Fidel Castro (1926-2016): End of a revolutionary era

A big revolutionary era has come to an end today with the passing away of Fidel Castro, the former Cuban President. A champion of equality and justice, he has been a cult figure just like his fellow rebel Ernesto "Che" Guevara. An extremely charismatic personality, who was always in olive-drab fatigues and combat boots, he could sway the crowds his way with his words. In fact, his speeches would go into several hours, and the audience would still ask for more!

My husband Uday Soni, an Indian Foreign Service officer, was posted in Cuba between 1965 and 1969, and during that time I did my post-graduate diploma in Spanish Art and Literature from the University of Havana. I met Fidel Castro on several diplomatic occasions. He was fascinated by India and had a special place for our country in his heart, mainly because even at the peak of the Cold War, India was at the forefront of leading the Non Aligned Movement (NAM). He especially admired and respected Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

In 1973, President Fidel Castro, while en route to Vietnam, made an unscheduled halt at New Delhi. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made it a point to go and receive him at Palam Airport. I had got a call from Mrs Gandhi's office asking me to join her while receiving Mr Castro. In fact, I was told to stand next to the Prime Minister. For me, it was a surreal moment. I was only an ordinary office-bearer of the Youth Congress and there I was, in the midst of two of the most remarkable leaders of the world. In fact, I remember noticing a certain gleam of appreciation in PM Gandhi’s eyes too when she met Castro. They shared a very special rapport as leaders of the Third World.

A finger on the pulse of the people

Castro, though a head of state, could be very informal and forthcoming. One of the moments etched in history was at the NAM Summit held in New Delhi in 1983, when President Castro was to hand over the chairmanship to Prime Minister Gandhi. As a symbolic gesture of handing over the baton, Castro was supposed to hand over a gavel to Gandhi. However, when Gandhi extended her hand, a playful Castro wouldn’t give it to her immediately. He first gave Gandhi a giant bear hug and then handed her the gavel.

In fact, I have seen that informality myself at the University of Havana where Castro would visit—at least once a fortnight—to freely roam among students and chat up with them. He believed that keeping in touch with the youth helped him in understanding “the pulse of the people”. His government had given great emphasis on education, healthcare and sports. Though, because of the US-led sanctions, many items had to be rationed, the Cuban people were rich in humour and lived their lives to the fullest with song and dance.

There was equality in society, a dignity in labour in that small Caribbean country. Even the President and the entire revolutionary cabinet would join their fellow countrymen in an annual ritual of “cutting sugarcane”. The various diplomatic corps also would join in.

More importantly, he had instilled a sense of pride in his people. Despite all hardships, the Cuban people held their heads high and hadn’t succumbed to American pressure. The world, anyway, has evolved now and US President Barack Obama has extended a hand of friendship with Cuba. Castro had outlived many US Presidents and, in a way, even the American animosity towards his country.

In the passing away of Fidel Castro, India will greatly miss a true friend.

Ambika Soni is a Congress Rajya Sabha MP and the former Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting.

As told to Sebastian PT