Fuvammulah (Fua Mulaku)
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Fuvammulah |
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| Island Summary | |
| Belongs to | Gnaviyani Atoll |
| Location | 0° 16' 45" S, 73° 24' 30' E |
| Area | |
| Population | 7642 |
| Length | 4500 m |
| Width | 1200 m |
| Distance from Malé | 494 km |
| Administrative Information | |
| Island Chief | Ahmed Moosa |
| Island office phone | +960 6860041 |
| Island office fax | +960 6860001 |
Fuvammulah or Fua Mulaku (Dhivehi: ފުވައްމުލައް) is a large single island in the Maldives. It is one of the administrative divisions of the Maldives under the name Gnaviyani Atoll or Nyaviyani Atoll. The inhabitants speak a distinctive form of the Dhivehi language, known as Mulaku baha which is somehow in between the forms of Dhivehi spoken in Huvadu and Addu.
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[edit] Geography
The island is about 4.5 km by 1.2 km with a sumberged reef (Rashikedefaro) extending for about three km in a SE direction. In the distant past Fua Mulaku was a small coral atoll whose southern end was open at a spot called Diyarehifaando and the inside of the island was a saltwater lagoon forming a natural harbour. There is a spot in the southern end known as a Kudhuheraivali (the forest of the small islet), which indicates that there was a separate little island in that area in ancient times. But long ago the channel connecting the lagoon with the ocean was closed by massive coral boulders. Thus the inside of the island is lower than its edges. In time the inner lagoon lost its saltiness and all that remains today are two small lakes, wetlands and marshy taro fields. Therefore Fua Mulaku is a small Atoll that closed and filled in with silt, like Ouvéa Island in the SW Pacific.
The northern lake of the island is known as "Dhadimagi-Kilhi" and the southern is known as "Bandaara-Kilhi" (lit. 'Harbour Lake' because formerly there was much talk among the locals about making a harbour by connecting it with the sea through a canal). Lacking a lagoon and being subject to violent ocean swells, Fua Mulaku island was often inaccessible fof navigators. Recently a harbor has been built at the SE tip of the island, but it is not easy to use in the often harsh weather conditions.
Fua Mulaku was traditionally divided into nine villages (clockwise from the Northern end): Dhadimago, Hōdhado, Mālegan, Dūndigan, Funādo, Miskimmago, Dhashokubai, Mādhado and Diguvāndo. Nowadays the number of villages has been reduced to eight, since the village of Dashokubai was merged with Miskimmago. Each district has a chief who is accountable to the island chief.
[edit] Economy
Fua Mulaku is higher at its edges that at its centre, in which there are two small lakes, wetlands and marshy taro fields. Compared to other islands in the Maldives the water is very good and the ground is quite fertile and it is one of the few islands where agriculture and market gardening have some relevance. The main crops are bananas, mangos, taro, breadfruits, citrus fruits, and other less important agricultural products.
Like many islands in the Maldives, Fuvammulah depends upon Fishing, Agriculture and Business. 62 Dhonis are engaged in fishing. Fuvahmmulah is the second largest producer of Watermelon in Maldives, just after Thoddoo. The island produce enough to serve its people, supply to Addu and supply to the capital Male'. Watermelons are commonly produced during the holy month of Ramadan when demand peaks. Apart from watermelons the island is also a major supplier of Mango, Banana and Cucumber. Traditionally local people used to grow and eat taro as a staple in marshy fiels called Ala Elhe.
Lacking a lagoon and being subject to violent ocean swells, Fua Mulaku island was often inaccessible fof navigators. Recently a harbor has been built at the SE tip of the island, but it is not easy to use in the often harsh weather conditions. The harbor of Fuvammulah was difficult to build for the environmental effects of building a harbor in an island subject to powerful ocean swells were (and still are) not known. Owing to the location of the island, several years of research had to be done and the construction and development of the harbor itself took over two years. Hojgaard & Schultz of Denmark undertook the project. The harbor has boosted economic growth and attracted investors who were reluctant to invest in Fuvammulah. This harbor has also been a usual anchor spot for MIFCO fish carrier vessels. Despite its isolation, this island has no airstrip.
