Friday, September 10, 2010
Maldives Live
Maldives, a country of exquisite islands and absolute touring pleasure, has undergone several transformations in cultural and political terms since the ancient days. Maldives culture bears influences from multiple communities which originated from differant parts of the world. It is diverse and rich in artfull skills.The abundance of natural marine resources, and its strategic importance of the location have attracted many eyes, including colonial ambitions. This, in turn, made those early visitors contribute their inherited cultural mementos.
There is no concrete conclusion to the origin of the beginners of civilization in Maldives , but comparitive studies of Maldivian culture and customs suggest that they are most likely to have come from the southern parts of the Indian subcontinent. There is prominent influence of Sinhalese, Sanskrit and Tamil in Maldivian language (though hints of Arabic, Urdu and Persian also exist). The Historians also believe that the Aryan immigrants from India and Sri Lanka came here in the 5th century BC. Until 1153, Buddhism was practiced. During its earliest decades, Maldives was governed by Kings and Queens (occasionally), but in 1153, a huge conversion to the Islam practices took place when the king adopted Islam, by a learned scholar. The governance of the Monarchy took its inception. The Portugese found their interest in this prolific source of Cowry Shells, Ambergris and Coir Ropes. They seized control in 1558 after attacking the Capital Male'; that was the time when colonial invasions started hunting this nation. But after a restless period and attempts made against the Portugese Ruling, Maldives regained its control. The nation came under British protectorate in 1887. Finally, Maldives achieved independence in 1965 and the republic was established.
Maldivian culture has evolved with different elements from several sources, but closer connections can be attributed to those from South India and Sri Lanka. African elements are also visible in some islands of the Northern Ari Atoll and Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll. With later influence from the Northern part of the Indian subcontinent, the language is said to be of Indo-Iranian Sanskrit origin. Belonging to the conversion in the 12th century, the central ideas of religious faith is dominated by Islamic traditions.
There is no remarkable archeological artifact of the earliest Maldives civilization. The headmen of the society did not mandate getting a palace of stone build for them to reside. There was no religious requirement of large temples or compounds. The buildings were possibly made of wood and other perishable materials which have been decayed by salt and wind of the tropical climate. You can see the music played with bodu-beeru, bearing close resemblence to African drumming. The unique Maldivian sailing boat "Dhoni" has congruence with the typical Arabian dows and demonstrates high skilled craftsmanship. The fine artistic capabilities are evident in the subtle designs on the wood beams of antique mosques. This represents the inspiration of South East Asian architecture. The incomparable geometric designs on mats, the embriodered necklines and ornaments as a part of women's traditional dress, spot another notion of creativity. These art might have been derived from some unknown origin.
Maldivian society is very adaptive to cultural reformations and influences from outside. The basic occupation of fishing still prevails in the local lifestyle where tourism, quite evidently, has occupied a large share of the commercial activities. Despite the traditional belief of 'Unity in Faith', a whole new idea of liberalization has taken place with changes in time. Waves of modernisation have characterised new dimension to its belief and identity.
Well, did you notice that Maldives' history of invasions is very much similar to India's?
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