INTRODUCTION OF MEEDHOO

Meedhoo, probably over 3000 years old, is the oldest populated island in Addu Atoll. Its origin and name emerge from the mists of original Indo-Aryan settlers (The meaning of Meedhoo in Sanskrit is Big Island). Centuries after the original settlers came and settled at the northern most tip of the atoll, an Arab Traveler by the name of Yoosuf Naib, planted the seed of Islam and built a place to worship Allah in 12th Century, in this island where the first mosque was built in the country to worship the Almighty, has ever since known as a centre of learning and religious education.

Meedhoo, one of the largest and important islands in the Maldives, is an island of uniqueness by itself, a harmonious blending of knowledge and craftsmanship, the piety and sincerity of its people who live in a thickly vegetated atmosphere of traditional and modern outlooks, mingle to create unique ambience. Is-Meedhoo, as we knew it for so long, though Meedhoo as is officially declared now – is an age-old name, intertwined in the history of Maldives for its role and contribution towards the religious scholarship.

Meedhoo is justly famed for the line of erudite scholars it has produced for generations past. Since the sixteenth century not less than eight natives of Meedhoo have filled the high office of Fandiyaaru, or Qazi, at Male’. To this day, Meedhoo ‘Ulamma’ and other noted ecclesiastics, hold their own, or more, with those of the Capital.

Despite its far distant situation and comparatively small size in population, Meedhoo has ever maintained an importance in Maldivian affairs out of all proportions to its territorial insignificance.

It has long established its fame in the group for the sturdy independence and reliability of its inhabitants, their robust physique, peaceful character, and general intellectual equipment (especially marked in religious lore, and Arabic scholarship) which has earned merited admiration from the islanders of other atolls.

Significant Features of the Island

Meedhoo, is an island in a group of islands making the southern most atoll of Addu which is one of the rarest naturally protected atolls in the Maldivian archipelago. Throughout its known history, Meedhoo has been the centre of learning and the birth place of renowned intellectual personalities.

Islamic renaissance heralded in this island at the return of a renowned indigenous scholar, Jamaluddeen, from long residence in Yemen to take responsibility for Islamic law and learning. After training judges in Malé, he retreated to the ancient island of Vaadhoo in Huvadhu atoll and established a small but enduring tradition of education in Islamic law which spread across the Equatorial channel into Meedhoo on Addu atoll. And Meedhoo has been responsible for passing this tradition of education into the present generation.

Location of the Island

Situated on the beautiful peninsulic north-eastern tip of Addu Atoll where tremendous importance now stands. A place of time-honoured memories, with the adjoining island of Hulhudhoo, even today stands isolated in their individual glory.

The Geography

It can be described as an island village where the surrounding sea is a rhapsody in blue, hugging one of the largest beaches in the Maldives. From the sky, it looks neat with thick vegetations and long straight roads, and the silvery stream of Kilhi.

It is located 73.23°E of longitude, and 0.58°S of latitude, stretching approximately 10 km long along the eastern rim of the atoll.

The Climate

Warm, humid and yet made pleasant enough by the cool breeze wafting in from the sea. The climate, similar to the rest of the islands in the Maldives, is determined by two monsoons. The rainy South-West monsoon begins during April and continues until October, while the generally fine North-East monsoon prevails from December to March. The mean daily maximum temperature is 30°C while the daily minimum is 25°C.

The people

It is believed that the first settlers in this island were Aryan immigrants who came here around from 1000 BC to 500 BC. Today, the people of Meedhoo are a mixed race.

The 2000 census puts the population at 2300 out of which about 51% are women and 49%.

For more information's ( MEEDHOO )