HSC Unit: 4; Lesson -2(I); Mandela’s Statement; Part: 2

December 8, 2025 Md. Rokon Uddin (Rumon)

In the statement which I am about to make I shall correct certain false impressions which have been created by State witnesses. […]
The African National Congress was formed in 1912 to defend the rights of the African people which had been seriously curtailed by the South Africa Act, and which were then being threatened by the Native Land Act. For thirty-seven years that is until 1949 it adhered strictly to a constitutional struggle. It put forward demands and resolutions; it sent delegations to the Government in the belief that African grievances could be settled through peaceful discussion and that Africans could advance gradually to political rights.
Even after 1949, the ANC remained determined to avoid violence. At this time, however, there was a change from the strictly constitutional means of protest which had been employed in the past. The change was embodied in a decision which was taken to protest against apartheid legislation by peaceful, but unlawful, demonstrations against certain laws. Pursuant to this policy the ANC launched the Defiance Campaign, in which I was placed in charge of volunteers. This campaign was based on the principles of passive resistance. More than 8,500 people defied apartheid laws and went to jail. Yet there was not a single instance of violence in the course of this campaign on the part of any defier. I and nineteen colleagues were convicted for the role which we played in organizing the campaign, but our sentences were suspended mainly because the Judge found that discipline and non-violence had been stressed throughout. […]
Government has always sought to label all its opponents as communists. This allegation has been repeated in the present case, but as I will show. w, the ANC is not, and never has been, a communist organization.

বাংলা অর্থ (Bengali Meaning)

আমি যে বিবৃতি দিতে চলেছি, তাতে আমি রাষ্ট্রের সাক্ষীদের দ্বারা তৈরি কিছু ভুল ধারণা সংশোধন করব। […] আফ্রিকান ন্যাশনাল কংগ্রেস (এএনসি) ১৯১২ সালে গঠিত হয় আফ্রিকান জনগণের অধিকার রক্ষার উদ্দেশ্যে—যে অধিকার দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকা আইন দ্বারা মারাত্মকভাবে সংকুচিত হয়েছিল এবং যা পরবর্তীতে নেটিভ ল্যান্ড অ্যাক্ট দ্বারা আরও হুমকির সম্মুখীন হয়। সাতত্রিশ বছর—অর্থাৎ ১৯৪৯ সাল পর্যন্ত—এই সংগঠন কঠোরভাবে সাংবিধানিক সংগ্রামের পথেই অটল ছিল। তারা বিভিন্ন দাবি ও প্রস্তাব উত্থাপন করত; সরকারের কাছে প্রতিনিধিদল পাঠাত এই বিশ্বাসে যে আফ্রিকানদের অভিযোগ শান্তিপূর্ণ আলোচনার মাধ্যমেই নিষ্পত্তি হতে পারে এবং আফ্রিকানরা ধীরে ধীরে রাজনৈতিক অধিকার অর্জন করতে পারবে।

১৯৪৯ সালের পরেও এএনসি সহিংসতা এড়িয়ে চলতে দৃঢ়প্রতিজ্ঞ ছিল। তবে এই সময়ে অতীতের কঠোর সাংবিধানিক প্রতিবাদের পথ থেকে কিছুটা পরিবর্তন আনা হয়। এই পরিবর্তনটি প্রতিফলিত হয় এক সিদ্ধান্তে—যেখানে নির্ধারিত হয় যে আপার্টহাইট বিরোধী আইনগুলোর বিরুদ্ধে শান্তিপূর্ণ কিন্তু বেআইনি আন্দোলন সংগঠিত করা হবে। এই নীতির আলোকে এএনসি ডিফায়েন্স ক্যাম্পেইন শুরু করে, যার স্বেচ্ছাসেবকদের দায়িত্বে আমাকে রাখা হয়। এই আন্দোলন ছিল নিষ্ক্রিয় প্রতিরোধের নীতির ওপর ভিত্তি করে। এতে ৮,৫০০–এরও বেশি মানুষ আপার্টহাইট আইনের অবাধ্যতা করে কারাগারে যায়। তবুও এই আন্দোলনের সময় একটিও সহিংস ঘটনার উদাহরণ নেই আন্দোলনকারীদের পক্ষ থেকে।

