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According to the history of Maldives, the first settlers were Dravidian people from the nearest coasts viz the Indian subcontinent and the western shores of Sri Lanka. Maldivian language is very much influenced with Sinhalese, Tamil, Sanskrit, Persian, Urdu and Arabic. Emperor Ashoka expanded Buddhism here and it became the dominant religion until the 12th century AD. Even today several mosques in Maldives face the sun and not the Mecca.
Indian Ocean trade route flourished in tenth century and then Maldives identified as the important link in these routes. Middle Eastern seafarers especially Arabs greatly influenced the history of Maldives. They compelled the last Buddhist king of Maldives to convert the religion in 1153. Thus, six Islamic dynasties consisting of eighty four sultans and sultanas ruled in Maldives until 1932.
Portuguese, Dutch and British has also influenced the history of Maldives. Abundance of precious substances like cowry shells, coir rope and ambergris in Maldives attracted Portuguese who established a small garrison which lasted approximately fifteen years. In the mid seventeenth century, Dutch established hegemony but the British expelled them. British era lasted here until 1965. However, British air base was continued on the island of Gan until 1976. British period in Maldives was very eventful.
The 81st monarch Sultan Muhammed Shamsuddin III issued a decree on 19th March 1931 to compile a written constitution for the Maldives. The work of drafting the Constitution began on 22nd March 1931. The Constitution was proclaimed on 22nd December 1932 with full of national honor and grand ceremony. The Constitution contained 92 articles. It took exactly 1 year, 8 months and 22 days from the Sultan's decree to draft a Constitution to the ratification of the document. Eventually it was torn apart by the public the reigning sultan. Again, a new constitution was formed in 1937. One great change can be seen in 1953 when Maldives changed from monarchy to a republic. However, it was short lived.
The greatest challenge came after the British departure. The challenge was the need for rapid economic development and modernization. |
