Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (born December 29, 1937) has been the president of the Republic of Maldives since November 11, 1978, having succeeded Ibrahim Nasir. He was last re-elected to a sixth five-year term in October 2003 with 90.28% of the vote. He was the sole candidate, having been chosen by the Majlis or Assembly. The election is carried out as a referendum and a yes or no vote is chosen by the public.

Gayoom has been harshly criticized by many for his autocratic rule, and he is widely considered to be a dictator. According to Amnesty International, in the year 2003 "there were severe restrictions on freedom of the press, and political parties were unable to function." Anti-government riots broke out in the country in September 2003 following a prison shooting incident. Opposition to the president has come in the form of the Maldivian Democratic Party. Political prisoners are often banished to remote atolls. However, many Maldivians believe that the progress the country has achieved in the last two decades would not have been possible without Gayoom's efforts.

Gayoom was also the defense minister and finance minister of Maldives for a long time, but gave up these positions on September 1, 2004.

Gayoom has four children. His eldest daughter, Dunya Maumoon, is considered by some to be his most likely successor.

Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan is the eternal hero of Maldives independence. He ranks alongside the only other such hero in the recorded history of the Maldives, the King Kula Ran Meeba Audha Keerithi Katthiri Bavana (Dom Bandaarain) who ended the occupation by the forces of the Ali Raja of Cannanore in the 18th century.

Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan is a living Maldive treasure- the only Maldivian of that calibre now alive. Without a doubt, he was the mega Maldive personality of the 20th century and the only one of his kind since the 18th century. Arguably, he was the personality of the last millennium. Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan went on to become the first president of the second republic in 1968.

Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan's kilege title and the Insignia of the Most Distinguished Order of Ghazi bestowed upon him by His Majesty the Sultan was revoked by the new regime. It was outside the traditional jurisdiction even of sultans to remove the kilege title from anyone on whom it was bestowed. Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan took up residence in Singapore, a country where the rule of law prevails. All attempts to have him extradited by legal means or hounded out by illegal means were met with utter failure. It is contrary to all civilised norms to have a personality of such magnitude treated in this way by his own people. History will judge those who are responsible for such low behaviour. It is hoped that future Maldivians do not find it necessary to treat their leaders who step aside, in such uncivilised manner. That is important for the democratic process.
Those who lament the current Maldive regime's longevity in power must examine their own political maturity and attitude towards those who relinquish power via the democratic process.
The problem may not lie entirely with those who are reluctant to let in a new generation of leaders. Incumbent leaders must have the assurance (without the need for legislation) that they will not be the butt of the behaviour called "mahaana macchah madiyah jehun' (jumping on the grave) in the Divehi language. read more

Abdul Rasheed compiled an anthology of his poems and miscellaneous verses, in English and Maldivian, in 1991 with the intention of publishing it with annotations for American readers, but he died before he realised this goal.

Abdul Rasheed was born on 16 October 1932, in Malé, in the Maldives, the second of my parents' seven children. He left the Maldives to study abroad at the age of 14, and spent his entire working life in Canada and the United States.

he was a gynaecologist, philosopher, musician, author, hypnotist and poet. read more

Bodufenvalugey Don Manike and Mohamed Kuda Seedi’s son was Bodufenvalugey Seedi, born on 19 May 1888 as Hussain el-Hussaini. He was a much-celebrated poet and one time chief justice.

It is worth dwelling upon the career of Bodufenvalugey Seedi, as he was credited with many of the developments in Maldivian poetry in the 20th century. He was the last major poet to write in the poetic style called raivaru. read more.....

Ali Manikfan found a new fish species while working with a marine biologist who was highly impressed with Ali Manikfan’s capacity of observation and his deep and wide knowledge of marine life. The marine biologist named the fish Abudefduf Manikfani. Thanks to Ali Manikfan, a Divehi family name has made it to the scientific classification of species.

Sindbad's replica ship the Sohar was built using ancient Divehi technology with the expertise of Ali Manikfan. In 1981. The Irishman Tim Severin sailed the Sohar from Sohar in Oman to Canton in China. read more.......

King Siri Kula Sudha Ira Siyaaka Saathura Audha Keerithi Katthiri Bovana (Hassan Nooreddine II), 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, read more ........

Prince Ahmed Maandoogey Tuttu Manippulu was the youngest son of Sultan Hassan Izzuddine Maandoogey Bodudorhy Manippulu, elder son of King Kula Sundhura Siyaaka Saasthura Audha Keerithi Bovana (Sultan Mohamed Imaduddine IV Iskander).

He was born on 27 January 1877 at Kambaafaanu Ganduvaru (this was a secondary royal palace dedicated as a maternity residence for senior royals. Kambaafaanu Ganduvaru means Princess Palace) in Male, read more.....

She is the present Minister of Women's Affairs and Social Security (1998 - ). Prior to that, she was the Minister of Youth and Sports, read more.....

The person who precipitated this was a medical practitioner, Pallichapura Pookunhikoya, a native of Amini island in the Aminidives group. He stood for the Janata Dal (United) Party.

Lakshadweep had long been a stronghold of the Indian National Congress. Dr Pookunhikoya defied the union-wide swing in the 2004 general elections that saw the Congress swept back into power in a surprise electoral win, ousting the Indian nationalist Baharatia Janata Party government from office. read more.......

Landuran Augothi Ebrahim Manikfan was the husband of Divehi Ganduvaru Kadeeja Manika daughter of Kakaagey Abdullah Faarhanaa Kilegefan. He was educated in the British ruled city of Calcutta in the late 19th century, Ebrahim Manikfan was the first person from the then Cannanore territory of Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands to be educated in the English curriculum. read more.......