Why was Stalin called the “leader of the peoples” and what did the Indians have to do with it?
To be honest, I have never thought about this question, well, a leader and a leader, a ruler in a word, still understandable. However, this story has its own, quite unexpected, subtext.
The phrase “leader of the peoples” quickly became popular and many did not even suspect its origin. Strange as it may sound, it was established on the territory of America, and it was during the Great Patriotic War, namely in January 1942.
While our troops were driving the Germans away from the walls of the capital, a congress of representatives of all Indian tribes was held on the territory of the United States. Yes, many of us have a strong association that Indians are narrow-minded, poorly educated people who only know how to hunt buffalo and fight cowboys. In fact, this is not entirely true. In those years, that is, during the Second World War, there were already a number of indigenous Indians in the United States, as they say, counted on the fingers of one hand. Urbanization was developing, and the chiefs were well aware that if this continued, there would be no indigenous Indians left at all. In fact, that is why it was decided to organize itself in a centralized way and hold such congresses from time to time. Why congresses? Because they liked the whole structure of the communist system, which they were trying to copy. Of course, this idea did not last long, but at least they tried.
What does Stalin have to do with it at all? The fact is that the Indians, as well-known fighters for the independence of their native lands, were very inspired by the victories of the Red Army. Let me remind you that the Battle of Moscow came just in time. For them, Stalin was a kind of example of the leader of his people. That is why, at that very congress, the Indians, albeit formally, unanimously elected Stalin “Honorary Chief of all the Indians of America.” Officially, this title sounded exactly like that.
But the title is one thing, and it is necessary to inform the leader himself that he now has more peoples. On this occasion, the national headdress of the leader was sent to Moscow. It was a crown made up of the feathers of eagles, quite rare breeds. For example, no one in the United States had such crowns. In addition to the crown, Stalin was sent two more Indian battle axes, which are called “tomahawks”.
Stalin was very flattered by such attention and personally sent a telegram of thanks in return and a promise of long mutual cooperation. But that was the end of it. He did not wear an Indian crown of feathers, which is logical, but the phrase “leader of the peoples” took root and went to the masses. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the leader, that is, in 1949, this crown was exhibited in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, as an exhibit, as part of the exposition of gifts to Stalin, which he received in different years.