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Velanaagey Family: Prominent members
of the Malé nobility circa 1900
Seated on the chair is Malingey Hassan Velaanaa Manikfan. He was
the chief admiral of the naval militia. Standing from left is Velaanaa
Manikfan's younger son Velaanaagey Ibrahim Didi; their relative
Foolhumaagey Ismail Didi and Valaanaa Manikfan's elder son Velaanaagey
Mohamed Didi. The little girl sitting on her grandfather's lap is
probably Mohamed Didi's eldest daughter Valaanaagey (also known
as Velidhoogey) Tuttu Didi. Her mother was Athireegey Tuttudon Didi
daughter of Athireegey Ibrahim Dorhimeyna Kilegefan.
Note that Velaanaagey Ibrahim Didi
in this photograph is not the more well known person of that name
who was the vice president of the first Maldive republic (1953).
The person here is the vice president's uncle.
Hassan Velaanaa Manikfan was the son of Malin Manikfan, son of Beeru
Hassan Didi and Zeinab Didi daughter of Ibrahim Sirajeddine Chief
Justice. Sirajeddine's father was Kateeb Ahmed Mohyeddine son of
Hassan Tajuddine Chief Justice and well known historical chronicler.
Sirajeddine's mother was Fatima Rani Kilegefan daughter of Ibrahim
Iskander II King of Twelve Thousand Isles and Sultan of the Maldives
and Aysha daughter of Hassan Hakuraa Thakurufan of Thakandu.
Prominent members of the Borah Indian
merchant community in Malé - 21 July 1938
The foreign merchants who controlled most of the export, import
and retail trade in Malé from the mid-nineteenth century
until the early 1960s consisted mainly of Borah Ismaili Mohamedans.
They were originally from the Indian province of Bombay but had
considerable business and family connections in Colombo. Here they
call at the entrance of the public reception hall of the Royal Etherekoilu
Court to pay their respects to Hassan Nooreddine II Iskander King
of Twelve Thousand Isles and Sultan of the Maldives on the occasion
of his coronation or koli ceremony. The merchants are being received
by Velaanaagey Mohamed Didi, Under Secretary of State for the Interior.
The merchants presented the sovereign with a grandfather clock
Koli ceremony to proclaim a coronation
in Malé
Coronation proclamations of kings and queens and other important
state announcements were made by a herald who walked the inner ring
road of Malé. At intersections the herald would call out
the proclamation and beat his gong, called koli, a number
of times. The coronation koli ceremony was slightly different, with
the proclamation read by an official known as the Aboonayake.
This photograph shows the procession proclaiming the coronation
of Hassan Nooreddine II Iskander King of Twelve Thousand Isles and
Sultan of the Maldives. Here the herald, Koli Kalhu Tuttu, with
his gong and baton walks past the guards' platform (Faaravereenge
Arhi) outside the public reception hall of the Royal Etherekolu
Court to make his exit to an outer courtyard through the guards'
gate (Faaravereenge Doraarhi). A household militia officer
of the Kudibeykalun regiment stands guard at the gate. Behind the
herald is a deputy to the Maabandeyri or the chief of palace staff.
Behind him is the Aboonayake, who on this occasion, was the Minister
of the Interior Prince Hassan Farid Didi. Behind the Aboonayake
is Velaanaagey Mohamed Didi, Under Secretary of State for the Interior.
The coronation ceremony was attended by Sir Andrew Coldicott, K.C.M.G;
C.B.E, Governor of Ceylon as the representive of George VI King
of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, accompanied by
a Royal Navy Guard of Honour.
Close-up: the Aboonakaye and his Under Secretary of State
Close-up: With gong in his left hand and baton in the right, the
koli herald, Koli Kalhu Tuttu, marches past the guards' platform
towards the guards' gate. When not in use the gong usually hangs
from the chain seen above on the right. The gong suspended from
the other chain is the hour gong. Guardsmen on duty operated an
hour glass before the days of mechanical clocks. Begining at the
conclusion of the sunset drum beat called naaba, guardsmen would
strike the hour gong every three hours during the night, to mark
the change of the night watch.
King in procession in the late 1930s
A household miltiaman holds the state parasol called haiykolhu
over the head of Hassan Nooreddine II Iskander King of Twelve Thousand
Isles and Sultan of the Maldives as he walks on the street of Malé.
Someone asked the site editor if the king was taking a call on his
mobile phone. No they did not quite have mobile technology in the
1930s and 40s! A few paces behind on the right is the Prince Ali
Nooreddine Manippulu, the sovereign's elder son. Like many of his
grandchildren, such as the Prince Ibrahim Nooreddine and the Prince
Sayyid Ali, Hassan Nooreddine II Iskander was an accomplished sportsman
and took a keen interest in tennis and photography.
Hassan Nooreddine II Iskander King of Twelve Thousand Isles and
Sultan of the Maldives and entourage proceed in state on the streets
of his capital. Early 1940s.
Coronation Proclamation
Teachers, callers to prayer and readers
of the sermon! City dwellers and wayfarers! Dignitaries and commoners!
Minors and adults! Women and men! All you subjects hear this, witness
this and understand this!
The Sultan and Conquering Hero Hassan Izzuddine Iskander by Sublime
Peace, the Immaculate, the Exalted, of the Golden Race, pure and
majestic Warrior of the World, King. Claiming their royal status
from his noble Dynasty, reigned several kings. Among them was the
Sultan Mohamed Imaduddine Iskander by Sublime Peace, the Immaculate,
the Exalted, descended from the Moon and the Sun, endowed with the
knowledge of the Arts and the Sciences, pure and majestic Warrior
of the World, King. To Him was begotten by conception in the royal
womb of the Likeness of a Thousand Perfect Pearls in the Realm of
Kings, a Gracious Blessing to the World and the Royal Canopy the
Princess and Queen Consort Zuleikha, the Prince Hassan Izzudine,
Ruler and Reigning Prince. To Him was begotten by conception in
the royal womb of the Likeness of a Thousand Steadfast Steps, a
Gracious Blessing to the World and the Royal Canopy the Princess
Aishah, the Sultan Mohamed Mueenuddine the Second Iskander, by Sublime
Peace, the Immaculate, the Exalted, descended from the Moon and
the Sun, endowed with the knowledge of the Arts and the Sciences,
pure and majestic Warrior of the World, King. To Him was begotten
by conception in the royal womb of the Likeness of a Thousand Perfect
Pearls in the Realm of Kings, a Gracious Blessing to the World and
the Royal Canopy the Princess and Queen Consort Zuleikha, the Prince
Hassan, who shall from this day forward be called Sultan Hassan
Nooreddine the Second, by Sublime Peace, the Immaculate, the Exalted,
descended from the Moon and the Sun, endowed with the knowledge
of the Arts and the Sciences, pure and majestic Warrior of the World,
King.
Know this and understand this!
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