My first political experience was with Mao Tse-Tung on 1968-69. That political experience occured in Sudan not in China! I could possibly see right now some surprises on
faces of my valued readers.That was exactly before
second Sudanese military dictator Ga'far Numeri took over power through his coup d'etat in May 25, 1969.
I was at
final level of my intermediate school and about to receive
results of
high secondary school examination that time.
I read a lot of Mao's Red Books during
second democracy in
Sudanese history.
It was called democracy, but I was not sure if it really was!
I always have a lot of DOTS in
Sudanese way of understanding DEMOCRACY and practicing it, because
three periods of what they call democracy in Sudan led to dictatorship. So, what's
odds?!
Well, early in that year of my age in
intermediate school, I had much respect for Mao Tse-Tung so I wore one of his Red beautiful Medals on my T-Shirt just over
heart.
I came this way one evening to
school and found my class-room door
closed. Just before I put my hand on
doorknop, I heard
heavy steps and
voice of
headmaster coming along
corridor. I pushed
door open and entered
class-room to hear some of
students singing and to see one of them dancing.
At that specific moment and exactly while I held my index finger over my lips saying "shhh",
headmaster entered, glanced like an eagle and captured
full "prospects". Everything, even
small details. He was a "rightist" member of one of
top governing parties.
The student who was dancing was a son of a well known Islamic figure in
town. And I who carried Mao's thoughts am a son of a well known unionist member. The majority of my comrades were from
middle class, except few who were aristocratic.