Tributes to Revolutionary icon, Fidel Castro from India; Harsh view from some USA leaders
Last updated on 1st Dec. 2016
Today's The Hindu had extensive coverage of tributes to Fidel Castro, and some coverage of celebration in Miami USA over Castro's death.
The striking article for me was this one: Cuba loses its El Comandante, India a friend by Natwar Singh, former External Affairs minister (foreign minister) of India. The article is subtitled, "India held a special place in the heart of the revolutionary icon, with a succession of Prime Ministers experiencing the warmth of his friendship". Here's the link: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Cuba-loses-its-El-Comandante-India-a-friend/article16707820.ece.
The author writes that Nehru surprised young Castro by going to meet Castro in the hotel in Harlem, New York city, that had welcomed him after he was denied hotel accommodation in upmarket parts of New York city, at the 15th anniversary celebrations of the UN in 1960.
But it was under Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi that India and Cuba grew close. Both countries were important members of the Non Aligned Bloc which tried to keep away from becoming too close to either the USA bloc or the Soviet Union bloc. However, both Cuba and India leaned towards the Soviet Union.
The author was made Secretary-General of the 7th NAM summit in New Delhi in 1983 by Indira Gandhi (then Prime Minister of India). He mentions a tricky problem he faced in the summit when the Palestine leader Yasser Arafat was upset with being behind the Jordanian leader and threatened to leave the summit. The author called up Indira Gandhi and asked her to get Castro to speak to Arafat. The small extract below gives the exchange between Castro and Arafat.
Castro asked Arafat, “Are you a friend of Indira Gandhi?” To this, Arafat replied, “Friend? I consider Indira Gandhi my elder sister and I am her brother.” Sensing opportunity, Castro said, “In that case, you should behave like her brother and stay for the summit.” Arafat smiled and cancelled his plans.
--- end small extract from Hindu article ---
This article, http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/when-fidel-castro-gave-a-bear-hug-to-a-surprised-indira-gandhi-1630470, has a pic and account of the bear hug that Castro gave to Indira Gandhi at the 7th NAM summit.
Here's an article from the Deccan Chronicle by well known editor S. Nihal Singh, Tribute: A giant who inspired the world, http://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/op-ed/271116/tribute-a-giant-who-inspired-the-world.html, with subtitle, "Fidel’s death is a reminder that a giant of a man died for his country’s cause." The article talks about how both India and Cuba were part of the group of developing countries trying to stay as independent as they could of both the superpowers, USA and USSR. The author writes that both Nehru and Castro were giant leaders who followed different paths to try to "safeguard their countries’ independence".
The author writes, "Perhaps Fidel’s greatest contribution to his country, his continent and the world was to wrest independence for Cuba from being a client state of the United States and figuring out how to bring prosperity to his people. For the liberals, this prosperity in relative terms came at the expense of liberty, but that was a bargain Fidel was ready to make." The author adds that India took a different path (of not sacrificing liberty/democracy).
This article, 50 years of friendship, April 2010 by MIGUEL ÁNGEL RAMíREZ RAMOS then Cuban ambassador to India, http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2708/stories/20100423270805500.htm, has a pic of Nehru and Castro together when they met in the Harlem hotel in 1960.
The author states that Che Guevara was sent by Castro to Delhi to meet Nehru in 1959! [Ravi: What a surprise! I did not know that.] Che said of Nehru, "Nehru received us with the amiable familiarity of a grandfather but with a noble interest in the pains and struggles of the Cuban people, giving us extraordinarily valuable suggestions and assurances of unconditional sympathy towards our cause." [Ravi: Castro came to full power in Cuba in January 1959 through an armed revolution, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Revolution.]
The article mentions that Castro told a former Indian External Affairs minister about the meeting with Nehru in 1960 in Hotel Theresa in (African-American) Harlem, New York, "The first person who came to see me was Prime Minister Nehru. I can never forget his magnificent gesture. I was 34 years of age, not widely known. I was tense. Nehru boosted my morale. My tension disappeared."