আমি ও আমার উনিশজন সহকর্মীকে এই আন্দোলন সংগঠনে ভূমিকার জন্য দোষী সাব্যস্ত করা হয়েছিল, কিন্তু আমাদের সাজা স্থগিত করা হয় মূলত কারণ বিচারক দেখেছিলেন যে পুরো আন্দোলনে নিয়মানুবর্তিতা ও অহিংসার ওপর জোর দেওয়া হয়েছিল। […] সরকার সবসময় তার সকল বিরোধীকে কমিউনিস্ট বলে চিহ্নিত করার চেষ্টা করে এসেছে। বর্তমান মামলাতেও একই অভিযোগ আনা হয়েছে—কিন্তু আমি দেখাবো যে এএনসি কখনোই কমিউনিস্ট সংগঠন ছিল না।

50 Vocabulary Words | Bengali Meaning | Synonyms | Parts of Speech

1. statement

Bengali: বিবৃতি
Synonyms: declaration, announcement
POS: noun

2. correct

Bengali: সংশোধন করা
Synonyms: rectify, amend
POS: verb

3. false

Bengali: মিথ্যা
Synonyms: untrue, incorrect
POS: adjective

4. impressions

Bengali: ধারণা
Synonyms: perceptions, opinions
POS: noun

5. created

Bengali: সৃষ্টি করেছে
Synonyms: produced, generated
POS: verb

6. witnesses

Bengali: সাক্ষী
Synonyms: observers, onlookers
POS: noun

7. defend

Bengali: রক্ষা করা
Synonyms: protect, safeguard
POS: verb

8. rights

Bengali: অধিকার
Synonyms: privileges, freedoms
POS: noun

9. curtailed

Bengali: সীমিত করা
Synonyms: reduced, diminished
POS: verb

10. threatened

Bengali: হুমকির মুখে
Synonyms: endangered, menaced
POS: verb

11. constitutional

Bengali: সংবিধানসম্মত
Synonyms: lawful, legal
POS: adjective

12. struggle

Bengali: সংগ্রাম
Synonyms: fight, battle
POS: noun / verb

13. put forward

Bengali: উপস্থাপন করা
Synonyms: propose, present
POS: phrasal verb

14. resolutions

Bengali: প্রস্তাব, সিদ্ধান্ত
Synonyms: decisions, determinations
POS: noun

15. delegations

Bengali: প্রতিনিধিদল
Synonyms: representatives, missions
POS: noun

16. grievances

Bengali: অভিযোগ
Synonyms: complaints, protests
POS: noun

17. peaceful

Bengali: শান্তিপূর্ণ
Synonyms: calm, non-violent
POS: adjective

18. advance

Bengali: অগ্রগতি লাভ করা
Synonyms: progress, develop
POS: verb

19. determined

Bengali: দৃঢ় প্রতিজ্ঞ
Synonyms: resolute, committed
POS: adjective

20. avoid

Bengali: পরিহার করা
Synonyms: evade, escape
POS: verb

21. embodied

Bengali: প্রতিফলিত করা
Synonyms: represented, expressed
POS: verb

22. protest

Bengali: প্রতিবাদ
Synonyms: objection, demonstration
POS: noun / verb

23. legislation

Bengali: আইন, বিধান
Synonyms: lawmaking, statutes
POS: noun

24. unlawful

Bengali: বেআইনি
Synonyms: illegal, illicit
POS: adjective

25. demonstrations

Bengali: বিক্ষোভ, আন্দোলন
Synonyms: protests, rallies
POS: noun

26. launched

Bengali: শুরু করা
Synonyms: initiated, started
POS: verb

27. campaign

Bengali: আন্দোলন
Synonyms: movement, mission
POS: noun

28. volunteers

Bengali: স্বেচ্ছাসেবক
Synonyms: helpers, participants
POS: noun

29. passive resistance

Bengali: অহিংস প্রতিরোধ
Synonyms: non-violent protest, civil disobedience
POS: noun phrase

30. defied

Bengali: অমান্য করেছে
Synonyms: resisted, disobeyed
POS: verb

31. instance

Bengali: উদাহরণ
Synonyms: example, case
POS: noun

32. violence

Bengali: সহিংসতা
Synonyms: brutality, force
POS: noun

33. convicted

Bengali: দোষী সাব্যস্ত
Synonyms: found guilty, sentenced
POS: verb

34. organizing

Bengali: সংগঠিত করা
Synonyms: arranging, managing
POS: verb

35. suspended

Bengali: স্থগিত
Synonyms: halted, postponed
POS: verb (past participle)

