Here is a look at what the youngsters in India have to say about Che:

'Che stood up for people across boundaries'

Shrujana, 14.
Class 10 student

Though I have always been hearing the name Che Guevara from Mama and Dad, it was at the World Social Forum (which was held in Mumbai in 2004) that I actually found out who Che really was.

I had tagged along with Mama and was there all five days. There were so many people from all over the world. There were all sorts of mementos and books. I was naturally interested and that was when I witnessed the most the interesting aspect of Che.

I learnt, unlike most leaders, he was someone who stood up for people across boundaries. Even though he was born in Argentina, he worked for the betterment of the downtrodden in many other countries. That characteristic was what set him apart from other leaders of the world I knew then.

Another interesting aspect of Che is something that even his daughter drew attention to. She said Che was not a fashion icon and that it was wrong to see him that way.

Now, there are two ways this thing works.

One way to look at it is to see the kind of reach that fashion facilitates and then think how many of these people his ideas will trickle down to.

Another way is to see the gains that the capitalists make by marketing Che. So, it works either way.

At the end of the day it is up to the people who buy these T-shirts to decide what they want to see in the whole exercise.

But the best way to spread and popularise Che is by social interaction. This is something I have made a point to do. I speak about him with my friends and there is always a healthy -- if also heated -- debate about his ideals.

There is this friend of mine who when I questioned the theory of Adam and Eve just couldn't accept the fact that there was another way of looking at things. In that way, social interaction is a way in which Che's ideals can be discussed and debated.

Coming to what he means to India, I think our country is not ready for a Left system. Even the Left parties that we have now are not actually Left in the real sense.

In such a scenario the ideals of Che are very relevant. But it depends on the people as to what they want to embrace. Finally Che is someone who has to be taken very seriously in this capitalist world.

Shrujana spoke to Krishnakumar