Indian ambassador to Cuba pays tribute to Che Guevara

SANTA CLARA, Cuba, Jun 16 (ACN) Armstrong Changsan, India's ambassador to Cuba, paid tribute on Sunday to Commander Ernesto Che Guevara at the Sculpture Complex named after him in the central city of Santa Clara.

The diplomat, accompanied by local authorities, laid a wreath before the statue of Che and toured the museum that preserves the memory of the heroic guerrilla and the fighters of the Las Villas Front. In a gesture of deep respect, Changsan wrote in the visitors' book a statement reflecting his people's admiration for Che's legacy.

"Being at Che Guevara Square is a great honor and a moment of deep reflection. Che is not only a symbol of struggle and justice for Cuba, but a universal inspiration for peoples seeking freedom and dignity. His visit to India in 1959 sowed the seeds of our friendship, which today flourishes strongly. On behalf of the Indian people, I pay tribute to his eternal legacy," the ambassador told the Cuban News Agency.

Che's visit to India between June 30 and July 4, 1959 marked the beginning of diplomatic ties between the two nations, which were strengthened with the opening of embassies to New Delhi and Havana. On January 12, 1960, the first head of the Indian mission presented his credentials in Cuba, laying the foundations of a fraternal relationship that celebrated 65 years this 2025.

Throughout these six decades, bilateral relations have been strengthened by high-level exchanges. Among the historic milestones were Fidel Castro's visits to New Delhi in 1973, received by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and in 1983, for the handover of the Pro-Tempore Presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement, of which both countries are founding members. For its part, Cuba hosted Indian Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi in 1985, Manmohan Singh in 2006 and President Shri Ram Nath Kovind in 2018.