This interview of Ullekh NP is featured on Newslaundry
The Cuban story is crucial. Since 1992, the UN General Assembly has annually adopted a resolution with a majority demanding every year that the US end unilateral sanctions on the island country. This year, the re-election of Donald Trump has triggered fears of further sanctions for Cuba which is yet to recover from the restrictions imposed in the 1990s.
In this episode of Let’s Talk About, Abhinandan Sekhri of Newslaundry catches up with Ullekh NP, an author and journalist who has viewed the Latin American nation through the lens of a Malayali in his latest book Mad About Cuba.
How are Cubans coping with sanctions? Do young Cubans care about the idea of revolution? What are the stereotypes associated with revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara? What is the state of press freedom in Cuba? Why is there no thaw between Cuba and the US unlike the latter’s relationship with Vietnam? Can the Latin American nation go the North Korea way? And is there any similarity between Kerala and Cuba?
Ullekh, who grew up in the Marxist stronghold of Kannur and went to Cuba last year, also discusses the idea behind his book, Kerala’s fascination with communism, and the cultural impact of this affinity. They speak about Fidel Castro, the Cuban Revolution, and adulation for “Chiguara” in Kerala.
Watch the full interview here.
Produced and recorded by Priyali Dhingra and Anil Kumar. Edited by Samarendra K Dash and Hassan Bilal.
Ullekh NP 