Maldives enjoys 756 years of independence since conversion to Islam

FEATURE by Mohamed Shathir, Haveeru's historical correspondent MALE, July 27 (HNS) - Few countries have enjoyed a prolonged period of independence in their history, Maldives proudly among them. Even before the country's conversion to Islam in June 1153 AD, historical records show that the tiny island nation had remained an independent and sovereign state. Scholars say that a sense of nationhood took shape in Maldives due to everyone's conversion to Islam. Since then, the Islamic faith has been the binding factor of Maldives' social fabric. Only for about a 15-year-period has Maldives been colonized in its post-Islamic 849 years; Maldives was colonized by the Portuguese for about 15 years followed by the Malabars who occupied here for a mere four months. However, Maldives remained a British protectorate for 78 years until 26 July 1965 which is marked as Maldives' Independence Day. Hence, Maldives has enjoyed 756 years of full independence since its conversion to Islam some 800 years ago. Maldives have had its own national heroes, prominent among them King Ali VI who was killed fighting the Portuguese and Mohamed Thakurufaanu, who liberated Maldives from the Portuguese after a prolonged guerrilla campaign. Maldives became a British protectorate on 16 December 1887. One of the reasons why it was so can be attributed to the conditions prevailing in South Asia at that time; the Indian Subcontinent was colonized by the British until mid 20th century. Maldives became a British protectorate following the efforts by Ibrahim Dhoshimeyna Kilegefaanu and his son Ahmed Dhoshimeyna Kilegefaanu. Maldives' leaders then tried to seek independence depending on the prevailing circumstances of the time. On 24 April 1948, Maldives signed an accord with the British which gave Maldives power to govern its domestic affairs. The British was responsible for managing Maldives' foreign relations and international strategies. This accord was signed by Mohamed Amin and Ibrahim Faamuladheyri Kilegefaanu. After the Republic installed by Amin was ousted -- along with him -- Prime Minister Ibrahim Faamuladheyri Kilegefaanu, under the new monarch Mohamed Fareed, was of the view that it was better for the resource-scarce Maldives to remain under Britain's protective shield. He decided to lease Addu atoll Gan to the British as a military base for a 100 years. However, this motion failed to pass at both the Cabinet and the Parliament. It resulted in the resignation of Ibrahim from the post of Prime Minister on 11 December 1957. The new Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir, who was sworn in the next day, was against leasing Gan to the British and believed in Maldives' capability to stay as an independent and sovereign state. However, the British had already started setting up communications centers in Gan and the Maamendhoo region of Hithadhoo island in Addu atoll. The region plunged into turmoil and resulted in the secession of Maldives' four southernmost atolls, Addu, Fuah Mulah and Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaalu atolls to form the "United Suvadiv Republic." This outlawed "republic" lasted from 1959 to 1963. The outcome of these events made Nasir push towards full independence for Maldives. In the meantime, events at home -- including economic troubles -- and in Britain's South Asian colonies conspired against the British, paving the way for all South Asian countries, including Maldives, to achieve full independence. The agreement granting full independence to Maldives was signed in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. At 10 o'clock on the morning of 26 July 1965, the agreement granting independence to Maldives was signed by Nasir on Maldives' behalf, and by High Commissioner Michael Walker on Britain's behalf. Maldives swiftly became a member of the United Nations on 21 September 1965, and on October 12 the same year, hoisted its flag at the UN headquarters in New York. On 29 March 1976, the British left Gan. The British left Maldives for good.