The author quotes Fidel Castro in his speech at the Non Aligned Summit in 1983, "Today, while handing over, after more than three years, the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement to our admired Indira Gandhi and to India, that she in her historic right represents, we can affirm that we have a movement whose unity was not weakened, whose vigour has grown, whose independence has been withheld despite all the challenges it faced.".. "The maturity of India…, its unconditional adherence to the principles which lay at the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement give us the assurances that under the wise leadership of Indira Gandhi, the non-aligned countries will continue advancing in their inalienable role as a bastion for peace, national independence and development…"
In an earlier meeting between Indira Gandhi and Fidel Castro, Gandhi said of Castro, "his interest in the cause of coloured people all over the world had made the Cuban Premier a legend and captured the imagination of idealistic people, both young and old, all over the world".
[Ravi: I was 21 years old in 1983 studying Physics. While I don't recall the details, the above quotes of Indira Gandhi and Fidel Castro fit in with the impression I have of those times. Non Alignment of India was a matter of pride, though we were tilted towards the Soviet Union. Developing world countries like Cuba and India maintaining some level of independence in their role in the world despite the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment they faced, was a matter of pride. While I did not know the history of the Cuban revolution and the Cuban missile crisis etc., I do recall that Fidel Castro was viewed as an iconic leader of a small country willing to criticize the big powers like the USA, and survive! And Cuba and Castro were viewed as good friends of India.]
The article quotes Castro on the death (assassination) of Indira Gandhi (in 1984), "We saw her disappear amidst flames, while her people, her descendants, and statesmen from all over the world surrounded the funeral pyre in respectful silence. And we recalled the august calmness with which, years earlier, she had indicated that one day she also would, with resignation, give up her life in a holocaust for the unity of her nation."
The article also refers to a meeting between Dr. Manmohan Singh (PM of India) and Fidel Castro in Havana at the XIVth NAM summit (in 2006) at which time Castro was recovering from surgery. Singh is quoted as saying, "I had gone there only to greet him, but he engaged me in intense discussion. We covered a whole range of issues, including the future of the international financial system, the future role of NAM, India’s development prospects and how we are dealing with our population, food and energy problems. He recalled his affection for Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. He also talked about what Cuba has done to promote human development and education." .. "I will always remember this meeting".."I felt I was in the presence of one of the greatest men of our times."
The author writes that Castro wanted a pic taken after the meeting, "so that one billion people would see them together”. This link has the pic taken at that meeting, https://cubajournal.blogspot.com/2006/09/to-india-with-love.html.
The article of then Cuban ambassador to India concludes with words from the report of Che Guevara on his visit to India (1959, I presume), "Undoubtedly, Cuba and India are brothers, as all the people of the world should be in these times of nuclear disintegration and interplanetary missiles".
Veteran Congress party leader and now President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee put out a video statement giving tribute to Fidel Castro, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cpnv4vhF474, 2 min. 24 secs.
Here's the text of the press release from president's office, http://presidentofindia.nic.in/press-release-detail.htm?2631, dated 26th Nov. 2016
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro Ruz.
In a message to His Excellency Mr. Raul Castro Ruz, the President of the Councils of State and Ministers, the Republic of Cuba, the President said, "It was with great sadness that I received the news of the passing of your brother and Former President of Cuba, President Fidel Castro Ruz, Leader of Cuba’s Revolution. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
President Castro was a friend of India. The people of India admired him for his struggle for the liberty and progress of his people. India was amongst the first to recognize Cuba after the success of his 1959 Revolution. Under his charismatic leadership, Cuba has made commendable achievement – particularly in the field of education, health, bio-technology and sports. He has long been a towering figure on the world stage – including at the helm of the Non-Aligned Movement.
We shall always cherish President Castro’s personal contribution to the close relations between India and Cuba. Memories of President Castro’s visit to New Delhi for the NAM Summit in 1983 are still fresh in our minds. India mourns with the people of the Republic of Cuba”.
