Let me start this work by introducing Addu Atoll and some of its important historical events. When I talk about Addu Atoll I never forget our neighboring Atolls of Fuah Mulaku, and Huvadhu and its friendly people.
Addu Atoll or Seenu Atoll is the southernmost atoll in Maldives. The name of Addu Atoll is taken from a small island called Addu, near Gan Island. This island was destroyed by the Costain Company when they build a staging post for the British Royal Air Force in Gan.
Addu Atoll lies below equator. It is one of the smallest Atolls in the Maldives, but its islands are large, when compared to islands in other Atolls. Inhabited islands are Hithadhoo (Atoll capital), Maradhoo, Maradhu-Feydhoo, Feydhoo, Meedhu and Hulhudhu. In the past Gan and Hankede were also inhabited. The islands Hithadhoo, Hankede, Maradhoo, and Feydhoo were connected by bridge in 1969 when Mr. Moosa Ali Didi was the Atoll Chief. In early 1980s State Trading Organization connected Feydhoo and Gan by a bridge. So now all the islands from Hithadhoo to Gan are connected by bridges. Only recently were these bridges improved by the Maldives Government.
The islands mentioned above lie on the western reef, while Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo lie on the eastern reef of Addu Atoll. At present six islands are inhabited and they are:
Addu Atoll or Seenu Atoll is the southernmost atoll in Maldives. The name of Addu Atoll is taken from a small island called Addu, near Gan Island. This island was destroyed by the Costain Company when they build a staging post for the British Royal Air Force in Gan.
Addu Atoll lies below equator. It is one of the smallest Atolls in the Maldives, but its islands are large, when compared to islands in other Atolls. Inhabited islands are Hithadhoo (Atoll capital), Maradhoo, Maradhu-Feydhoo, Feydhoo, Meedhu and Hulhudhu. In the past Gan and Hankede were also inhabited. The islands Hithadhoo, Hankede, Maradhoo, and Feydhoo were connected by bridge in 1969 when Mr. Moosa Ali Didi was the Atoll Chief. In early 1980s State Trading Organization connected Feydhoo and Gan by a bridge. So now all the islands from Hithadhoo to Gan are connected by bridges. Only recently were these bridges improved by the Maldives Government.
The islands mentioned above lie on the western reef, while Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo lie on the eastern reef of Addu Atoll. At present six islands are inhabited and they are:
Hithadhoo [Atoll Capital]
Maradhoo
Maradhoo-Feydhoo
Feydhoo
Hulhudhoo
Meedhoo.
I would like to add one more thing to this introduction. Maradhoo-Feydhoo is not an island but it is only a part of Maradhoo island. When the Government of Mr. Ibrahim Ali Didi (Faamuladheyri Kilegefaanu) gave Gan to the British to build an R.A.F staging post, the island was inhabited. So the population of Gan was moved to Feydhoo and Feydhoo inhabitants forcefully relocated to the unused land in Maradhoo. So, to give original Feydhoo islanders a separate island, this part was named Maradhoo-Feydhoo.
The Atoll is the most populated area in the Maldives, when compared to the capital Male’. The population of Addu Atoll is about 28,000. But due to many economical difficulties and also due to other things much of the population lives out of Addu Atoll.
The Addu dialect is quite different from the official Dhivehi language. But now it is getting mixed with Dhivehi, mainly because most Adduans live in Male’ or many are employed in resorts around Male’. But we are still proud of our dialect.
In the past, most of the educated people in the Maldives were from the southern atolls, a characteristic that still holds true today. Therefore, many Adduans are well-educated people. But from the very early days the official Dhivehi language was used for written communications. Even when we had the secessionist government of United Suvadive Islands, written communication was in Dhivehi.
I’m proud of my Addu heritage, a heritage borne of unique historical, cultural, and linguistic roots. I’ve taken up this blog to comment on Maldivian politics, culture and history from an Addu viewpoint, and hopefully add to the already varied and colourful world of Maldives blogging.
Maradhoo
Maradhoo-Feydhoo
Feydhoo
Hulhudhoo
Meedhoo.
I would like to add one more thing to this introduction. Maradhoo-Feydhoo is not an island but it is only a part of Maradhoo island. When the Government of Mr. Ibrahim Ali Didi (Faamuladheyri Kilegefaanu) gave Gan to the British to build an R.A.F staging post, the island was inhabited. So the population of Gan was moved to Feydhoo and Feydhoo inhabitants forcefully relocated to the unused land in Maradhoo. So, to give original Feydhoo islanders a separate island, this part was named Maradhoo-Feydhoo.
The Atoll is the most populated area in the Maldives, when compared to the capital Male’. The population of Addu Atoll is about 28,000. But due to many economical difficulties and also due to other things much of the population lives out of Addu Atoll.
The Addu dialect is quite different from the official Dhivehi language. But now it is getting mixed with Dhivehi, mainly because most Adduans live in Male’ or many are employed in resorts around Male’. But we are still proud of our dialect.
In the past, most of the educated people in the Maldives were from the southern atolls, a characteristic that still holds true today. Therefore, many Adduans are well-educated people. But from the very early days the official Dhivehi language was used for written communications. Even when we had the secessionist government of United Suvadive Islands, written communication was in Dhivehi.
I’m proud of my Addu heritage, a heritage borne of unique historical, cultural, and linguistic roots. I’ve taken up this blog to comment on Maldivian politics, culture and history from an Addu viewpoint, and hopefully add to the already varied and colourful world of Maldives blogging.
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