Biography
Quick Facts
Che Guevara is one of the most revered and
legendary political figures in world history.
Che Guevara was a
legendary political activist, who gave his life for the downfall of imperialism
and the establishment of socialism. It is through his relentless work that he
became the countercultural symbol of rebellion and revolution. Throughout his
life, Guevara held numerous profiles, that of a doctor, author, guerrilla
leader, diplomat and military theorist. Since an early age, Guevara was
disturbed by the disdainful living conditions of the poor and the hardships
they were undergoing. It was his early expeditions that left a deep impact on
him and propelled the emotions of anger and resentment which caused rebellion
and revolution. He is known to have played a significant role in the Cuban
Revolution along with Fidel Castro and was essentially responsible for the
victory attained against the Batista regime. Post the Cuban Revolution, he
shaped the economy of Cuba towards a productive and prosperous future by coming
out with progressive plans. He was also responsible for the magnanimous
increase in the literacy rate of Cuba from 60% to 96%. It was his belief of
creating the consciousness of ‘new man’ driven by morals rather than material
incentives that has made him a revered figure in the history. For the same, he
was listed in the TIME magazine’s list of 100 most influential people of the
20th century. To know more about Guevara’s life and revolutionary actions,
scroll further.
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| Che Guevara
Childhood & Early Life
|
· Born as Ernesto
Guevara to Celia de la Serna y Llosa and Ernesto Guevara Lynch, he was the
eldest of the five children of the couple.
· From a young age, he
was introduced to a wide range of political perspectives, primarily leftists.
These incidents left a deep impact on the mind of this budding revolutionary.
· He developed an
affinity for reading and was known to be a voracious reader. Throughout his
early days, he had read the works of various revolutionaries and political
leaders of the world including Karl Marx, William Faulkner, Andre Gide, Emilio
Salgari, Jawaharlal Nehru, Albert Camus and like.
· As a youngster, he excelled
in athletics and various sport activities. Academically, after attaining his
preliminary education, he enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires to study
medicine.
· It was while
attending college that he embarked on two long journeys: a 4500km long solo
journey on bicycle through the rural provinces of Northern Argentina in 1950,
and a nine-month, 8,000-kilometer continental motorcycle trek through most of
South America with his friend Alberto Granado in 1951.
· These two journeys
played an instrumental role in changing his views completely – that of himself
and the then prevailing economic conditions. He was baffled by the ruthless
exploitation of poor and amazed at the friendliness prevailing amongst
desperate people.
· The notes taken
during the two trips evolved to form a book, entitled ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’.
The book became a New York Times bestseller.
Che Guevara
Later Life
·
Upon attaining a
degree in medicine in 1953, he embarked on yet another journey, which further
affirmed his views against capitalism and the need to save the world from it.
He became politically active, first in native Argentina and later at Bolivia
and Gautemala.
·
For a living, he
started working in the General Hospital in Mexico City in 1954. Additionally,
he gave lectures on medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
and as a news photographer in a news agency.
·
Deeply troubled by
the poverty and the exploitation of the poor and the deprived, he resolved to
fight for a better world. It was in 1955 that he was introduced to Cuban
revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro. The two joined hands to work against
imperialism.
·
He helped Castro in
the latter’s effort to overthrow the Batista government in Cuba. For the same,
he attained military training and learned hit and run tactics of guerrilla
warfare.
·
In 1956, the troops
loyal to Castro, initiated the 26th of July Movement during which they aimed to
set up a base in the Sierra Maestra mountains. However, attacked by the
government troop, only 22 of the once 82 member troop reached to the top.
·
In the next couple
of months, they raided army camps thereby building up their stock of weapons
and ultimately gaining victory over the territory. Upon attaining control of
the region, they redistributed land equally among all peasants and in return
were helped by the peasants against the Batista forces.
·
The growing
popularity of Castro led to an increase in his army with peasants, students and
Catholic priests joining in. Furious at the growing popularity of the Castro army,
the Batista government publically executed people, which raised an outcry
amongst the people against the government and increased support for the
guerrillas.
·
By 1958, Castro’s
army which mainly comprised of the poor and the deprived had gained the backing
of the influential middle class and were supported by national bodies
representing lawyers, doctors, accountants and social workers. Castro’s troops
fought bravely against the government forces, inflicting the latter with one
defeat after the other.
