Trin-CHE-ra of light.

Born on June 14th, 1928 in Rosario, Argentina, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, better known internationally as «Che», is one of the most iconic figures of the Revolution and socialism for Latin America and the world, as well as being remembered for his prolific career as an author and his role as a political theorist, whose anti-imperialist ideas have influenced many countries and survive to this day.

Closely linked to the Cuban independence cause, Ché was part of the expedition of the Granma yacht, led by Fidel Castro Ruz to fight the Batista regime in the country and, during the war, he reached the rank of commander and played a key role in the victory of the Cuban Revolution by leading the No. 8 Ciro Redondo column, recognized for extending the war to the center of the country and subsequently facilitating the fall of Batista.

Once the Revolution triumphed, he was granted Cuban citizenship and assumed important State and government responsibilities as military chief of La Cabaña and of the Rebel Army Training; head of the Industrialization Department of the National Institute of Agrarian Reform; president of the National Bank of Cuba; Minister of Industries and member of the National Directorate of the Party, among others.

He also became a representative of the Island in notable international conclaves such as the Inter-American Economic and Social Council of Punta del Este or the XIX UN Assembly and was at the head of several Cuban delegations in countries such as Egypt, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Morocco, etc.

In the military field, the Heroic Guerrilla led the Western Region during the mercenary invasion of Playa Giron, establishing the headquarters in Pinar del Rio, a reference point that he also took in 1962 to place the command while the October Crisis was brewing.

Internationalism took him to the Congo, where he set up a guerrilla front against the intervention of mercenaries and their local allies and, later on, he joined the revolutionary movement in Bolivia and, after fighting numerous battles, he was captured by the Bolivian troops in the Yuro ravine, where the following day, on October 9th, 1967, he was assassinated. His remains, after being located and sent to the Greater Antilles, rest in the Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara Memorial Complex, built in his honor in the city of Santa Clara.

This Argentine-Cuban doctor, revolutionary fighter, statesman, writer, strategist, orator, economist and journalist is an international paradigm, not only for his constant struggle against injustice and oppression, but also for his full defense of human rights and equality, and for his dreamer and adventurous spirit that led him to travel through the countries of the Patria Grande and fight until the end for their independence.

Written by Yadiel Barbón Salgado.