che guevara
Biography of Che Guevara
Full Name and Common Aliases
Full Name: Ernesto Guevara de la Serna
Common Aliases: Che Guevara, El Che
Birth and Death Dates
Birth Date: June 14, 1928
Death Date: October 9, 1967
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: Argentine
Profession(s): Revolutionary, Physician, Author, Guerrilla Leader, Diplomat, Military Theorist
Early Life and Background
Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, known worldwide as Che Guevara, was born on June 14, 1928, in Rosario, Argentina. He was the eldest of five children in a middle-class family of Spanish, Basque, and Irish descent. Despite suffering from severe asthma, Guevara was an avid athlete and excelled in various sports. His early education was influenced by his parents' leftist political views, which exposed him to a wide range of political ideologies and literature.
Guevara pursued a medical degree at the University of Buenos Aires, where he developed a keen interest in leprosy and other diseases affecting the poor. During his studies, he embarked on a series of motorcycle journeys across South America, which profoundly impacted his worldview. These travels exposed him to the widespread poverty, oppression, and social injustice prevalent in the region, shaping his revolutionary ethos and commitment to social change.
Major Accomplishments
Che Guevara's most significant accomplishment was his role in the Cuban Revolution, which led to the overthrow of the Batista regime in 1959. As a key figure in Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement, Guevara's strategic acumen and leadership were instrumental in the success of the revolutionary forces. He was appointed as a commander and played a crucial role in the decisive Battle of Santa Clara, which marked a turning point in the revolution.
Following the revolution, Guevara held several prominent positions in the Cuban government, including Minister of Industries and President of the National Bank. He was instrumental in shaping Cuba's economic policies and promoting industrialization, although his efforts met with mixed results. Guevara also represented Cuba on the international stage, advocating for anti-imperialist and socialist causes.
Notable Works or Actions
Che Guevara is renowned for his writings, which include "The Motorcycle Diaries," a memoir of his transformative journey across South America, and "Guerrilla Warfare," a manual on revolutionary tactics that has influenced insurgent movements worldwide. His speeches and essays, such as "Socialism and Man in Cuba," articulate his vision of a just and equitable society, emphasizing the importance of moral incentives over material rewards.
Guevara's commitment to internationalism led him to support revolutionary movements beyond Cuba. He played a pivotal role in the Congo Crisis and later traveled to Bolivia to incite a revolution against the government. His efforts in Bolivia ultimately led to his capture and execution by the Bolivian army, with the assistance of the CIA, on October 9, 1967.
Impact and Legacy
Che Guevara's impact extends far beyond his lifetime, as he has become an enduring symbol of rebellion and resistance against oppression. His image, immortalized in Alberto Korda's iconic photograph, has been adopted by various social and political movements worldwide. Guevara's life and ideals continue to inspire those who seek to challenge injustice and fight for social change.
Despite the controversies surrounding his methods and the outcomes of his policies, Guevara's legacy as a revolutionary leader remains influential. His writings and actions have left an indelible mark on the history of Latin America and the global struggle for liberation.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Che Guevara is widely quoted and remembered for his unwavering commitment to his ideals and his willingness to sacrifice everything for the cause of social justice. His eloquent speeches and writings articulate a vision of a world free from exploitation and inequality, resonating with those who yearn for change. Guevara's life story, marked by courage, conviction, and a relentless pursuit of revolutionary goals, continues to captivate and inspire people across generations.
His famous declaration, "The true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love," encapsulates the essence of his philosophy and underscores the moral foundation of his revolutionary activities. Che Guevara's enduring legacy as a symbol of defiance and hope ensures that his words and actions will be remembered and quoted for years to come.
Quotes by che guevara
che guevara's insights on:
It is unnecessary to say that Fidel Castro possesses the high qualities of a fighter and statesman: our path, our struggle, and our triumph we owed to his vision.
It is important to emphasize that guerrilla warfare is a war of the masses, a war of the people. The guerrilla band is an armed nucleus, the fighting vanguard of the people. It draws its great force from the mass of the people themselves.
I had a project for my life which involved 10 years of wandering, then some years of medical studies and, if any time was left, the great adventure of physics.
I am one of those people who believes that the solution to the world's problems is to be found behind the Iron Curtain.
A political event was that I met Fidel Castro, the Cuban revolutionary. He is a young, intelligent guy, very sure of himself and extraordinarily audacious; I think we hit it off well.
How easy it is to govern when one follows a system of consulting the will of the people and one holds as the only norm all the actions which contribute to the well being of the people.
The guerrilla fighters should be required to go to bed and get up at fixed hours. Games that have no social function and that hurt the morale of the troops and the consumption of alcoholic drinks should both be prohibited.
I could become very rich in Guatemala but by the low method of ratifying my title, opening a clinic, and specialising in allergies. To do that would be the most horrible betrayal of the two 'I's' struggling inside me: the socialist and the traveller.
I would probably have more in common with a whale than with a bourgeois married couple employed at worthy institutions that I would wipe from the face of the earth if it was given to me to do so.
The peasant must always be helped technically, economically, morally and culturally. The guerrilla fighter will be a sort of guiding angel who has fallen into the zone, helping the poor always and bothering the rich as little as possible in the first phases of the war.