Another project known as Fuvammulah Tourist Hotel, is underway. This project aims to create tourist hotel, promoting tourism in Fuvammulah, boosting the economy.
[edit] Demography/Education/Transport
The high rate of fertility has resulted in overpopulation. With almost 10,000 inhabitants, the availability of land for market gardening is steadily diminishing. According to the preliminary results of the census 2006 Fuvahmulah had a total population of 7642, population increasing at 0.25% per year. The population consists of 3546 males and 4078 females, giving a sex ratio of 100 females per 87 males.[1]
Fuvahmulah is served by 4 pre-schools, 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school (which also serves as a higher-secondary school.)
Formerly there were many bicycles in Fua Mulaku, an ideal mode of transportation in this flat, large island. But presently there is a great number of motorcycles. The construction of Fuvammulah Harbor has givien way to a sudden boost in the number of vehicles - notably motor cycles - in the island. This, on the other hand has increased road accidents, many of them fatal.[2]
The Dhiraagu communications antenna, located in the premises of Dhiraagu Fuvammulah Operations Centre, is the tallest structure in the Maldives.[3] The antenna stands 400 feet (121 meters) tall. It connects Gaafu Alif Atoll, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll and Fuvammulah to the rest of the nation.
[edit] Notable Events
On February 04, 2007 a fire at the Community Center burnt down the whole building. The fire started around 3:00 AM local time. The Regional Fire Services, Maldives Police Services along with locals contained the fire, almost 2 hours after the fire started. Although investigation was carried out by the Police, no reports were published. Police said that the most possible cause of the fire was an electrical short. However most locals believe that the fire was intentionally started given that the president Gayyoom was scheduled to visit the island just two days after the fire.
On February 23, 2007 a fire started at the boat yard near the harbour.[4] The fire completely burnt 6 fiber glass dhows. 4 of these dhows were 100 feet and the remaining 2 were 40 feet long. This fire also started around 03:40 AM local time. Fire was first spotted, instantly after the fire started by a local fisherman. The Fire Service was called immediately. But since fiber glass resin is highly flammable, and there was no sprinkler system, the fire spread to the 6 dhows and the fiber glass resin barrels in the yard. It took the fire personnel, Maldives National Defence Force and local 2 hours to contain the fire. A forensics team of the Maldive Police Service did the investigation. All the dhows were insured. In an interview with media, the atoll chief said the loss is estimated to be around MRF 20 Million, although insurance companies never publicly disclosed the figures. This fire is said to be the worst fire in the history of the island.
[edit] History
Little is known about the history of Fua Mulaku. All that remains are some landmarks of the historical past. These include the Vasho-Veyo, an ancient circular bath with stone steps which reveals great craftmanship in the cutting of Porites coral stone (hirigal) by the locals. Other monuments reflect the strong influence of Islam, like Gemmiskki', a neat compound including a coral stone mosque, an ancient graveyard and a well, found in the northern end of the island. Gemmiskki' is said to be the oldest mosque in Fuvammulah.
There is also an ancient Buddhist stupa known as Havitta in Fuvammulah. Its actual shape has been lost because of the damage done by careless diggings to find valuable artifacts or for bungled research purposes. The Hawitta is about 40 feet in height and it looks like a small hill. A small mound, about 15 feet in height can also be found near Havitta.
An ancient local poem says: "Havitta uhe haudahau, Redin taneke hedi ihau". This poem gives us the clue about the name 'Redin'. Thor Heyerdahl erroneously claimed that 'Redin' were people coming from somewhere else, but according to Magieduruge Ibrahim Didi, a learned man from this island, it was the name by which the converted Maldivians called their infidel (ghairu dīn) ancestors after the general conversion to Islam. (Thor Heyerdahl visited this island and wrote a book which is named 'Fua Mulaku' in its German edition.)
This island is known by geographers as Fua Mulaku. This name is more widely known internationally. The origin of this name is in the ancient local poem 'Rashoveshi' where the name of the island in the first line is in the vocative: "Fua Mulaku nan ivē medu adi fen heu rashē..."