--- end text of press release from president's office ---
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. India mourns the loss of a great friend.", https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/802406549775847424, 25th Nov. 2016
According to http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/fidel-castros-support-for-india-will-forever-be-remembered-sonia-gandhi-1630462, Congress party president Sonia Gandhi (who had visited him in Cuba along with her Late husband Rajiv Gandhi), said that Castro's death was a loss not limited to Cuba and that Castro led the fight for the oppressed and the striving from the front. She also said, "His contribution to the Non Aligned Movement and his unflinching support for India's cause on various fora will always remain deeply etched in the minds and hearts of the Indian people".
Shri Sitaram Yechury is the General Secretary of perhaps the most established communist party in India, Communist Party of India (Marxist). He seems to be very well read and is very articulate in English as well as some Indian languages, and has made quite an impact as a Member of Parliament (perhaps leader of his group) in Indian Parliament upper house (Rajya Sabha). Here is his Facebook post which perhaps is exceedingly worshipful of Castro, Homage to Fidel Castro, https://www.facebook.com/ComradeSRY/photos/a.1754641294764771.1073741828.1731087363786831/1883156911913208/, Nov. 26th 2016.
Here's another post of his, Comrade Fidel - some memories, https://www.facebook.com/ComradeSRY/photos/a.1754641294764771.1073741828.1731087363786831/1883119701916929/, dated Nov. 26th 2016. Some extracts from the post which is extracted from a book review Yechury wrote in 2008 are given below.
Fidel Castro's meticulous attention to detail, I experienced personally in 1993. I accompanied Jyoti Basu to Cuba soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Time had carried Fidel on its cover with caption, "Castro's Cuba: The End Of The Dream". One evening, after both of us retired, we were informed around 11 p.m. that the Commandante was waiting to receive us. In a discussion that lasted well over two hours and covered many issues, including the impact of the collapse of the Soviet Union on Cuba, Fidel suddenly started asking detailed information regarding India on issues like the quantity of steel produced, the amount of arable and irrigated agricultural land, etc. Jyoti Basu had least expected such questions and that too in the early hours of the morning. Fidel, then, turned to me and said, given Jyoti's age, one can pardon him but I had no business not to have this information on my fingertips. Since then, I met Fidel twice on different occasions, always with the latest handbook of statistics in my pocket!
...
Only the monarchs of Britain and Thailand have held their ceremonial office longer than Fidel. He remains the longest serving political leader who steadfastly defended and consolidated socialist Cuba. As an interviewer notes, Cuba under Fidel, "clinging to its sovereignty, has achieved undeniably admirable results in the area of human development; the abolition of racism, the emancipation of women, the eradication of illiteracy, drastic reduction in infant mortality rates, higher levels of general knowledge… in questions of education, health, medical research and sports, Cuba has achieved results that many developed nations would envy".
Fidel has had to deal with no fewer than ten US presidents, from Eisenhower to Bush II, he survived over 600 assassination attempts, he led Cuba to successfully overcome the economic [Ravi: blockade by USA] as well as its acts of sabotage to destroy Cuba ...
--- end extracts from Sitaram Yechury's Facebook post ---
I don't see much criticism of Castro in Indian media and by Indian leaders. But The Hindu carried an article on Miami, USA celebrating, Cries of ‘Cuba Libre’ rend the air in Little Havana, http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/Cries-of-%E2%80%98Cuba-Libre%E2%80%99-rend-the-air-in-Little-Havana/article16707973.ece.
USA president Obama's statement on Castro's death, https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/11/26/statement-president-passing-fidel-castro, Nov. 26th 2016, "At this time of Fidel Castro’s passing, we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people. We know that this moment fills Cubans - in Cuba and in the United States - with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways in which Fidel Castro altered the course of individual lives, families, and of the Cuban nation. History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him.
For nearly six decades, the relationship between the United States and Cuba was marked by discord and profound political disagreements. During my presidency, we have worked hard to put the past behind us, pursuing a future in which the relationship between our two countries is defined not by our differences but by the many things that we share as neighbors and friends - bonds of family, culture, commerce, and common humanity. This engagement includes the contributions of Cuban Americans, who have done so much for our country and who care deeply about their loved ones in Cuba.
Today, we offer condolences to Fidel Castro's family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people. In the days ahead, they will recall the past and also look to the future. As they do, the Cuban people must know that they have a friend and partner in the United States of America."
