Unit 17 Economy, Society and Politics in the Maldives
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UNIT 17 ECONOMY, SOCIETY AND POLITICS IN THE MALDIVES structure 17.0 Objectives 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Land and People 17.2.1 Climate, Soil andvegetation 17.2.2 Demographic Profile 17.3 Society 17.3.1 Ethnicity and Language 17.3.2 Social System 17.4 Politics 17.4.1 Constitutional Development 17.4 2 The Political Events of 1940s and 1950s 17.4.3 The I960 Agreement 17.4.4 Political System under President Nasir 17.4.5 The Regime of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom 17.5 Economy and Fiscal policy 17.6 Foreign Policy 17.7 Let Us Sum Up 17.8 Some Useful Books 17.9 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises , 17.0 OBJECTIVES This unit examines some ofthe important features ofthe society, economy and politics in the Maldives. After going through the unit you will be able to: Describe the demographic features of the Maldives; Identify the nature and important features of the Maldivian society; Trace the political developments leading to the emergence the modern political institutions in Maldives; Describe the main features of the Maldivian polity; and Analyse the economic issues and challenges facing the Maldives. I 17.1 INTRODUCTION 1 Maldives is an archipelago situated in the Indian Ocean. Maldives had long been an L isolated country. However, its economic compulsions and the ever-changing global political scenario have persuaded it to reach out to the outside world. Though it's a small state, today Maldives is an active member of several international organisations and is committed to the principles of non-alignment and peaceful co-existence. These commitments as well as its strategic location in the lndian Ocean have brought international attention to this tiny island nation. These factors have also a bearing on Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU tha fmatmara nnI;t;~nlA~x~~lnnmant in tho Inrlinn nF~anrcsn;nn Country Profiles: Sri Lanka, the Maldives LAND AND PEOPLE Maldives is an archipelago consistingof 1195 coral islands. These islands are grouped into atolls, spreading over an area of 90,000 square kilometres (sq. km) in the Indian Ocean. However, only 202 islands are inhabited. For administrative purpose, the Maldives government has organised the atolls into 19 administrative units, with Male forming a separate unit. Male the capital is strategically located at a distance of 480 km southwest of Kanyakumari. 670 km west of Sri Lanka and 282 km north of the United States' military base on Diego Garcia Islands in the Indian Ocean. The country stretches 823 krn from north to south and 130 km from east to west. However, the coral islands form a total land area of 282 sq. km. About 99% of Maldives comprises of sea and most of the atolls-consist of a large ring shaped coral reef supporting numerous small islands, which are cut by deep, natural channels and lagoon.' The word "atoll" is "an adoption ofthe native name "athollu" applied to the Maldives islands which are typical example of this structure. The reef structure is peculiar to Maldives and is popularly known as "Faru". The reefs provide natural defence against wind and waves. The average area of the coral islands varies from one to two square kilometres with an average elevation of almost 1.6 meters above the mean sea level. The highest place is located on Wilingli Island in the Addu Atoll at an average elevation of 2.4 meters. The islands are generally flat with few mounds. There are no hills, mountains or rivers. Some of the larger islands have small fresh water lakes while others have . brackish water with mangroves along the edges. 17.2.1 Climate, Soil and Vegetation Maldives enjoys a tropical type of climate, which is largely determined by monsoon. However, because of its geographical proximity to the equator, the influence of mon'soon is not as pronounced as in other South Asian countries. The weather is hot and humid and the average temperature ranges from 24OC to 33O C. Although humidity is relatively high, the constant sea breeze keeps the air moving, thus bringing the much- needed respite to the islanders. Maldives has two distinct seasons. First is the rainy season from the month of May to October that starts with the onset of monsoon. The season experiences heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds. The rainfall increases from north to south. The average annual rainfall in the north is 254 cm whereas it increases to 380 cm in the south. The second is the winter season from November to April which is associated with the northeast monsoon. The weather is dry with fewer winds. 