Review of Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
Book
Review
on
Long
Walk to Freedom (part:9-11)
(Author: Nelson
Mandela)
Reviewed by:
Shawkot Akbor
Assistant Secretary
Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat
Roll-16DBPSO 105
Departmental Foundation Training Course for
The Parliament Secretariat Officials.
National Academy for Planning and
Development.
Long
Walk to Freedom
Author:
Nelson Mandela (1918-1913)
(a)
Introduction:
(i)
Over
view of the Book;
(ii)
About
the author;
(iii)
Themes;
(iv)
Significance
of the Book;
(v)
Objective
or Subjective writing.
(b)
Subject Matter: Chapter wise Summary.
(c)
Conclusion:
(i)
Success
of the author;
(ii)
Standard
of the author’s Expression
(iii)
Learning
scope & Moral of the Book; and
(iv)
Comparative
study.
Overview of the Book
Title of the book : Long Walk to Freedom
Author : Nelson Mandela
Genre : Autobiography, Non-fiction
Place of Publication:
Great Britain
Publisher
: Little Brown and Company
Originally published: 1994
ISBN-13 :978-0-349-10653-3
Number of Pages : 770
Media type : Print (hardback and paperback)
About the Author
Nelson
Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary,
politician, and philanthropist, who served as President of South Africa from
1994 to 1999. As a sign of respect, many South Africans referred to Nelson
Mandela as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name.
Nationality : South African
Nickname(s) : Madiba, Tata, Dalibunga
Political Party : African National
Congress (ANC)
Religion : Methodist
Theme
:
“Long Walk to Freedom” is the
autobiography of the great South African leader Nelson Mandela.Mandela had fought
throughout his life against racism and finally could overcome the hurdles to
establish a state where all both black and white would enjoy the similar rights
and equal status. “Long Walk to Freedom” contains the extraordinary stories of
Mandela’s life and experience and the book becomes the center of interest of
innumerous readers till today. For the first time Mandela shares the facts of
his childhood environment, education, marriage, family life, political activities,
struggle for racism free State, imprisonment, treason against him, plan of
assassination, renewed hope and ultimate triumph. This book shows the
controlled temper, learned and judicious decisions, legal assistance to other
prisoners and uncompromising attitude towards achieving the goals and great patience
of Mandela. Mandela becomes a burning example of a great leader who leads his
people to the ultimate victory through his judicious and farsighted actions and
decisions.
Significance
of the Book:
“Long Walk to
Freedom” has become one of the most read and best sellers autobiographical
books in the history of autobiographical literature. The true experiences of
life both in and out of the prison have been lively narrated by the author. The
stories and experiences of Mandela become common with our own life experiences
at some points of time. The inspiring and encouraging stories and experiences
of Mandela have become a source of inspiration and encouragement for many of us
today. The great leader’s autobiography has become the classic sample of its
genre.
Objective
or Subjective writing: An autobiography is always a
subjective writing. Though “Long Walk to Freedom” is a subjective
expression of Mandela’s life and experiences, it has become universal in many
aspects. And here lies the craftsmanship of the writer. Some quotations and
observations of Mandela’s life have become universal and the “Long Walk to
Freedom” retains the interest of its readers till today and days to come.
Subject
Matter (chapter wise):
Part 9: Robben Island: Beginning
to Hope
In this part of the
book many important and interesting incidents are described in details. The
Prison authority provided the church and Christian services, they hatched a
plot to assassinate Mandela, Winnie’s imprisonment, Soweto uprising in 1976,
The Black Consciousness Movement, Mandela’s transfer from Robben Island to
Pollsmoor Prison, Turning prison into university and some other incidents are
narrated here in part 9 of the Book. However, the important matter took place
here is that Mandela decided and started writing his memoirs. I would like to mention Mandela’s own
words in this regard:
“One day Kathy,Walter and I were talking in
the courtyard when they suggested that I ought to write my memoirs. Kathy noted
that the perfect time for such a book to be published would be on my sixtieth
birthday. Walter said that such a story, if told truly and fairly, would serve
to remind people of what we had fought and were still fighting for. He added
that it could become a source of inspiration for young freedom fighters. The
idea appealed to me, and during a subsequent discussion, I agreed to go ahead.”
In another Para he said, “I covered the
period from my birth through to Rivonia Trial, and ended with some notes about
Robben Island.”
Part
10: Talking With the Enemy
Mandela has already
been shifted to Pollsmoor Prison which is the maximum security prison and
subsequently isolated from his Colleagues. He could meet his wife and daughter
here. In 1984 Bishop Desmond Tutu was awarded Nobel Prize for Peace. Mandela
was offered freedom in exchange for renouncing violence of ANC but he refused
the offer .State of Emergency was declared in 1986 and Mandela could meet
Justice Minister and a group of high official of the government and still could
not reach the solution of the problem. In December 1988 Mandela was again
shifted to a new prison home at Victor Verster, a nice cottage with a cook. He
receives visits from the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Mass Democratic
Movement (MDM) and here he enjoys greater freedom.