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USA senator (and former presidential candidate) Marco Rubio is a Cuban American representing the state of Florida (close to Cuba) and he is very strongly critical of Fidel Castro. An extract from his statement, http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Press-Releases&id=0359801C-15B2-42AA-9660-159B73DE9BDF, dated Nov. 26th 2016, is given below.
Fidel Castro seized power promising to bring freedom and prosperity to Cuba, but his communist regime turned it into an impoverished island prison. Over six decades, millions of Cubans were forced to flee their own country, and those accused of opposing the regime were routinely jailed and even killed.
--- end Rubio statement extract ---
In this tweet, https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/802569016061460481, Nov. 26th 2016 Rubio says, '#FidelCastro "created repressive state where his secret police & pro-government mobs attacked those who dared to call for democratic change"'.
And in this tweet, https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/802573997133139968, Nov. 26th 2016, Rubio says, "Under #FidelCastro Cuba represses nearly all forms of political dissent,” the independent group Human Rights Watch observed in 2008."
Rubio retweeted this tweet, https://twitter.com/SalenaZito/status/802523398228344832, "The glamorization of Fidel Castro today is disturbing, if you love life, freedom and liberty you are appalled." (tweet has disturbing pics).
Another Cuban American USA Senator (and former presidential candidate), Ted Cruz, says in this Facebook post, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTedCruz/posts/1059672127478420, Nov. 27th 2016, "There is more than enough evidence to judge the Castros’ legacy for what it is: the systematic exploitation and oppression of the Cuban people."
Cruz's press release statement, https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=2893, Nov. 26th 2016, "Fidel Castro's death cannot bring back his thousands of victims, nor can it bring comfort to their families. Today we remember them and honor the brave souls who fought the lonely fight against the brutal Communist dictatorship he imposed on Cuba."
USA president-elect Donald Trump's statement, https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/posts/10158189787375725, dated Nov. 27th 2016, "Today, the world marks the passing of a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades. Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights.
While Cuba remains a totalitarian island, it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long, and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve.
Though the tragedies, deaths and pain caused by Fidel Castro cannot be erased, our administration will do all it can to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty. I join the many Cuban Americans who supported me so greatly in the presidential campaign, including the Brigade 2506 Veterans Association that endorsed me, with the hope of one day soon seeing a free Cuba."
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The Hindu today (27th Nov. 2016) also provided quotes of some world current and former leaders.
South African President Jacob Zuma: "President Castro identified with our struggle against apartheid. He inspired the Cuban people to join us in our own struggle."
Chinese President Xi Jinping, "The Chinese people have lost a good and true comrade. Comrade Castro will live forever."
Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, "It is up to us to continue his legacy and carry his flag of independence."
Russian President Vladimir Putin, "The name of this distinguished statesman is rightly considered the symbol of an era in modern world history. Fidel Castro was a sincere and reliable friend of Russia."
Former Soviet Union President Michael Gorbachev, "Fidel stood up and strengthened his country during the harshest American blockade, when there was colossal pressure on him and he still took his country out of this blockade to a path of independent development."
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Ravi: I saw today a fascinating documentary on Castro split into 10 videos. Here's the first one, Fidel Castro: The Untold Story - Part 1/10, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyoDpgmDqFg, around 10 mins. Links to the other 9 can be found in suggested videos on the right hand side of the youtube window. If not, one can search for them. The documentary has a lot of clips of Castro himself and so one gets a pretty good feel of him.
Here's a screenshot of Fidel Castro with Jawaharlal Nehru in the Harlem hotel in 1960 (from part 3/10 of the above mentioned videos):
Video 6/10 of the above mentioned series captures the gratitude that Nelson Mandela and other black South African anti-apartheid leaders had for Fidel Castro. Given below is one screenshot pic just after they embrace each other, on what seems to be a visit by Mandela to Cuba.
In the first pic below, Fidel Castro is saying in the South African parliament, "Let South Africa be a model of a more just and a more humane future". The second pic shows Nelson Mandela applauding at those words. Castro then says, "If you can do it, we will all be able to do it." and is applauded.
