude had changed because earlier they would have arrested him, but now they respected him as the President of a free and democratic South Africa.

2. Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer: Two national anthems were sung to symbolize the equality and unity of the new nation. The whites sang 'Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika' and the blacks sang 'Die Stem' (the old anthem of the Republic). It represented the end of racial discrimination and the coming together of both groups under a single, democratic South Africa.

3. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country (i) in the first decade, and (ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?
Answer:
(i) In the first decade: Mandela describes it as a system of racial domination erected by the white-skinned peoples against the dark-skinned peoples of South Africa. It formed the basis of one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever known.
(ii) In the final decade: The old system was overturned forever and replaced by a new system that recognized the rights and freedoms of all peoples, regardless of the colour of their skin.

4. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer: Mandela says that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. A brave person is not one who never feels afraid, but one who conquers fear.

5. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Answer: Mandela thinks that it is natural to love. He states that people must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, because "love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

4. Oral Comprehension Check – 3 Answers

1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Answer: Mandela mentions that every man has two obligations in life. The first is his obligation to his family, parents, wife, and children. The second is his obligation to his people, his community, and his country.

2. 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 freedoms”?
Answer:
As a boy: Being free meant being able to run in the fields, swim in the village stream, roast mealies under the stars, and ride on the backs of bulls.
As a student: Being free meant having the "transitory freedoms" of staying out at night, reading what he pleased, and going wherever he chose.
The contrast: He contrasts these temporary, personal freedoms of his youth with the "basic and honourable freedoms" of adulthood, which involve achieving his potential, earning a living, marrying, and having a family without being obstructed in a lawful life.

3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Answer: No, Mandela does not think the oppressor is free. He explains that a man who takes away another man’s freedom becomes a "prisoner of hatred" and is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He believes that the oppressor, just like the oppressed, is robbed of his humanity.

5. Thinking about the Text (Textual Q&A)

1. 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 inauguration to pay their respects and show their support for South Africa's first democratic, non-racial government. Their presence signified the end of the apartheid system. It was a common victory for justice, peace, and human dignity over decades of racial oppression.

2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?
Answer: Mandela means that the freedom they achieved was not his work alone. It was the result of the unimaginable sacrifices, suffering, and courage of thousands of African people who fought against apartheid before him. He feels that he is simply carrying forward their legacy and that their long and noble struggle culminated in him taking the oath as President.

3. 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 agree. Mandela explains that years of oppression and suffering produced great leaders such as Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo, Bram Fischer, and Robert Sobukwe, who showed extraordinary courage, wisdom, and generosity. According to Mandela, severe oppression often brings out the best qualities in people.
Own Examples include:
Mahatma Gandhi, who fought British rule through non-violence.
Subhas Chandra Bose, who sacrificed his life for India's freedom.

4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Answer: As a child, Mandela thought freedom meant playing, swimming, and living happily in his village. As a student, it meant reading what he liked and going where he wished. Later, he realised that true freedom meant equal rights, dignity, and freedom for all people.

5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer: Mandela’s hunger for freedom led him to join the African National Congress and fight against apartheid. It transformed him from a frightened young man into a bold leader who sacrificed his personal life for the freedom of his people.

6. Thinking about Language (Grammar & Vocabulary)

I. Noun and Verb Forms

Noun Verb
rebellionrebel
constitutionconstitute
formationform
governmentgovern
installationinstall
oppressionoppress
discriminationdiscriminate
deprivationdeprive
achievementachieve
inaugurationinaugurate
dominationdominate
imaginationimagine
obligationoblige
freedomfree

II. Using the Definite Article with Names

When "the" is used before a proper noun (name), it does not mean the actual person. It means people like that person who have similar qualities.

Question: What do the names "the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, …" mean in the given context?
Correct Answer: (b) many other men like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu …/many men of their type or kind, whose names may not be as well known.

1. Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.
Meaning: Mr Singh invites many famous and successful film stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.
Explanation: Here, "the Amitabh Bachchans" and "the Shah Rukh Khans" do not mean the actual Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan only. They mean people of their kind—famous celebrities and movie stars.
Answer: The sentence means that Mr Singh regularly invites many famous film stars and celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.
2. Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.
Meaning: Many people think that Madhuri Dixit has qualities similar to Madhubala.
Explanation: Here, "the Madhubala of our times" means that Madhuri Dixit is considered as beautiful, talented, and admired in today's era just as Madhubala was in her time.
Answer: The sentence means that many people consider Madhuri Dixit to be the modern-day Madhubala because she possesses similar beauty, charm, and acting talent.
3. History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.
Meaning: History is not only about great rulers and famous leaders like Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Adolf Hitler, but also about ordinary people.
Explanation: "The Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers" means many powerful rulers, conquerors, and influential leaders of their kind.
Answer: The sentence means that history is not only made by famous rulers and leaders like Alexander, Napoleon, and Hitler, but also by ordinary people whose contributions are equally important.
Short Rule for Exams
✅ "the + proper noun" = people like that person, having similar qualities.
Examples:
the Gandhis = people like Gandhi.
the Sachin Tendulkars = people like Sachin Tendulkar.
the Oliver Tambos = people like Oliver Tambo.
This is the main concept NCERT wants you to understand.

