Chaman Lal 
I greatly admire the Cuban Revolution, which was achieved on January 1, 1959, led by Fidel Castro, as one of the most remarkable revolutions in world history. A small group of just 82 determined revolutionaries, who sailed from Mexico on the ship Granma and reached Cuba on December 2, 1956, successfully overthrew the powerful army of dictator Batista, thanks to the crucial support of Cuban peasants and workers, achieving a historic victory.
Out of 82, only about 15 revolutionaries survived after the brutal attack of Batista’s forces. These courageous individuals went on to mobilise a vast army of peasant soldiers, ultimately defeating the dictator and forcing him to flee the country within just two years. Among these Cuban liberation heroes, I am particularly drawn to Che Guevara, whose personality traits resonate with those of our own South Asian revolutionary, Bhagat Singh. As we mark the 65th anniversary of Che’s historic visit to India in 1959, I am inspired to pen a brief memoir in tribute to his legacy.
Che and his team arrived at Delhi airport on the evening of June 30, 1959, just six months after Cuba’s liberation from Batista’s dictatorship. The next day, July 1, they met with Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who hosted them for lunch at his Teen Murthy residence, now part of the Prime Minister’s Museum (formerly known as the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library).
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Fidel Castro dispatched his trusted comrade Che to Afro-Asian nations — India, Pakistan (including Dacca, now Bangladesh), Burma (now Myanmar), Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) — to establish diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba. Notably, records of Che’s visit to India, where he spent about two weeks, were uncovered with some effort, as he hadn’t yet achieved his legendary status. Official Indian documents refer to him as “Commandant Ernesto”, leading the Cuban delegation. Unlike high-profile visits, no minister received him at the airport; instead, Foreign Ministry official D.S. Bagla welcomed him, appearing in most photographs taken in Delhi and its surroundings.
Indian journalist R. Bhanumati interviewed Che at the All India Radio, later publishing it in her book Conversations. In 2007, Om Thanvi, editor of Hindi daily Jansatta, travelled to Cuba, uncovering more about Che’s visit.
While Che likely visited cities beyond Delhi and Kolkata (then Calcutta), references and photographs are scarce, except for Kolkata, where he may have met United Communist party leaders and addressed a public meeting. However, this didn’t satisfy Che’s curiosity about India’s revolutionary history. Notably, he only mentioned Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru in his memoirs, omitting radical socialist leaders Bhagat Singh and Netaji Subhash Bose. Che would have likely found a kindred spirit in Bhagat Singh, a fellow fearless and brave revolutionary.
A memorial dedicated to Cuban revolutionaries in Santa Clara. Photo: Chaman Lal
In 2010-11, I was a Visiting Professor of Hindi at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad and Tobago. I chose Trinidad due to its proximity to Cuba and
Photographs of sixty-one comrades of Fidel Castro, martyred in the July 26, 1953, attack on display in the Moncada Garrison in Santiago de Cuba. Photo: Chaman Lal
Venezuela, countries that interest me. I developed close ties with the Cuban and Venezuelan embassies in Port of Spain, attending numerous events. I was fascinated by Cuba’s socialist revolution, led by Fidel Castro, Raul Castro, Camilo Cienfuegos and Che, who sailed on the ship Granma, which is now displayed in Havana as an iconic symbol.
The author with a researcher in the Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara. Photo: Provided by the author
During my UWI vacation, I planned trips to Cuba and Venezuela.
In Havana, I visited the Revolution Museum and Jose Marti Memorial. Although the Che Guevara Study Centre was closed for renovation, ICAP (Cuban people’s international relations body) assisted me. I showed solidarity with the Cuban 5 in US custody, participating in Port of Spain meetings and addressing an ICAP gathering in Santiago, where a Bolivian music group also performed.
In Santiago, I saw the house where Fidel Castro led the Moncada garrison attack, on July 26, 1953, which became known as the 26th Julio movement in Cuban revolutionary history, resulting in his famous “History Will Absolve Me” court statement. On my last day in Cuba (December 17, 2011), I visited Santa Clara, liberated under Che’s command, which reminded me of an old Indian city — quiet and sober.
Chaman Lal is a retired JNU professor and an honorary advisor at Bhagat Singh Archives and Resource Centre, New Delhi.