36. discipline

Bengali: শৃঙ্খলা
Synonyms: order, control
POS: noun

37. stressed

Bengali: গুরুত্ব দেওয়া
Synonyms: emphasized, highlighted
POS: verb

38. opponents

Bengali: বিরোধী, প্রতিপক্ষ
Synonyms: rivals, adversaries
POS: noun

39. label

Bengali: চিহ্নিত করা
Synonyms: brand, categorize
POS: verb

40. allegation

Bengali: অভিযোগ
Synonyms: accusation, claim
POS: noun

41. repeated

Bengali: পুনরাবৃত্ত
Synonyms: reiterated, restated
POS: verb

42. present case

Bengali: বর্তমান মামলা
Synonyms: current issue, ongoing case
POS: noun phrase

43. show

Bengali: দেখানো
Synonyms: prove, demonstrate
POS: verb

44. communist

Bengali: কমিউনিস্ট
Synonyms: Marxist, socialist
POS: noun / adjective

45. organization

Bengali: সংগঠন
Synonyms: group, association
POS: noun

46. formed

Bengali: গঠিত
Synonyms: created, established
POS: verb

47. strictly

Bengali: কঠোরভাবে
Synonyms: rigidly, firmly
POS: adverb

48. gradually

Bengali: ধীরে ধীরে
Synonyms: slowly, progressively
POS: adverb

49. policy

Bengali: নীতি
Synonyms: strategy, guideline
POS: noun

50. instance

Bengali: ঘটনা / উদাহরণ
Synonyms: occurrence, example
POS: noun

✅ 50 Vocabulary-Based MCQs (From the Passage)

(Each MCQ has four options + Answer)

**1. The word “correct” in the text means —**

A. Remove
B. Fix
C. Hide
D. Delay
Answer: B

**2. The word “impressions” refers to —**

A. Strong objects
B. First thoughts or ideas
C. Legal documents
D. Political groups
Answer: B

3. “State witnesses” means —

A. Government supporters
B. People who testify for the government
C. Citizens protesting
D. Foreign judges
Answer: B

4. “Curtail” most nearly means —

A. Increase
B. Reduce
C. Hide
D. Celebrate
Answer: B

5. The meaning of “threatened” is —

A. Encouraged
B. In danger
C. Saved
D. Repaired
Answer: B

6. “Adhered” means —

A. Stuck to
B. Opposed
C. Questioned
D. Rejected
Answer: A

7. The word “constitutional” relates to —

A. Illegal acts
B. Military operations
C. The law or constitution
D. Personal feelings
Answer: C

8. “Delegations” means —

A. Groups of representatives
B. Police squads
C. Criminal teams
D. Military units
Answer: A

9. A “grievance” is a —

A. Celebration
B. Complaint
C. Ceremony
D. Reward
Answer: B

10. “Gradually” means —

A. All at once
B. Slowly over time
C. Very quickly
D. Never
Answer: B

11. “Avoid violence” implies —

A. Encourage fighting
B. Stay away from conflict
C. Train soldiers
D. Study weapons
Answer: B

12. “Embodied” means —

A. Hidden
B. Expressed in
C. Removed from
D. Spoken loudly
Answer: B

13. “Protest” refers to —

A. Agreeing
B. Showing support
C. Showing opposition
D. Making money
Answer: C

14. “Unlawful” means —

A. Legal
B. Against the law
C. Permitted
D. Encouraged
Answer: B

15. “Demonstrations” means —

A. Walks in the park
B. Protests or marches
C. Silent reading
D. Sports practices
Answer: B

16. The phrase “pursuant to” means —

A. Against
B. According to
C. Opposite of
D. Independent of
Answer: B

17. “Launched” means —

A. Stopped
B. Started
C. Destroyed
D. Sold
Answer: B

18. “Volunteers” means —

A. People who work for money
B. People forced to work
C. People who offer help freely
D. People who travel for fun
Answer: C

