A ruler for a considerable span of 49 years, Fidel Castro passed away at the age of 90 on the night of November 25, 2016. Regarded as the father of communist Cuba, Castro had renounced power back in 2008, due to severe health problems. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Raul Castro.
Castro’s rule was marked by nationalisation of industry and business, as well as implementation of socialist reforms throughout Cuba. He politically identified himself as Marxist-Leninist, and during his rule, the country was converted into a one-party communist state.
Fidel Castro played a vital role in the Cuban Revolution. He applied the tactics of guerrilla warfare to overthrow President Fulgencio Batista’s forces in 1959. After Batista’s fall, Castro assumed complete leadership of Cuba.
![The popular leader of the Cuban Revolution, he became the implementer of Communism.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2016-11%2Fda626ead-8b66-4503-95ff-8a8f1c1f5575%2F0d8bd419-89cb-4e91-bc7d-696f9e98c69d.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
He became a hero for the impoverished sections of society, as his government proceeded to socialise medical, cultural and educational facilities.
He challenged the US policies on several occasions, and earned the approval of other agreeable leaders like the late President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez.
![The popular leader of the Cuban Revolution, he became the implementer of Communism.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2016-11%2F454654ee-8df9-4646-9518-13f5e63520c3%2Fe53f88f1-3602-4428-8b90-f1fa37685b5b.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
The revolutionary leader survived various assassination attempts and through his writings and actions, went on to become an important influence all around the world.
We are not only Marxist-Leninists, but also nationalists and patriots.Fidel Castro
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