Seriously ill for over a year, Castro remains one of the planet's most charismatic leaders.
El Presidente, 81, has ruled the tiny Caribbean island of Cuba for 48 years, after overthrowing Fulgencio Batista in 1959.
Castro's longevity is remarkable; through most of his reign, his powerful northern neighbour did everything possible to remove him from power. The cunning Castro thwarted every American conspiracy, including several plots to assassinate him.
The ruthless dictator -- who is known to have imprisoned opponents of his regime -- is said to have ensured a better lifestyle for his people. Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf -- who visited Havana as part of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's delegation in September 2006 -- returned, hugely impressed by the quality of education and healthcare in Cuba.
On July 31, 2006, after undergoing intestinal surgery, Fidel handed over the running of the country to Vice-president Raul Castro, also his younger brother. Rumours about his death have made the news almost every month since, but Castro seems as determined to keep death at bay as he did the CIA's many assassins.
Photograph: Niurka Barroso/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: The Fidel Castro I knew
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