Tag: Islam

The Bikini Controversy

Filed in Society & Beliefs by on January 4, 2014 2 Comments
The Bikini Controversy

To the southwest of the Indian subcontinent, strung across the Indian Ocean, there are two countries superimposed on each other. One of them, I call the Maldives. This is the one where wealthy honeymooners come and enjoy their martinis on the sun-kissed sandy beaches. The other one, Dhivehistan, is the longest running experiment in controlled […]

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The Intolerant Constitution

Filed in Features & Analysis by on November 8, 2013 0 Comments
The Intolerant Constitution

In 1959, an expedition of historians unearthed an exquisitely carved ancient statue of Gautama Buddha from the island of Thoddoo. Buried under slabs of stones, possibly to protect it from being demolished along with the the temples following the Islamization of the Maldives in 1153 AD, the statue was a priceless archaeological find. Before long, […]

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Maldivian history: A mockery of past and present

Filed in Features & Analysis by on November 8, 2013 0 Comments
Maldivian history: A mockery of past and present

Marx said that history repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. In an isolated country such as ours, with a culture that goes back thousands of years, history has become twisted beyond all recognition and ended up as an unnavigable tangle of myths and falsehoods. And it appears we are not done yet. An […]

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