F. W. de
Klerk takes over as head of National Party after Botha resigns (though Botha
remains president. of South Africa). Mandela meets Botha in July 4, 1989. In
August Botha resigns and De Klerk becomes president of South Africa. Many
political prisoners were released in October 1989. Efforts were begun by De
Klerk to dismantle apartheid. Mandela meets de Klerk in December 13, 1989.And
finally he is freed from prison in Cape Town Feb. 11, 1990 to great tumult.
Part
11: Freedom
There were Parade and confusion in the mobs of
supporters in Cape Town.
Nelson
Mandela travels to Qunu to honor his dead mother and to Robben Island to
persuade MK prisoners to accept amnesty. He travelled to Europe and North
America, he saw the Eskimos.
By this
time violence in South Africa became worse. ANC agreed to suspend the armed
struggle in August 1990. Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA)
talks began in December 1991. De Klerk becomes combative but is countered
firmly by Mandela. Referendum took place in March 1992.Mandela announced
separation from Winnie in April 1992 for unspecified personal reasons.ANC plans
mass actions in June 1992. Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) attacks ANC people June
1992. General strike was declared by ANC in August 1992. Govt. makes threats
against ANC but in vain. A Record of Understanding is signed in September 1992
between Nelson Mandela and the South African Government.
Interim
constitution was prepared. Mandela wins Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Election campaign
was started and Buthelezi agrees to participate at the last minute in return
for assurances. Election held in April 26, 1994. ANC wins 62.6% of the national
vote slightly short of the two-third majority. De Klerk made a gracious
concession speech. New government was inaugurated on May 10, 1994. New
Government promises and emphasizes on democratic and nonracial government.
Mandela celebrates
with the people of South Africa, their goodness and generosity. He regretted
for not being able to properly serve his wife, mother, and children. His hunger
for freedom for his people is met but the long walk to freedom is not yet
ended.
Success of the author:
Mandela is very much successful in expressing an epic of struggle and learning
and growing. The book tells of a man whose idealism and hope have inspired a
world prone to cynicism. The book has become a work of literature as well as an
important document. One of those masterpieces, perhaps the greatest of
twentieth century autobiographical literature, which is sharp ,poignant, elegant and eloquent counter to
the prevailing cynicism about the rottenness of politics.
Learning scope: Reading “Long Walk to Freedom” will revive the
hope inside each and every one who reads it, it is one of the few books that
stimulate our revolutionary sense of struggling and fighting and declining to
surrender. The book succeeds in making the reader travel through the time to
picture himself by Mandela’s side during his consistent walk of struggle,
challenging and defying his own imperfections not allowing them to stand in the
way of his determined struggle. It teaches the reader that there is nothing
“impossible” and that the consistent hard work and hope are the key elements of
success at any time.
I learned after reading the book that human beings,
despite their differences in terms of race or mentality or culture, are capable
of putting their hands together and working to achieve one higher goal, they
are capable of transforming this goal into reality. The book taught me that
life is full of love, and that the hatred that some societies develop towards
certain groups can be transformed into love and harmony “for love comes more naturally than its opposite”. I also learned
that the walk of struggle is a dangerous path with no guaranties whatsoever;
human beings choose this path with full awareness that they might sacrifice
their dearest and most valuable things, but they equip themselves with the
faith and the belief that the future will be a better one. The book gave me the
hope that all the exerted efforts during our daily struggles are never in vain.
Mandela’s book is highly significant, in every page and every line there
is a lesson to be learned. And as Mandela says: “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more
hills to climb” signifying that the struggle for freedom is an infinite
one. The book of the former president Nelson Mandela motivated me enormously to
remain a fighter during my entire life, It was as well a source of hope and
knowledge about a remarkable experience in the human history; the experience of
South Africa in its struggle for freedom
Comparative
Study: Nelson Mandela fought for the rights and
freedom of the Black Africans who were oppressed and deprived of their rights
in their own land. And their craving for rights and freedom has been echoed
through the words of Mandela’s “Long Walk to Freedom.” We, the Bangladeshi
people, faced almost the same oppression and deprivation in our own land by the
Pakistani rulers. Our craving and yearning for equal rights and freedom has
been echoed through the words of “The Unfinished Memoirs” by the father of the
nation Bangabondu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
To conclude I would
like to say that the riveting memoirs of the outstanding moral and political
leader of 20th century, “Long Walk to Freedom” brilliantly recreates
the drama of the experiences that helped to shape Mandela’s destiny. Emotive,
compelling and uplifting, “Long Walk to Freedom” is the exhilarating story of
an epic life; a story of hardship, resilience and ultimate triumph told with
the clarity and eloquence of a born leader.
-------------------------
posted by Shawkot Akbor @ May 03, 2016
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