"The loser now will be later to win...
The old order is rapidly fading...
The first one now will later be last,
For the times they are a-changin"-- Bob Dylan
23 December is the anniversary of the invasion of the Maldives by Peshawari Coolies led by Mr Mohamed Didi of Velaanaage. The attempt was defeated and it remains a mystery what happened to the mercenaries. The year was 1910.
Although the attempt failed, the Velaanage dynasty went on to become one of the most influential and controversial in the history of the country. The dynasty's grand patriach is Malinge Hassan Didi who is reputed, as are all of his bloodline, for their courage, made a name for himself during the troubled 1880s in the wake of the atrophy of the longest serving monarch (43 years!). Except for those who have only themselves to blame, those of the Velaanage dynasty are reputed for their indomitable spirit, honesty, probity, and candidness and for their selfless devotion to public service which is probably a hallmark of all dynasties accustomed to positions of leadership.
In 1910, Mohamed Didi and his son were tortured and banished to the island of Fuah Mulah but returned with full force to Male to dominate the country's political scene, especially after the demise of the First Republic.
Ibrahim Nasir, who is the grandson of Mohamed Didi became Prime Minister in 1959 and established the Second Republic in 1968. Although he established the all-powerful executive, he was a great believer in western education, modern infrastructure, free enterprise and egalitarian society. He also ensured that the British could not play hanky-panky with the Maldives and secured full independence in 1965. Nevertheless, Nasir's heavy-handed dealings with the insurrections in the South and repressive measures against political opponents tarnish his overall impressive presidency.
Apart from Nasir, the Velaanage dynasty also spawned the first ever elected Vice President, Ibrahim Mohamed Didi who headed the provisional government after the overthrow of Mohamed Amin Didi, the first ever President of the Maldives and the founder of modern Maldives. Mr Ahmed Zaki, the last Prime Minister also hailed from the Velanaage dynasty.
Today, scions of that clan are everywhere. Defence Minister Shafeeu, Education Minister Zahiya, Trade Minister Jaleel, Foreign Minister Shahid, Justice Minister Muizz, Deputy Foreign Minister Aminath Didi, High Commissioner Shaheed Zaki, High Commissioner-designate Ali Hussain Didi, Home Minister Kamaluddin, Vice President of MDP Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Shadow Defence Minister Amin Faisal, business tycoons Ahmed Mahir Didi and Mohamed Mahir Didi, the intellectual Dr Farahnaz Faisal, all hail from Velanaage.
One of the great differences between Gayoom and Nasir is that Nasir made public servants accountable to their deeds. Perhaps he was able to do it because he did not pack his cabinet or offices with relatives, despite the dominance of the clan. It was Nasir who unravelled the in-bred clan rule and introduced a meritocracy.
Well may Qasim Ibrahim take a commercial loan from SBI to build Velaanage as the tallest building in the Maldives.
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3 comments:
I am at a loss to figure out how the author of this article determined that the vice president of the MDP is a Velaanaage family descendant. Could that be an attempt at a political gate-crash into the “Tallest Building”? It is the MDP vice president’s elder half brother who is the Velaanaage descendant. While mentioning two political appointees to the diplomatic corps, the writer has missed out a newly appointed diplomat who was a former permanent representative at the UN and also the current permanent representative at the UN (New York) as well. They too are descendants of the Velaanaage clan.
PS: While there is a colourful array of prominent Velaanaage in-laws (and at least one prominent ex-in-law), it would be worth mentioning the MDP vice president’s junior wife’s brother-in-law. This particular Velaanaage in-law is, of course, the Maldives commissioner of police. The cocktail thickens!
dhivehi historyge vaahaka dhakkaa komme thaakah mi maajidh jeheytha kofigannan maa molhu meehakah vegen. kihaa bodu undhaguleh mee.
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