19. “Passive resistance” means —

A. Violent protest
B. Peaceful opposition
C. Military attack
D. Economic boycott only
Answer: B

20. “Defy” means —

A. Obey
B. Respect
C. Resist or challenge
D. Repair
Answer: C

21. “Instance” most nearly means —

A. Example
B. Reward
C. Crime
D. Success
Answer: A

22. “Convicted” means —

A. Declared innocent
B. Declared guilty
C. Released
D. Celebrated
Answer: B

23. “Suspended” sentence means —

A. Immediate punishment
B. No punishment
C. Delayed punishment
D. Doubled punishment
Answer: C

24. “Discipline” means —

A. Fighting
B. Following rules
C. Breaking laws
D. Hiding mistakes
Answer: B

25. “Non-violence” refers to —

A. Greeting people
B. Avoiding physical force
C. Making speeches only
D. Training fighters
Answer: B

26. “Label” means —

A. To name or classify
B. To remove
C. To paint
D. To sell
Answer: A

27. “Opponents” means —

A. Supporters
B. Friends
C. Enemies or those who resist
D. Police officers
Answer: C

28. “Allegation” means —

A. Praise
B. Complaint
C. Accusation
D. Reward
Answer: C

29. “Repeated” means —

A. Mentioned again
B. Completely new
C. Hidden
D. Ignored
Answer: A

30. “Organization” means —

A. Disorder
B. Group formed for a purpose
C. Police station
D. Celebration hall
Answer: B

31. Antonym of “peaceful” is —

A. Calm
B. Violent
C. Quiet
D. Gentle
Answer: B

32. Synonym of “unlawful” is —

A. Illegal
B. Innocent
C. Natural
D. Careful
Answer: A

33. Antonym of “gradually” is —

A. Slowly
B. Suddenly
C. Softly
D. Proudly
Answer: B

34. Synonym of “advance” is —

A. Move backward
B. Move forward
C. Stay silent
D. Hide
Answer: B

35. “Belief” means —

A. Doubt
B. Faith or conviction
C. Anger
D. Loss
Answer: B

36. “Stress” (verb) means —

A. Emphasize
B. Hide
C. Remove
D. Confuse
Answer: A

37. “Colleague” means —

A. Boss
B. Enemy
C. Coworker or associate
D. Stranger
Answer: C

38. Antonym of “sought” is —

A. Looked for
B. Found
C. Ignored
D. Repeated
Answer: C

39. Synonym of “curtailed” is —

A. Reduced
B. Expanded
C. Created
D. Believed
Answer: A

40. “Peaceful discussion” implies —

A. Angry debate
B. Calm conversation
C. Loud arguments
D. Hidden attack
Answer: B

41. Synonym of “advance gradually” is —

A. Move forward slowly
B. Move back quickly
C. Stop moving
D. Fight violently
Answer: A

42. “Threatened” most nearly means —

A. Protected
B. Warned of danger
C. Rewarded
D. Freed
Answer: B

43. “Political rights” means —

A. Right to play games
B. Right to vote and participate in government
C. Right to travel
D. Right to buy land
Answer: B

44. “Embodied in a decision” means —

A. Ignored in a law
B. Clearly shown in a decision
C. Hidden in a paper
D. Painted on walls
Answer: B

45. Antonym of “avoid” is —

A. Escape
B. Face / Confront
C. Ignore
D. Cancel
Answer: B

46. “Defiance” means —

A. Obedience
B. Resistance
C. Acceptance
D. Forgetfulness
Answer: B

47. “Instance of violence” means —

A. Example of force
B. New law
C. Peace treaty
D. Economic change
Answer: A

48. Synonym of “suspended sentence” is —

A. Immediate jail
B. Delayed punishment
C. Reward
D. Cancellation
Answer: B

49. “Communist organization” refers to a group based on —

A. Democracy
B. Communism ideology
C. Military rule
D. Tribal customs
Answer: B

50. Antonym of “false impressions” is —

A. Wrong ideas
B. True understanding
C. Hidden lies
D. Angry thoughts
Answer: B

MCQs Based on the Provided Text

Instructions: Choose the correct answer for each question based solely on the information provided in the text.