·
In 1958, Guevara
played a critical role in the Battle of Las Mercedes, leading to the failure of
the plan of the Batista government, which aimed at destructing the Castro forces.
·
He then led fighters
towards Havana for the final push. He also played a crucial role in taking over
Santa Clara, which became the final decisive military victory of the revolution.
On January 8, 1959, Fidel Castro took control of Havana.
·
Guevara took up the
position of a commander of the La Caba�a Fortress prison
and was in charge of instituting revolutionary justice against those considered
to be traitors, informants and war criminals.
·
In June 1959, he
went on a three-month tour to cover the Bandung Pact countries and cities of
Singapore and Hong Kong. Upon returning from the tour, he was made the Minister
of Industries.
·
During his tenure as
the minister, he confiscated land owned by US corporations and re-distributed
the same. In addition to land reform, he stressed on the importance of
literacy.
·
He indulged in
setting up school and educational institutes in rural areas. He emphasized on
the importance of training educators, who in turn would transform the
illiterate masses into literate ones. He also made higher education universally
accessible. During his rule, the literacy rate rose from 60% to 96%.
·
In addition to being
Minister of Industries, he was made Finance Minister and President of National
Bank. In the new profile, he worked towards eliminating social inequalities by
nationalizing factories, banks, and businesses. He even aimed at providing
housing, healthcare, and employment facilities for Cubans.
·
In 1960, he visited
China and Soviet Union and was mainly responsible for the Soviet-Cuban
relationship. He sharply criticized the Soviet bureaucracy. After some time, he
resigned from his governmental duties to resume his work as a revolutionary
abroad.
·
In 1965, he left
Cuba to set up guerrilla troops, first in the Congo and later in Bolivia.
Following year, he tried to convince the people of Bolivia to rebel against the
government but met with little success.
The Great Leader Captured By The Bolivian Army & Taking for Killing !
Personal Life & Legacy
· He tied the martial
knot with Hilda Gadea in 1955. The couple was blessed with a child. However,
the relationship did not last long and the two separated in 1959, after he
informed Gadae about his relationship with Aleida March.
· He then married
Aleida March on June 2, 1959. The couple was blessed with four children.
· His efforts to raise
an uprising in Bolivia not just failed but charged him his life. He was
captured by the government forces and taken to La Hinguera on October 8, 1967.
Following day, Bolivian President Rene Barrientos ordered him to be killed. The
final execution was carried out by Mario Teran, a sergeant in the Bolivian
army.
· It was only in 1997
that the Guevara’s body was found, located near a Vallegrande airstrip. After
confirmation report by forensic anthropologist, his remains were laid to rest,
with military honors, in a specially built mausoleum in the Cuban city of Santa
Clara.
Che Guevera Memorial in Cuba
Falderal
·
He joined hands with
Fidel Castro and played an important and crucial role in the Cuban Revolution.
For his revolutionary actions and rebellions nature, he became an iconic
cultural hero.
Quick Facts
ALSO KNOWN AS
Ernesto
Guevara
NATIONALITY
BORN ON
14
June 1928 AD
BIRTHDAY
CENTURY
DIED AT AGE
39
SUN SIGN
Gemini
Gemini Men
BORN IN
Rosario,
Santa Fe, Argentina
DIED ON
09
October 1967 AD
PLACE OF DEATH
La
Higuera, Vallegrande, Bolivia
PERSONALITY TYPE
Courageous
CAUSE OF DEATH
Executed
CHARACTER TRAITS
Leadership
Qualities
FATHER
Ernesto
Guevara Lynch
MOTHER
Celia
de la Serna y Llosa
SIBLINGS
Roberto,
Juan Martín, Ana María, Celia
SPOUSES/PARTNERS:
Hilda
Gadea (m.1955–1959), Aleida March (m.1959–1967)
CHILDREN
Aleida Guevara, Camilo Guevara, Celia Guevara,
Ernesto Guevara, Hilda Beatríz
This is an edited speech cut up in three pieces from Ernesto Che Guevara's address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 11, 1964. You can find the complete speech plus his reply in the book: "To Speak the Truth" (published by Pathfinder Press) with the title: "Cuba's example shows that the peoples of the world can liberate themselves".