Today is the death anniversary of one of India’s tallest leaders and a PM who laid the foundation of India’s democracy and today we are trying to hold On to it desperately.
In 1947, Nehru with the other parliamentarians decided to follow the democratic principles as laid in the constitution of India by Babasaheb Ambedkar and not make a religious-driven country which had already witnessed blood baths and anti-community riots during partition.
Among all the legends of Nehru, my fav legend is of him and Fidel Castro meeting in NYC. This story makes my heart warm and showcases Nehru’s leadership skills beyond the PR and marketing stunts of today. Silently making a difference.
In 1960 when the world leaders were meeting in NYC for the United Nations general assembly meeting Fidel Castro decided to attend it.
This was exactly a few months after he had overthrown Batista’s government and was declared leader of Cuba.
There was a lot of animosity around him.
All the hotels near the United Nations building refused to let this 34-year-old leader and his entourage stay on their respective premise.
Fidel Castro was not the one to back out so he decided to put tents at the UN premise.
Finally, A kind gesture was shown to him by Hotel Theresa’s owner in Harlem and he decided to move his entourage to the Harlem Hotel.
Despite Fidel being the new leader of Cuba, most of the world leaders hadn’t warmed up to him and were at the fringe edge to recognise him and give him due respect.
The first person ever to visit Fidel Castro was Jawaharlal Nehru.
He went to the hotel without being bothered by what the world will think. For him, it was important to recognise a leader who is putting pro ppl
Socialist regime after Cuba went through years of abuse in the hands of a capitalist government run by Batista.
This gesture of Nehru laid the foundation of the warm bilateral ties and India was one of the first countries to open an embassy in Cuba
Today we all get fearful of the tiniest of things, the weight between truth and our vanity. There are very few leaders In the world who look beyond the said circumstances and are fearless in their approach without bothering the rigid political agendas.
They applaud the truth and stand by it, even when they are alone.
Nehru was one of them.
Hate him as much as you can but his legacy will not change. It can be distorted for a while but truth has its way to shine someday or the other.
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