According to the speaker, what was the primary purpose of the statement?
a) To announce a new campaign
b) To correct false impressions created by State witnesses
c) To confess to acts of violence
d) To praise the government’s actions

Answer: b) To correct false impressions created by State witnesses
In which year was the African National Congress (ANC) formed?
a) 1949
b) 1912
c) 1910
d) 1952

Answer: b) 1912
The ANC was initially formed in response to threats from which specific law?
a) The South Africa Act
b) The Pass Laws
c) The Native Land Act
d) The Group Areas Act

Answer: c) The Native Land Act
For how many years did the ANC adhere strictly to a constitutional struggle?
a) 27 years
b) 37 years
c) 47 years
d) 57 years

Answer: b) 37 years
Until what year did the ANC use only constitutional methods?
a) 1912
b) 1948
c) 1949
d) 1952

Answer: c) 1949
What was the ANC’s initial belief about settling African grievances?
a) Through armed revolution
b) Through international intervention
c) Through peaceful discussion
d) Through economic sanctions

Answer: c) Through peaceful discussion
What was the nature of the change in the ANC’s methods after 1949?
a) A shift to violent armed struggle
b) A decision to participate in government
c) A move to peaceful but unlawful demonstrations
d) A focus on economic development only

Answer: c) A move to peaceful but unlawful demonstrations
What was the name of the campaign launched under the new policy of peaceful, unlawful protest?
a) The Freedom Charter Campaign
b) The Defiance Campaign
c) The Passive Resistance Movement
d) The Anti-Apartheid Campaign

Answer: b) The Defiance Campaign
What principle was the Defiance Campaign based on?
a) Guerrilla warfare
b) Passive resistance
c) Constitutional lobbying
d) Legal challenges

Answer: b) Passive resistance
Approximately how many people defied laws and went to jail during this campaign?
a) More than 850
b) More than 8,500
c) More than 85,000
d) More than 580

Answer: b) More than 8,500
What was notable about the behavior of the defiers during the campaign, according to the text?
a) They often fought with police.
b) There was not a single instance of violence on their part.
c) They used verbal abuse.
d) They destroyed public property.

Answer: b) There was not a single instance of violence on their part.
How many of the speaker’s colleagues were convicted alongside him for organizing the campaign?
a) 9
b) 19
c) 29
d) 85

Answer: b) 19
What was the outcome of the speaker’s conviction?
a) They were given life sentences.
b) Their sentences were suspended.
c) They were fined heavily.
d) They were exiled.

Answer: b) Their sentences were suspended.
Why were the sentences of the speaker and his colleagues suspended?
a) Because of international pressure
b) Mainly because the Judge found that discipline and non-violence had been stressed
c) Because they apologized to the government
d) Because of a technicality in the law

Answer: b) Mainly because the Judge found that discipline and non-violence had been stressed
What label does the government try to attach to all its opponents, according to the speaker?
a) Terrorists
b) Communists
c) Anarchists
d) Colonialists

Answer: b) Communists
According to the speaker, the ANC is:
a) A communist organization now.
b) A socialist organization.
c) Not, and never has been, a communist organization.
d) An organization with communist members but not a communist agenda.

Answer: c) Not, and never has been, a communist organization.
The speaker’s role in the Defiance Campaign was to be:
a) The chief fundraiser
b) The legal advisor
c) In charge of volunteers
d) The chief spokesperson abroad

Answer: c) In charge of volunteers
The constitutional struggle of the ANC involved all EXCEPT:
a) Putting forward demands and resolutions
b) Sending delegations to the Government
c) Peaceful but unlawful demonstrations
d) Belief in gradual political advancement

Answer: c) Peaceful but unlawful demonstrations (This was the post-1949 method)
The rights of African people were initially curtailed by which Act?
a) The Native Land Act
b) The South Africa Act
c) The Defiance Act
d) The Apartheid Act

Answer: b) The South Africa Act
The text suggests that the shift in ANC strategy after 1949 was a move from:
a) Violence to non-violence
b) Legality to illegality
c) Constitutionalism to extra-constitutionalism (peaceful but unlawful)
d) Politics to economics

Answer: c) Constitutionalism to extra-constitutionalism (peaceful but unlawful)
The Defiance Campaign was a protest specifically against:
a) All government policies
b) High taxes
c) Apartheid legislation
d) The judicial system

Answer: c) Apartheid legislation
The judge’s decision to suspend sentences implies he acknowledged the campaign’s:
a) Popular support
b) Political necessity
c) Commitment to non-violence
d) Legal cleverness