Below pic shows Fidel Castro with his close friend, Nobel prize winner for Literature (in 1982), Gabriel Garcia Marquez of Colombia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Garc%C3%ADa_M%C3%A1rquez. [Ravi: I think I have read or browsed through Garcia's, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" book many years ago.]
The two pics below are from Fidel Castro's visit to Harlem, New York City, as part of his visit to New York city for the 50th anniversary of the United Nations (1995). Castro's enthusiastic welcome in Harlem does not seem to be faked at all. Castro is asked "What is your message to the people of Harlem?" Castro replies, "I have great affection for them because of what they did for us 35 years ago. We had nowhere to stay, and they welcomed us in that hotel. I'll never forget that."
The two pics below are of Castro being honoured/welcomed in the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. The video shows Rev. Calvin Butts of the church saying, "Welcome to the Abyssinian Baptist church where we believe in truth, and in justice and equality, where we join with you in saying, Cuba yes, blockade No. God bless you."
Castro says, 'I went to the hotel to change into these clothes [military type fatigues instead of the business suit he was wearing before]. I said to myself , "The last time I went to Harlem I was wearing my fatigues. How can I turn up in Harlem now dressed like a gentleman?"' [Loud applause and some laughter follows.]
Pope John Paul II visits Cuba. Pic below shows a big poster of Jesus Christ behind Fidel Castro at the site of the open air mass ceremony held by Pope John Paul II.
Pic below shows Pope John Paul II at the event.
Pic below shows Fidel Castro meeting Pope John Paul II at that event.
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As I went through all the articles and videos mentioned above and remembered what I had read in previous years and decades about Castro, Cuba and India, I think there is no doubt in my mind that India has lost a great and long-time friend in the death of the revolutionary icon of Cuba, Fidel Castro.
But what about Castro's legacy for the Cuban people themselves? While I think the case has been made for great strides in removal of poverty, illiteracy etc. over decades in Cuba (as compared to Batista regime type policies), I think the fact that the reins of government have stayed with Fidel Castro for nearly fifty years (till 2008, if I got that right) and then moved on to his brother who is in power now, makes one wonder about freedom in Cuba. I mean, even in Communist Soviet Union, no family or duo of brothers ruled for so long, nor did they do so in communist China.
I mean, if Fidel Castro had stepped aside after a decade or two, and passed on the baton to other leaders, then at least one would say it is like communist China or communist Soviet Union. I find it hard to believe that the majority of Cubans, if given real freedom of information and choice, would not want to vote out any leader after a decade or two, and give somebody else a chance to govern.
Nonetheless, for post world war II (especially 1960s and 70s) underdeveloped and developing countries wanting to escape out of neocolonial policies of Western powers, Fidel Castro was an inspiring and iconic leader. I mean, one surely cannot say that post World War II USA was always nice and clean in its dealings with underdeveloped and developing countries of Latin America. In fact, some of USA's actions post World War II towards poor Latin American countries have been imperialistic and exploitative. Perhaps Castro is a product of (a reaction to) those past policies of USA. Trying to get a holistic assessment of Fidel Castro from my perspective in today's 21st century India where freedom of speech and democracy are very important values, is difficult.
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Perhaps this article is a balanced view of Fidel Castro, Will history absolve Fidel Castro?, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-castro-comment-6dc8ebd6-b573-11e6-b8df-600bd9d38a02-20161128-story.html, Nov. 28th 2016.
The author writes that in the early decades of Castro's revolution (his rule was from 1959 to 2006 after which the govt. has been run till now, 2016, by his brother Raul Castro), "Beginning with radically redistributive economic reforms and culminating in the nationalization of the entire economy, right down to the mom and pop stores on the corner, Castro transformed Cuba into the most egalitarian society in Latin America. Healthcare, education and social security were declared human rights and provided free to everyone."
But, the author writes, that all of that came with the cost of growth stalling as the link between workers' compensation and productivity was broken (by the socialist policies). The upper and middle classes of Cuba were unhappy and many, perhaps over a million, migrated away from Cuba, during the decades of Castro's rule. [Cuba's population in 1950 is reported to be over 7 million and in 2016 is reported to be over 11 million, http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/cuba-population/].