This island was depopulated and resettled twice in the last thousand years owing to lethal epidemics. The last time the survivors of the epidemic went to Addu Atoll and stayed there for a few years.
One historical characteristic of this island is that only members of the Maldive Royal family or belonging to the very high nobility were exiled to Fua Mulaku. During long exiles, some nobles married local ladies. This accounts for the many families in Fua Mulaku that claim noble descent by having the title 'Dīdī' appended to their names.
During the secession of the Southern Atolls from the North (1959-1963), Fua Mulaku was part of the Suvadive Islands. Nothing eventful happened during those years except that once a boat with soldiers from Male' sent by the central government tried to disembark unsuccessfully at Rasgefanno. The island people gathered at the beach and threw stones to the soldiers. The latter fired and one man of the island died instantly. The bullet hit him in the head and his skull burst open.
[edit] Natural Phenomena
There is a beautiful broad sandy beach at the northernmost point of Fua Mulaku. It is locally known as "Thūndu" (In official Dhivehi "thundi"). Its sands are formed by white small round pebbles, which are unusually smooth and shiny. It used to be common for a phenomenon called Bissaaveli to form at the Thūndu. The Bissaaveli forms when part of the sand of the beach moves away from the shore towards the edge of the reef, thus creating a lagoon, enclosed by sand and the shore of the island. This natural event attracts hundreds - possibly thousends - of locals who love to go to watch it. When it is well-formed, the Bissaveli is enclosed from all sides, creating like a natural shallow swimming pool where locals like to swim. However, since the construction of the Fuvammulah harbor began in 2000, this phenomenon has not occurred. It is believed that the construction of harbor somehow affected the current patterns around the island which caused this natural phenomenon.
Another natural phenomenon called Kalho-Akiri (meaning "Black Pebbles") occurred in the south-east shore of the island. This area only had black pebbles. However, the construction of harbor has adversely affected this phenomenon as well.
Once yearly, towards the end of the SW monsoon season, there would be flying fish (Hulammaha) landing in the SW shore of the Fua Mulaku. Confused by the number of voracious tuna shoals in the water and by aggressive frigate birds hunting them from the air, the flying fish would end up flying close to the beach between a spot called Hanji Elhe and Mānere. Men, women and children like to go down to the reef to catch the flying fishes by hand in the midst of a joyful atmosphere. During that season Fua Mulaku people living away from the island would ask their relatives in the island the following question: "Hulammaha lā?"
[edit] Notables
Many figures from Fuvammulah have had been leaders in politics, religion and in business since early times. One of the most notable figures is the all-time famous Dhivehi poet Mohammad Jamaaluddeen, also know as Naibu-Thutthu. He wrote several raivaru (Maldive couplets) books. These raivarus are still taught and examined in schools, as part of Dhivehi language module. Not only was he good at literature, but also was appointed as chief justice. The current chief justice Ustaz Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim is also from Fuvammulah. He is also the president of Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Dr.Mohamed Zahir Hussain, President of College Council (a ministerial level post)and founder of the most popular daily newspaper Haveeru is also a native Fuvammulah citizen. Among other notables from the island includes the current Minister of Justice Mr. Mohammed Jameel and current Minister of Housing and Urban Development Mr. Ibrahim Rafeeq. The latter is one of the entrepreneurs of the Rainbow group.
[edit] References
H.C.P. Bell, The Maldive Islands, An account of the physical features, History, Inhabitants, Productions and Trade. Colombo 1883, ISBN 81 206 1222 1
Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84 7254 801 5
- ^ "Preliminary Results of Census 2006".
- ^ "ފުވައްމުލަކުގައި ހިނގި އެކްސިޑެންޓެއްގައި ޒުވާނަކު މަރުވެއްޖެ", Aafathis New - Maldives.
- ^ Dhiraagu history.
- ^ "Haveeru News".
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Fuvahmulah Photo Collection
- Articles about Fuvahmulah - Haveeru Online
- (Dhivehi) Articles about Fuvahmulah - Haveeru Online
- Photos and Videos of Fuvammulah
