Random Reflexions

It is clear that a sizable majority of this country is still for sale for two time-tested commodities: money and religion.

Money

Over 40% of the population falls into the low income bracket. The election came at an unfortunate time for many of the families that fall into this category. By the end of Ramadan a large number of families would have used up much of their savings and would have been scraping the bottom of their proverbial piggy-banks. The election came at this crucially deprived time when, for many families, any kind of financial help would be a welcome breath of, albeit temporary, fresh air.

There was a lot of talk of cash handouts being issued days before the vote in many islands. This depravity of Dhivehin having to always beg or depend on temporary solutions to their life's problems was also the result of decades of exploitation of ordinary Dhivehin by those in power. Gayoom took this to new heights in the past 3 decades. Dhivehi mentality, especially of those living in other islands, is one of living for today and not worrying about tomorrow. It is this simple-minded ignorance combined with the other characteristics of the typical Dhivehin - subservience and submission to authority - that have made Dhivehin vulnerable.

It is altogether possible that an extremely large percent of the 40% that voted for Gayoom simply cannot imagine anyone else in power. Some middle-aged or older women I talked to do not find it objectionable that Gayoom is corrupt or that he stole people's money. "He didn't touch my money. It's in my wardrobe even now!", they say. They don't mind begging for medical or any other welfare. They simply don't mind whatever Gayoom does as long as he appears to protect something falsely perceived to be of supreme import.

Religion

The Islamic dogma does not provide well for the tolerance of other faiths. Muslims, by virtue of their doctrine, are paranoid of other religions. (One wonders how followers of God's most superior faith are so feeble-minded.) Over the decades all Gayoom had to do was recite a few unintelligible (to the common Dhivehin) traditions from the ahadith or verses from the Quran and we Dhivehin, drooling with delight, raised him to a divine status. How can someone who is so religious ever lie or deceive? It is impossible for such a person to become evil!, are some of the thoughts.

What Gayoom did was slowly convert the genuine Dhivehin in us into paranoid semi-Arabs. That's all. He then deliberately failed to make Dhivehin even moderately religious and failed to teach religion which, of course, augments this paranoia by way of ignorance. Then he programmed the ordinary Dhivehi brain, already muddled up with religious paranoia, the popular mantra of "iraadha kurevvun".

This "Allah willing" business has made us indolent and apathetic. Dhivehin are staunch believers of "minvaru kurevvi varu" or "minvarah eemaan vun" or whatever life of drudgery and poverty we endure we believe that's what Allah has ordained for us so we must accept it. What? The kids haven't had a meal for two days? Sit back, relax, something will come up. And up comes cash handouts from Allah's warrior sent to Dhivehi Raaje: Gayoom (alayhi salaam), who, incidentally, needs nothing in return but a tick on a piece of paper.

Just listen to what Gayoom said on that TV talk show! You and I might laugh at him for blaming Allah for his failures but I wouldn't be surprised that the majority of Dhivehin thought it to be an excellent, justified explanation. Apparently Allah wasn't on Gayoom's side during his 6 terms in power when he was trying to do all these good things for the pious Dhivehin. Allah didn't want Gayoom to succeed. But during each election time Allah worked with Gayoom to iraadha kurevaigen get him reelected. I don't know which one of the two has the more twisted sense of humor.

Do not be shocked. How else do you explain that? This is the case in almost all majority Muslim countries. Islam gives certain powerful tools that those in power can exploit and boy do they exploit them. Dictatorships and monarchies along with extreme poverty, backwardness and ignorance are popular with Muslim countries for a reason. Gayoom exploited this loophole to new heights.

Today

We Dhivehin have always needed a father figure to look after us and give us tiny rationed handouts in time of great need. We're used to that. And times of great need are plentiful because that's the work of our beloved leader as well. And for that to change it will take time. Perhaps another 30 years.