'The soil, which is sandy and highly alkaline, is deficient in nitrogen, potash and iron. This severely limits the agricultural potential of the country. Only 10% ofthe Maldives is suitable for cultivation. Based on the type of crops grown, the country can be broadly divided into a northern zone where monsoon millets are cultivated; intermediate zone in which due to poor soil there is little agricultural output apart from coconut, papaya, breadfruit and minor gardening crops; and the southern zone in which a number of islands are predominantly agricultural. In this zone, only the island of Fuah Mulaku produces fruits such as oranges and pineapples partly because the terrain of this island is higher than most other islands, leaving the groundwater less subjected to seawater penetration. Rice, which is the staple food of Maldives is not grown here but imported from other countries. Freshwater, which is used for drinking and agricultural purposes floats as "lens" or layers over the seawater. This freshwater gradually permeates through the limestone and coral san5 of the islands to form one of the sources of underground Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOUwater. This underground water and rainwater are the only two sources of freshwater in Maldives. 17.2.2 Demographic Profile Economy, Society and Politics in the Maldives According to the estiniates of 200 1 population census, tlie country has a total population of 3 10,764. Out of this, 1 59,232 are males and 15 1,532 are females. The average population growth rate is at 3.01%. A look at the crude birth (38.15 births per 100 population) and death rates (8.09 deaths per 1000 population) indicate that there is a huge gap between these two rates, which results in rapid population growth. Net ~nigratio~iis zero, which means the migration does not contribute to ally changes in the total population. Despite this rapidly growing popuiation posing a serious problem, Maldives lacks an effective population co~~trolpolicy. The country has an average pop~~lationdensity of 706 persons per sq. km. According to a government survey conducted in mid-1 980s, out of the 200 inhabited islands only 28 had fewerthan 200 inhabitants, 107 islands had a population between 200 to 500,s had population ranging from 500 to 1000 persons, and 25 islands had population greater than 1000. With nearly 25 per cent ofthe country's population living in the capital city, Male has largest concentration of population. Tliere is hardly any other town in the Maldives. Villages comprise most of the settlements on the inhabited islands. The sparsely populated nature of the islands makes it extremely difficult to develop econo~nicallyviable infrastructural facilities. This in turn limits inter-atoll interaction thereby severely hampering all round development of the country. Check. Your Progress 1 Note: i) Use the space given below for your answers. ii) Check your answer with the model answer given at the end of the unit. 1) .....,............ has the highest concentration of people in the Maldives. 2) Maldives archipelago con~prisesof ....................... Coral islands. 3) The main sources of drinking water are ...................... and ................... 17.3 SOCIETY Arcliaeologically, the history of Maldives dates back to early 2000 B.C. In those times, Maldives had links with the early Egyptians, Mesopotamians and the Indus valley civilization. Thor Heyerdahl, a noted explorer and an expert in marine navigation, believed that the early sun worshipping seafarers called the Redin were the first settlers in Maldives. Even today, the mosques in Maldives face the Sun and not the Mecca. Theravada Buddhism became the dominant religion of the people as a result of colonisation by south Indian and Sri Lankan settlers from the 6th century AD onwards. Sonie believe that tlie name Maldives is derived from the Sanskrit word "maladvipa", which means a garland of islands. Maldives by virtue of its strategic location astride the important maritime trade routes and abundance of cowrie shells (that were used as a form of currency throughout Asia and east Africa till the 16th century) attracted the attention of traders of the Middle East in the 10th century. With the Arab seafarers establishing their ~nonopoly over the Indian Ocean trade routes, their culture began to have a deep influence on the Maldivian society. In 1153 A.D, the Buddhist King converted to Islam and adopted Muslim title and name of Sultan Muhammad a1 Adil. He initiated a series of six dynasties consisting of eighty-four Sultans and Sultanas, which lasted until 1932 when the Sultanate became elective. With the rise of the European nations as maritime powers in the 16thand 17"' century, the Arab hegemony over the maritime trade routes came to an end. In 1558, Maldives came under the Portuguese rule, which administered it from Goa on India's west coast. Fifteen years later, a local guerrilla leader Muhammad Thakurufaan organised popular revolt and drove the Portuguese out of Maldives. This event is now Content Digitized by eGyanKosh, IGNOU commemorated as national day in the Maldives. Country Profiles: In the mid-sixteenth century, when the Dutch replaced Port~lg~~ese(n Ceylon, Maldives Sri Lanka, the Maldives also came under the Dutch control for some time.