Answer: c) Commitment to non-violence
The speaker claims the government’s allegation about communism in the current case is:
a) A new accusation
b) A truthful claim
c) A repeated tactic
d) An international conspiracy

Answer: c) A repeated tactic
The ANC’s early goal was for Africans to advance gradually to:
a) Economic wealth
b) Educational parity
c) Political rights
d) Land ownership

Answer: c) Political rights
The main grievance that led to the ANC’s formation was the curtailment of rights by the:
a) Native Land Act and later threats
b) Defiance Campaign
c) Communist ideology
d) Volunteer forces

Answer: a) Native Land Act and later threats
The text is most likely an excerpt from a:
a) Newspaper article
b) Personal diary
c) Courtroom speech/defense statement
d) Government proclamation

Answer: c) Courtroom speech/defense statement (Inferred from context like “State witnesses,” “present case,” “convicted”).
What does the speaker intend to “show” regarding the ANC?
a) Its funding sources
b) That it is not a communist organization
c) Its plans for future government
d) Its international connections

Answer: b) That it is not a communist organization
The phrase “pursuant to this policy” refers to the policy of:
a) Constitutional struggle
b) Peaceful but unlawful demonstrations
c) Defending rights in 1912
d) Labeling opponents as communists

Answer: b) Peaceful but unlawful demonstrations
The Defiance Campaign can be best described as an act of:
a) Civil disobedience
b) Violent rebellion
c) Political negotiation
d) Religious pilgrimage

Answer: a) Civil disobedience
According to the text, what was the government’s consistent strategy against opponents?
a) Ignoring them
b) Negotiating with them
c) Labeling them as communists
d) Granting them concessions

Answer: c) Labeling them as communists
The ANC’s methods from 1912 to 1949 are characterized as:
a) Unlawful
b) Strictly constitutional
c) Sporadic and violent
d) Based on foreign support

Answer: b) Strictly constitutional
The speaker mentions being convicted for his role in:
a) Forming the ANC
b) Writing the Freedom Charter
c) Organizing the Defiance Campaign
d) Leading a violent uprising

Answer: c) Organizing the Defiance Campaign
The number of people who went to jail during the Defiance Campaign is emphasized to show its:
a) Cost to the state
b) Scale and peaceful nature
c) Ultimate failure
d) International impact

Answer: b) Scale and peaceful nature
The “change” referred to in the text occurred:
a) At the formation of the ANC
b) After 1949
c) During the Defiance Campaign trials
d) In 1912

Answer: b) After 1949
The text implies that State witnesses had given evidence that was:
a) Helpful to the speaker
b) False or misleading
c) About ancient history
d) Focused on economics

Answer: b) False or misleading
The ANC’s founding was a reaction to a threat. What was being threatened?
a) African political rights, already curtailed by the South Africa Act
b) The economic system of South Africa
c) The rights of white minorities
d) International trade agreements

Answer: a) African political rights, already curtailed by the South Africa Act
The speaker’s defense hinges heavily on proving the ANC’s commitment to:
a) Capitalism
b) Non-violence
c) Secession
d) Global communism

Answer: b) Non-violence
The Judge’s finding that led to suspended sentences was about the emphasis on:
a) Discipline and non-violence
b) Political change
c) Legal expertise
d) Large membership

Answer: a) Discipline and non-violence
The “present case” likely involves charges related to:
a) Tax evasion
b) Terrorism or subversion (inferred from context of violence, communism, defiance)
c) Petty theft
d) Corporate fraud

Answer: b) Terrorism or subversion (Inferred context).
The speaker argues that the Defiance Campaign was:
a) A mistake
b) A violent uprising
c) Lawful but disruptive
d) Unlawful but peaceful

Answer: d) Unlawful but peaceful
What does the speaker say the ANC did before 1949 when dealing with the government?
a) Organized boycotts
b) Sent delegations
c) Held unlawful demonstrations
d) Formed armed units

Answer: b) Sent delegations
The term “passive resistance” in the text is synonymous with:
a) Armed struggle
b) Non-violent resistance
c) Political campaigning
d) Economic warfare

Answer: b) Non-violent resistance
The government’s allegation about communism is presented by the speaker as:
a) An honest mistake
b) A deliberate and repeated strategy
c) A recent development
d) An irrelevant point

