MALIKU: Is it ours or theirs?

I have seen a lot during my travels in the military, specifically the Coast Guard. In 2002, was the first time I saw Maliku on a horizon, when we were patrolling way up north. It was midnight, and was just the lights of the Maliku Island.

The next encounter was with actual residents from Maliku. This was while I went for a brief military training in Kochin, India, straight after the Tsunami. Some of my peers introduced me to this Maliku family in Kochin. Their speech were the same as ours, accept a few uncommon phrases. So, how come we have the same culture, religion, language and ethnic background but not the same government?

I did some digging myself on this issue. Just something that made me curious. Maliku was known to be included in the rule of our kingdom even during the 17^th century. They were incorporated into the Maldives kingdom during the time. Now we all know Ali Raja of Cannanore right? Later on it was ruled by Ali Raja of Cannanore.

Story has that, after a cyclone devastated the island, a delegation came to Male’ for the assistance of the then king. Since the king couldn’t offer the people of Maliku aid and assistance, they returned. This was the time they asked for assistance from Cannanore. Ali Raja was forced to hand the atoll to the British East India Company in 1790.

After the British rule of India, in 1956 Maliku was given a choice of which country to join, Pakistan or India. Maldives was not in the picture of course. Majority decided to join India, and that’s how the atoll is under Indian flag. This was also the end of our contact with them. Under its regulation (Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands Regulations, 1967), Maldivian nationals are specified, to get special restricted permission to enter Maliku, for not more than 15 days. Permission is granted from the Indian embassy in Male’.

Our president claimed Maliku atoll as ours in 1983, but unfortunately a claim that cannot be achieved. India today uses the atoll for crucial scientific research. They are not in anyway keen on giving the atoll away to us. This does make sense. India isn’t keen on any more of our influences on Maliku.

So there you go, a group of us under another rule. My thought? They made the decision and they are better off the way they are.