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.