Answer: b) A deliberate and repeated strategy
The speaker’s personal involvement shows he was:
a) A passive observer
b) A leader in the militant wing
c) An organizer of non-violent protest
d) A government informant

Answer: c) An organizer of non-violent protest
The ANC’s post-1949 protests were against laws, but the means were:
a) Both peaceful and lawful
b) Peaceful but unlawful
c) Violent and unlawful
d) Secret and subversive

Answer: b) Peaceful but unlawful
The text highlights a contrast between the ANC’s actions and the government’s:
a) Generosity
b) Portrayal of them
c) Economic policies
d) International alliances

Answer: b) Portrayal of them
A key proof of the campaign’s non-violence offered by the speaker is:
a) The judge’s statement
b) The lack of any violent instance by defiers
c) His personal beliefs
d) ANC policy documents

Answer: b) The lack of any violent instance by defiers
The ultimate goal of the early ANC’s constitutional struggle was:
a) Immediate independence
b) Violent overthrow
c) Gradual political rights
d) Cultural separation

Answer: c) Gradual political rights
The speaker corrects false impressions about the ANC’s:
a) Founding date and location
b) Methods and ideology (violence, communism)
c) Membership numbers
d) Leadership structure

Answer: b) Methods and ideology (violence, communism)

50. The overall tone of the text is best described as:
a) Apologetic and remorseful
b) Defensive and corrective
c) Aggressive and threatening
d) Celebratory and triumphant

Answer: b) Defensive and corrective

Here is a shorter summary (5–7 sentences) of the text:

The African National Congress (ANC) was formed in 1912 to protect the rights of African people threatened by unjust laws. For 37 years, it followed only constitutional and peaceful methods such as petitions and delegations to the government. Even after 1949, the ANC tried to avoid violence but decided to hold peaceful yet unlawful protests against apartheid laws. This led to the Defiance Campaign, where over 8,500 people defied apartheid laws without any violence. Mandela, who led the volunteers, and his colleagues were convicted, but their sentences were suspended because the campaign stressed discipline and non-violence. He also rejects the government’s attempt to label the ANC as a communist organization.

আফ্রিকান ন্যাশনাল কংগ্রেস (এএনসি) ১৯১২ সালে গঠিত হয় আফ্রিকান জনগণের অধিকার রক্ষার জন্য, যা অন্যায় আইন দ্বারা হুমকির মুখে পড়েছিল। ৩৭ বছর ধরে সংগঠনটি শুধু শান্তিপূর্ণ ও সাংবিধানিক উপায়ে প্রতিবাদ করেছে—যেমন আবেদন, দাবি এবং সরকারি প্রতিনিধিদের সাথে আলোচনা। ১৯৪৯ সালের পরও এএনসি সহিংসতা এড়ানোর চেষ্টা করে, কিন্তু আপার্টহাইড আইনের বিরুদ্ধে শান্তিপূর্ণ হলেও অবৈধ আন্দোলনের পথ গ্রহণ করে। এর ফলে ডিফায়েন্স ক্যাম্পেইন শুরু হয়, যেখানে ৮,৫০০ এর বেশি মানুষ অহিংস উপায়ে আইন অমান্য করে এবং স্বেচ্ছায় জেলে যায়। ম্যান্ডেলা, যিনি স্বেচ্ছাসেবকদের নেতৃত্ব দিয়েছিলেন, এবং তার সহকর্মীরা দোষী সাব্যস্ত হলেও তাদের শাস্তি স্থগিত রাখা হয়, কারণ আন্দোলনে শৃঙ্খলা ও অহিংসাকে গুরুত্ব দেওয়া হয়েছিল। তিনি সরকার যে এএনসিকে কমিউনিস্ট সংগঠন বলে অভিযুক্ত করেছিল, তা সম্পূর্ণ ভুল বলে প্রত্যাখ্যান করেন।

or,

The speaker corrects false claims about the ANC, stating it was founded in 1912 for non-violent, constitutional struggle. For 37 years, it used petitions and delegations to seek change. After 1949, it adopted peaceful but unlawful protests, launching the non-violent Defiance Campaign. Over 8,500 people were arrested without a single violent incident. The speaker’s conviction for organizing it resulted in a suspended sentence due to the campaign’s proven discipline. The ANC has never been a communist organization, despite government claims.

