29 November 2021 12:01 am Views - 1040
Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz
The iconic revolutionary leader of Cuba Fidel Castro died at the age of 90 on November 25th, 2016. It is nearly five years since the demise of this great man. Although Fidel is physically
Cuba is an island just 90 miles from the United States. It has a strong tradition of fighting the Spanish to be free from its colonial domination. In the early 1950s Cuba’s political class was closely associated with the ruling class of the United States. Most sugar plantations were owned by US citizens. The people of Cuba were poor and most young people were unemployed.
Young Fidel was actively involved in student and youth politics. He was affiliated to Eduardo Chibas and his Orthodox Party achieving publicity as a strong advocate of social justice.
The elections that were scheduled for March 10th ,1952 were cancelled by the military ruler Fulgencio Batista. The political evolution of Cuba called for a new movement to change the US dominance in its politics. Fidel identified the need to organize the masses and educate them in the faith of freedom and dignity which had roots from Jose Marti, the architect of Cuban independence.
"Young Fidel was actively involved in student and youth politics. He was affiliated to Eduardo Chibas and his Orthodox Party achieving publicity as a strong advocate of social justice"
Fidel and his brother Raul with around 160 youth decided to attack the Moncada barracks in July 1953. This attack was an eye-opener to the Cuban people who were disgusted with the corrupt regime of Batista. The Moncada attack failed and its leader Fidel was arrested. In his defence speech “History will Absolve me”, Fidel proves it was a duty of the Cubans to rally round the rebels. Later this evolved to be the “26th July Movement”.
Once he was freed from prison under a general amnesty, Fidel and Raul left to Mexico. In Mexico they formed a rebel army. Among those who joined the rebels was Che Guevara, an Argentine physician who had witnessed the crudely disguised CIA overthrow of the elected president of Guatemala.
"Fidel identified the need to organize the masses and educate them in the faith of freedom and dignity which had roots from Jose Marti, the architect of Cuban independence"
In 1956, Castro along with 82 rebels headed to Cuba in the yacht “Granma”. Batista’s forces were tipped off and they attacked the boat. Only twelve rebels survived. Fidel and the rest regrouped in the Sierra Maestra mountains. The guerilla war against the Batista regime gradually became unstoppable, till Castro entered Havana on the 8th of January 1959.
Since the beginning of the revolution USA imposed an economic embargo which still continues with more pressure on Cuba. Attempts to overthrow the Cuban government through military interventions and assassination attempts on Fidel have failed.
Fidel has seen ten US presidents change with each being harder on Cuba than the previous. Fidel ruled Cuba during the times when Vietnam was at war, many African countries were fighting the European colonizers and South America was dominated by puppet governments of the US.
"Doing away with illiteracy in a short time, having an effective free public health system, achievements in sports, culture are solid evidences of the victory and success of the Cuban revolution"
The reforms introduced by Fidel in Cuba can be studied by all nations. Doing away with illiteracy in a short time, having an effective free public health system, achievements in sports, culture are solid evidences of the victory and success of the Cuban revolution.
The Henry Reeves Medical Brigade initiated by Fidel and the contribution of Cuban scientists to medical research achievements in biotechnology are acclaimed worldwide.
When the whole world is feeling the absence of such a great personality, this is a tribute to a leader and teacher. Adios Comrade Fidel!