Hinduism in Maldives
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[edit] Introduction
The Pre-Islamic religion of Maldives was Hinduism and Buddhism. Islamic Missionaries converted Hindus & Buddhist to Islam.
The importance of the Arabs as traders in the Indian Ocean by the twelfth century A.D. may partly explain why the last Buddhist king of Maldives converted to Islam in the year 1153. The king thereupon adopted the Muslim title and name (in Arabic) of Sultan (besides the old Divehi title of Maha radun or Ras Kilege) Muhammad al Adil, initiating a series of six islamic dynasties consisting of eighty-four sultans and sultanas that lasted until 1932 when the sultanate became elective.
The person responsible for this conversion was a Sunni Muslim visitor named Abu al Barakat. His venerated tomb now stands on the grounds of Hukuru Mosque, or miski, in the capital of Malé. Built in 1656, this is the oldest mosque in Maldives. Arab interest in Maldives also was reflected in the residence there in the 1340s of the well-known North African traveler Ibn Battutah [1]
[edit] Ruins of Hindu temples in Maldives
In the southern island of Nilandhoo a vast Hindu temple complex with many phallic sculptures, unearthed by the Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl and ornate friezes of pre-Islamic Buddhist temples are present [2]
[edit] Indians in Maldives
There are an estimated 9,000 NRIs in the Maldives, according to the census figures computed in the year 2000. This must be considered a relatively high figure, considering that the total population of this country consisting of many islands and atolls in the Arabian Sea is only 269,000 according to the same census [3]
[edit] Status of Indians in Maldives
The Indian Diaspora in the Maldives is mainly composed of Doctors, Teachers, Engineers, Accountants, Managers and other such highly qualified Professionals. They have helped the country in the development of its human resources in many sectors. There are also, in the Maldives, a large number of Indian Skilled and Unskilled personnel, namely, Technicians, MJasons,Tailors, Plumbers and Labourers. They are making a handsome contribution to the developmentof the country’s permanent assets.
It is interesting to note that there is only one Maldivian citizen of Indian origin in this country. There is a good reason for this. Both historically and commercially, people from the southerncoast of India, particularly from Kerala, had been in close and regular contact with the Maldives. But these contacts did not metamorphose into a composite socio-cultural group, perhaps owing to the exclusive Islamic identity of the Maldives and its people. The popularity here of Indian Movies, Music and various Indian products can be attributed to the fact that Indians from the west coast of India have been engaged in a thriving coastal trade with the Maldives for a very long time. The similarity of some words in the local Dhivehi language with Hindi words must indicate the historical process of interaction between the two neighbouring countries [4]
[edit] Present day Hinduism
Hinduism is not widespread in Maldives compared to the official state religion, Sunni Islam. The vast majority of Hindus in the Maldives are of Tamil origin.
[edit] External links
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