বক্তা এএনসির (আফ্রিকান ন্যাশনাল কংগ্রেস) সম্পর্কে রাষ্ট্রীয় সাক্ষীদের তৈরি করা ভুল ধারণা সংশোধন করছেন। তিনি ব্যাখ্যা করেন যে সংগঠনটি ১৯১২ সালে দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকা আইন ও নেটিভ ল্যান্ড অ্যাক্ট দ্বারা ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত আফ্রিকান অধিকার রক্ষার জন্য প্রতিষ্ঠিত হয়েছিল।

প্রথম ৩৭ বছর (১৯৪৯ সাল পর্যন্ত) এএনসি শান্তিপূর্ণ আলোচনা ও সাংবিধানিক উপায়ে দাবি পেশ করে চলেছিল। ১৯৪৯-পরবর্তী সময়ে তারা বর্ণবৈষম্যবিরোধী শান্তিপূর্ণ কিন্তু আইনবিরোধী বিক্ষোভ শুরু করে, যা ‘ডিফায়েন্স ক্যাম্পেইন’ নামে পরিচিত। এই সম্পূর্ণ অহিংস আন্দোলনে ৮,৫০০-এরও বেশি মানুষ কারাবরণ করেন, কিন্তু কোনো সহিংসতা ঘটেনি।

বক্তা ও তার ১৯ সহকর্মীর সাজার আদেশ দেওয়া হলেও বিচারক তাদের শৃঙ্খলা ও অহিংসতার কারণে সাজা স্থগিত রাখেন। সবশেষে, বক্তা দৃঢ়ভাবে বলছেন যে সরকার যতই দাবি করুক, এএনসি কখনও কমিউনিস্ট সংগঠন ছিল না বা নেই।

or,

The African National Congress (ANC) was established in 1912 to defend the rights of Africans against discriminatory laws. For many years, it pursued only constitutional and peaceful methods, believing that grievances could be resolved through discussion and gradual political progress. After 1949, the ANC adopted peaceful but unlawful protests to oppose apartheid, leading to the Defiance Campaign. Nelson Mandela led the volunteers, and over 8,500 people participated without any violence. Mandela and his colleagues were convicted, but their sentences were suspended due to the emphasis on discipline and non-violence. He also refutes the government’s repeated claim that the ANC was a communist organization, stating that it never was.

আফ্রিকান ন্যাশনাল কংগ্রেস (এএনসি) ১৯১২ সালে গঠিত হয়েছিল আফ্রিকানদের অধিকার রক্ষা করার জন্য, যেগুলো বৈষম্যমূলক আইন দ্বারা হুমকির মুখে পড়েছিল। বহু বছর ধরে এএনসি শুধুমাত্র সাংবিধানিক ও শান্তিপূর্ণ উপায়ে প্রতিবাদ চালিয়েছে, বিশ্বাস করে যে অভিযোগগুলো আলোচনা ও ধীরে ধীরে রাজনৈতিক অগ্রগতির মাধ্যমে সমাধান করা যেতে পারে। ১৯৪৯ সালের পর এএনসি শান্তিপূর্ণ কিন্তু অবৈধ প্রতিবাদ গ্রহণ করে আপার্টহাইডের বিরুদ্ধে, যা ডিফায়েন্স ক্যাম্পেইনের দিকে নিয়ে যায়। নেলসন ম্যান্ডেলা স্বেচ্ছাসেবকদের নেতৃত্ব দিয়েছিলেন, এবং ৮,৫০০-এরও বেশি মানুষ সহিংসতা ছাড়াই অংশগ্রহণ করেছিল। ম্যান্ডেলা ও তার সহকর্মীদের দোষী সাব্যস্ত করা হয়, কিন্তু আন্দোলনে শৃঙ্খলা ও অহিংসাকে গুরুত্ব দেওয়ায় তাদের সাজা স্থগিত রাখা হয়। তিনি সরকারের যে এএনসিকে কমিউনিস্ট সংগঠন বলে অভিযুক্ত করেছিল, তা প্রত্যাখ্যান করেন এবং বলেন যে এএনসি কখনোই কমিউনিস্ট ছিল না।

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