THE National Committee for Solidarity with Cuba convened a special meeting on August 13, to mark the commencement of the birth centenary celebrations of Comrade Fidel Castro. The programme brought together a wide range of Left and progressive leaders, including Cuban Ambassador Juan Carlos Marsán, CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby, CPI General Secretary D Raja, RJD MP Manoj Jha, Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan, AIFB General Secretary G Devarajan, and CPI(ML) Liberation leader Gopal Pradhan. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member R Arun Kumar presided over the meeting. Diplomats from various countries participated in the programme.
As part of the centenary launch, a football tournament had been organised over recent weeks. Ambassador Marsán, along with M A Baby, and CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MPs John Brittas, V Sivadasan, and A A Rahim, and other guests, presented medals and certificates to winners, runners-up, match officials, and volunteers.
On behalf of the National Committee for Solidarity with Cuba, M A Baby handed over a cheque of Rs 2.7 crores to Cuban Ambassador Juan Carlos Marsán. The funds, raised through nationwide contributions, will be used to purchase medicines for the Cuban people. The collection drive is still ongoing, with mass organisations such as the CITU, AIKS, AIAWU, and others at the forefront of these solidarity efforts.
Addressing the meeting, the speakers recalled Fidel Castro as a “great friend of India” and an unwavering revolutionary. They noted that under his leadership, the Cuban Revolution became “a beacon light for all revolutionary and progressive movements” not only in Latin America but across the world. Fidel was hailed as a revolutionary icon who played a leading role in the Non-Aligned Movement and inspired generations of young people committed to justice, sovereignty, and equality.
Born on August 13, 1926, Fidel Castro devoted his life to the liberation of his people and to the fight against imperialism. Alongside Che Guevara and other comrades, he led the armed struggle that overthrew the US-backed Batista dictatorship in 1959. This victory marked the start of profound social and economic transformation in Cuba. Under Fidel’s leadership, Cuba became a socialist state that prioritised the rights and welfare of common people, ensuring universal access to free healthcare and education, eradicating illiteracy, and building a society founded on principles of equality and justice – achievements still seen as a model for developing nations.
Fidel’s vision extended far beyond Cuba’s borders. He was a staunch supporter of liberation movements in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, showing that a small socialist nation could stand firm against powerful imperialist forces. His solidarity was not symbolic; Cuba sent doctors, teachers, and even troops to support just struggles abroad. He famously remarked, “A revolution is not a bed of roses,” and lived by those words, defending revolutionary gains against relentless US aggression and a decades-long criminal blockade.
In today’s world of deepening inequality, crony capitalism, and growing authoritarianism, the lessons of Fidel’s life are particularly relevant. His emphasis on national sovereignty, self-reliance, and international solidarity offers guidance to those resisting neoliberal and imperialist policies. His example shows that sustained and principled struggle against capitalist domination is both necessary and possible.
The speakers at the meeting saluted the enduring memory of Comrade Fidel Castro, reaffirming their commitment to the ideals of socialism, anti-imperialism, and solidarity that he championed throughout his extraordinary life. They pledged to continue opposing the US blockade of Cuba and to strengthen India’s bonds of friendship and cooperation with the Cuban people.
LONG LIVE FIDEL CASTRO!
Hasta la Victoria Siempre!
