Jorge Aliaga Cacho

Jorge Aliaga Cacho

Jorge Aliaga was born in Lima, Peru. He studied primary education in “La Rectora”, attended secondary school, intermittently, at various institutions:

Very young, at 16 years old, the author ventured into politics. He first participated in the Peruvian Committee for the Liberation of Angela Davis. Also served on the Committee to Support the Struggle of the Vietnamese people. By this time gets his first job as accounting clerk, then was passed to the billing department to work as a debt collector. Through the streets of Lima, he discovered not only the architecture of the city, but the idiosyncrasies of his people that he registers accurately in the content of his writing. In 1973, Aliaga travelled to Cuba.where he had the opportunity to participate in an event hosted by Fidel Castro and Angela Davis's sister, Rosa Davis, a prominent activist in the American Black Power. After a few weeks in Cuba, the author travelled to Berlin to participate in the X World Festival of Youth and Students. The trip was on board the Cuban ship "XX Aniversario" in which also travelled: Teofilo Stevenson (Cuban Olympic boxing champion), Rosa Davis and Peruvians Juan Gonzalo Rose, Mario Delgado and Susana Baca, (current Minister of Culture in Ollanta Humala`s new government). In 1974, he was appointed administrator of the bookshop “Siglo XX” in Lima where he promoted socialist literature. In 1975, Aliaga entered the National Institute of Culture where he was elected President of the Association of Workers (ATINC). In his capacity as Chairman of the ATINC, he played an important role in the formation of the Intersectoral Confederation of State Employees (CITE). Aliaga in 1978 enrolled in the first course for Animators and Cultural Promoters sponsored by UNESCO in Lima, In 1981, Jorge Aliaga, exiled in the United Kingdom, travelled to London, then headed to Scotland. He was engaged in a variaty of jobs: art model, restauranteur, officer of the British Airports Authority, translator and interpreter, news researcher, teacher, etc. He opened the first Peruvian Peña in the UK: "Café Peña Jananti" which soon became a centre for activity and promotion of Peruvian and Latin American culture. This venue was frequented by artists and personalities such as: Chilean classical guitar player, Galo Cerón, Bolivian bands: Awatiñas, Rumillajta, Inti Raymi. Polish fashion designer; Bozena, Chilean singer: Carlos Arredondo, Peruvian band: Apu, members of Chilean band  Inti Illimani, Scottish actor: Russel Hunter, who appeared in programmes ranging from Taggart to Doctor Who. Jimmy Boyle, French photographer: Stephane Erviel, Mexican painter: Felipe,  Scotthis miner's leader: Mick Magahey, television presenter: Muriel Gray, Green Party leader: Robin Harper, peace campaigner: Ray Newton, Communista Party leader, Gordon McLennan, Morning Star journalist: Arthur Milligan, Scottish photographer: Iain Mackay, Kjarkas' singer, Edgar Villarroel, Martin and Carmen Donaghy, Salvadorean Theatre Group: Guanaco, Peruvian writer: Carlos Eduardo Zavaleta, Scottish poet: David Smith,  artist from Cusco: Amaru de Tinta, Ernesto Valdez Chacón, Julio Benavente Díaz, Chilean political activists: José and Judith Cerón, Stuart Moir, Margaret Ingils. Hispanic friends; John Beaven, Nano Fernández, Freddy Ramirez, Ruby Cerón. Scottish campaigners: Anna Munro, Francesca Green and Violet Williamson, Anne and Andina Aliaga, among others. 
Jorge Aliaga studied at Glasgow University where he received a Masters in Sociology and Latin American Studies. He also studied at St Andrew´s University where he read the Literature of the River Plate and the Latin American Essay. He was an active member in the Trade Union movement and Politics in Scotland. In Edinburgh, he had the opportunity to meet Julieta Campusano, Minister of Salvador Allende, and coordinated with her activities of solidarity with Chilean people oppressed by dictator Pinochet. He was also unión representative of the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) and supported the struggle of the miners in Scotland. With NUPE, he organised a strike at the Edinburgh College of Art, which culminated in a successful negotiation of a list of demands that won higher wages, bonuses and permanent contracts for Art Models in all art schools in Scotland. He was also President of the Latin American Society at the University of Glasgow, President of Scottish Peruvian Friendship Society, founding member of the Communist Party of Scotland and the Scottish Socialist Party. Jorge Aliaga did teacher training at the University of Edinburgh. He has taught Spanish, Literature and Latin American history at George Heriot's School, Telford College, West Lothian College, Spanish Language Consultancy and other schools in Scotland. He was awarded, among others, the Medal of the “City of Ayacucho” the place where Latin Americans sealed their independence from Spain. 

Publications

"La Casa de la Magdalena", Olaya Editores, (1977), a history of the house of Simon Bolivar in Peru, "Essays of Resistance" Univesity of Glasgow, (1991), three essays on Latin America, "Terrorism in Peru", Jananti, Edinburgh, 1995, a tale of the war between the government of Peru and the Shining Path insurgent organisation. He has also translated the essay "El destino de Norteamérica " by Jose Carlos Mariategui into English, Prontaprint, Edinburgh, 1998.: "The destiny of North America." He has published a novel, "Secreto de desamor", Renteria Editores, Lima, 2007 and a book of short stories: "Mufida, La angolesa", Editores Altazor, Lima, 2011.

Jorge Aliaga Cacho leyendo en París.