MP Board · Class 10 · English · First Flight: Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to FreedomWhat does Nelson Mandela mean by "twin obligations"? Why was it difficult for a Black man in South Africa to fulfill these obligations during the apartheid regime?

According to Nelson Mandela, every man has twin obligations in life. The first obligation is to his family, his parents, his wife, and his children, which is his personal or private duty. The second obligation is to his people, his community, and his country, which is his social or public duty. \nIn a normal, civil society, any person can fulfill both of these duties according to their own inclinations and abilities. However, in South Africa, during the oppressive apartheid regime, it was almost impossible for a person of color (a Black man) to fulfill both of these obligations. If a Black man tried to live like a human being and fulfill his duty to his family, he was punished and isolated from his family and home. If he attempted to serve his people and community, he was inevitably ripped from his family and forced to live a life apart, in secrecy and rebellion. Thus, the brutal system of apartheid prevented Black South Africans from leading a normal life and fulfilling their natural twin obligations.