Mi·khail Gor·ba·chev

History is a capricious creature. It depends on who writes it.

If not me, who? And if not now, when?

If what you have done yesterday still looks big to you. You haven't done much today.

If you are not moving forward, you are moving backward.

Those who are late will be punished by life itself.

Sometimes when you stand face to face with someone, you cannot see his face.

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was born on March 2, 1931 in Privolnoye, Stavropol Krai, Russia [U.S.S.R.] and passed away on August 30, 2022 in Moscow. Gorbachev served as the general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 - 1991 & final leader of the Soviet Union from 1988 - 1991. Widely known as being Russia's most progressive leader, Gorbachev adhered to the Marxist--Leninism doctrine but moved towards social democracy by the early 1990s. An ardent proponent of de-Stalinization reforms and a strong advocate for socialist reform in the aftermath of the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe, Gorbachev withdrew troops from the Soviet--Afghan war and engaged in many summits with U.S. President Ronald Reagan for purposes of limiting nuclear proliferation and finding an end to the Cold War. Great efforts made in diffusing grave conflicts on the political agenda led him to being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. Accredited with the prevalence of perestroika (a political movement devoted to reforming the Communist Party of the Soviet Union) & the principle of glasnost (Russian for 'openness'); Gorbachev influenced the Russian people to push for social change in the form of open communication between the Russian Federation and its inhabitants. His view on grave change was rather blunt more so; mentioning that revolutionary change in any country is a matter solely for that country unless it is a Marxist or Communist regime. Gorbachev's views were seen to many as inimical, ranging from fellow Russians to countries such as Cuba; the introduction of such foreign concepts to the Russian people was demonstrably cause for suspicion. Vladimir Putin has gone to the extent of stating that the demise of the Soviet Union was the 'greatest geo-political catastrophe of the 21st century.' Irrespective, Gorbachev's introduction of a market economy and new society in late 20th century Russia has made his reputation one that transcends both political and physical lines. Simply, if it was not for Gorbachev, it is starkly possible that large portions of North America, Europe & Asia may have stopped bearing life a ways ago.