III. Idiomatic Expressions

Match Column A with Column B

Column A Correct Answer Meaning
1. I was not unmindful of the fact (i) had not forgotten; was aware of the fact Mandela means he was aware that the same generals who saluted him now would have arrested him earlier.
2. when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits (iii) felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer Mandela refers to the extreme hardships and suffering in prison.
3. to reassure me and keep me going (ii) help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation The guards' occasional kindness gave Mandela hope and strength to continue.
4. the basic and honourable freedoms of… earning my keep… (i) earning enough money to live on Mandela means earning a living through honest work.

7. Speaking Activity: Preparing a Speech

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

1. Notes for the Speech

  • Introduction: Define liberty. It's not just the absence of foreign rule, but the presence of equal rights and basic needs.
  • Poverty & Deprivation:
    • Causes: Lack of education, unequal distribution of wealth, unemployment.
    • Solutions: Free and quality education, skill development, creating job opportunities.
  • Discrimination: How divisions based on gender, religion, and class act as invisible chains. A society cannot progress if it holds half its people back.
  • Constitutional Rights: The role of the Constitution in guaranteeing fundamental human rights (Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, etc.).
  • Conclusion: Real freedom is when every citizen can live with dignity and self-respect.

Speech Draft

"Respected teachers and dear friends,

Today, I want to share my thoughts on true liberty. Nelson Mandela taught us that just being out of prison is not real freedom.

A person is not truly free if they are starving, homeless, or cannot afford to go to school. Poverty and deprivation act like invisible chains. We can only break these chains by giving everyone good education and equal job opportunities.

Also, a country is not truly free if its people discriminate against each other. Judging someone by their religion, gender, or caste is wrong. Our Constitution guarantees us fundamental human rights, like the Right to Equality, to protect everyone from such injustice.

In conclusion, real freedom means living a life of respect and dignity. Until every single citizen is free from poverty and discrimination, none of us are truly free.

Thank you."

8. Looking at Contrasts

1. For decades the Union Buildings had been the seat of white supremacy, and now ...
Answer: "...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."
Contrast word: and now

2. Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police ... saluted me and pledged their loyalty. ... not so many years before they would not have saluted ____________
Answer: but arrested me.
Contrast words: not so many years before

3. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem ..., they would soon _________________
Answer: know the words by heart.
Contrast word: Although

4. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, ____________________
Answer: but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
Contrast word: but

5. The Air Show was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but _______________________
Answer: a demonstration of the military's loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected.
Contrast words: not only ... but

6. It was this desire for the freedom of my people ... that transformed __________________ into a bold one, that drove __________________ to become a criminal, that turned ______________________ into a man without a home.
Answer:
a frightened young man
a law-abiding attorney
a family-loving husband

9. Expressing Your Opinion

Q. Do you think there is colour prejudice in our own country? Discuss this with your friend and write a paragraph of about 100–150 words about this.

Colour Prejudice in Our Country

Answer: Yes, I think colour prejudice still exists in our country. Many people believe that fair skin is more beautiful and attractive than dark skin. Because of this, people with darker complexions are sometimes treated unfairly or judged by their appearance. This prejudice can be seen in advertisements, films, and even in marriage preferences. However, a person's worth should be judged by their character, talents, and actions rather than the colour of their skin. The poem given in the lesson humorously points out that people themselves change colours in different situations, yet they call others "coloured." This shows how meaningless colour discrimination is. We should respect all individuals equally and promote the values of equality, dignity, and brotherhood. A progressive society can grow only when it is free from all forms of prejudice and discrimination.

10. FAQs on Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Class 10

Q. What is the main theme of "Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" Class 10 SEBA/ASSEB?

Ans: The main theme is the struggle for freedom and equality. It highlights the devastating effects of the apartheid system in South Africa and celebrates the triumph of a democratic, non-racial government led by Nelson Mandela.

Q. According to Mandela, what is courage?

Ans: Mandela defines courage not as the absence of fear, but as the triumph over it. A brave man is one who conquers his fear, not one who never feels it.

Q. What are the twin obligations mentioned by Mandela?

Ans: Mandela states that every person has twin obligations: first, to their family, parents, wife, and children; and second, to their people, community, and country.

Q. Where can I find the Assamese translation for Class 10 English Lesson 2?

Ans: You can find the complete line-by-line Assamese translation, along with comprehensive textual question answers for "Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" right here on PoraGhar Axom.

Final Thoughts

Nelson Mandela's journey teaches us that perseverance and love can overcome any obstacle! We hope these complete notes for SEBA Class 10 English Lesson 2 (ASSEB DIVISION I) help you thoroughly prepare for your exams. Keep up the good work, and feel free to ask any questions in the comments below!

Latest Uploaded Lessons

“Click Here to Access College and Higher Secondary Notes.”

Loading latest lessons...

Important Questions

PDF Notes

Exam Tips

Previous Papers

Grammar Tricks

DMCA.com Protection Status