[Ravi: I guess the bottom line impact of communism and socialism for many in capitalist (market economy) or feudal type of economies is the redistribution of wealth from wealthy to poor part. The upper class and the upper middle class who have the wealth would typically be against communism and socialism, whereas the lower/poor class and lower middle class would be for it if they are economically marginalized and suffering. Of course, some of the leaders of communism and socialism may come from the wealthy or the upper middle classes but I guess the bulk of the communist and socialist movement/government support would come from the lower middle and poor classes.]
The article has the view that Cuba's institutions are weak and that Raul Castro is trying to strengthen these institutions, and that is a theme in Raul Castro's public addresses.
The article covers Fidel Castro's intolerance of criticism. Castro viewed criticism as oppposition and so counter-revolutionary! [Ravi: I think that had been and continues to be the Achilles heel, perhaps even the fatal weakness, of many socialist and communist countries in the 20th century and in this early 21st century. An environment where non-violent political and civil society opposition is allowed to freely express views and stage protest movements, is ****VITAL**** to keep a check on misuse and abuse of power by those in top governmental power. Once the top people in government power get away with misuse and abuse of power, like a virulent disease that misuse and abuse of power could, and in some cases seems to have, spread through the entire machinery of government, including law enforcement and courts of justice. The whole body of government right down to town and village government bodies may get impacted and start misusing and abusing power. The flaws of functioning democracies of the world today in this early 21st century are many but I think it is SUPREME to other political systems of government like communism or autocracy, in this ****VITAL**** area where the right to peacefully criticize and protest against the government, is protected and even enshrined as a key fundamental right of the people.]
The article states that Castro dealt ruthlessly with political opponents imprisoning them.
The author says that in the 1960s itself, Castro had to acknowledge that Cubans were not acting like "selfless citizens in a Marxist utopia" but that Castro could not accept a market driven economy. The social inequalities that such a market driven system produces were unacceptable to Castro's social justice vision.
Economy stagnation problems were faced by the Castro government many times. But the sharp collapse of the Soviet bloc (around 1991) led to severe problems for Cuba. Castro referred to this period as the "Special Period" and ended his speeches then (which exhorted the people to defend the Cuban revolution) by saying, "Socialism or Death!". [Ravi: Castro's government was heavily dependent on Soviet aid as a means to survive the economic blockade of the USA. Collapse of Soviet aid along with the continuing decades-old then blockade by the USA, would have seemed like the death knell for Cuba's socialist government and for Fidel Castro. But, suprise, surprise! Castro and his socialist government survived! Perhaps Soviet aid got eventually replaced with trade of goods & services (e.g. Cuba's medical services team of Doctors (and other medical staff, I guess)) between Cuba and Latin American countries like oil-rich Venezuela. Castro also went in for some liberalization type changes that allowed European companies to set up tourism and other business initiatives in Cuba. ... India's decisive move away from a more planned economy under excessive govt. control to a liberalized market driven economy also came in the years after the Soviet Bloc collapse, when the Indian government liberalized the economy in 1991. For more on it, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_liberalisation_in_India.]
Here's another interesting article, Fidel’s frontline visit cemented hero status in Vietnam, http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/Fidel%E2%80%99s-frontline-visit-cemented-hero-status-in-Vietnam/article16716839.ece, dated 28th Nov. 2016. It talks of the surprise visit of Fidel Castro to the battlefield in Vietnam in 1973 [when the USA was using its awesome technological war superiority to inflict devastating damage on the communist North Vietnamese]. The article states, "His appearance on the frontlines of Quang Tri province, where he famously raised a battle-flag, was a classic piece of theatre, helping to rally north Vietnamese morale." Two years after Castro's visit, North Vietnam stunningly won the war against the USA, and unified the whole of Vietnam [under communist rule, I guess].
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A correspondent wrote over email (and was OK with sharing):
This was very informative. Thank you for sharing.
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I (Ravi) responded:
Glad you liked it.
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