Ukulhas History
History of Ukulhas
Ukulhas is well known for its cleanliness, well-maintained waste management system and also known as first systematically waste managed island in the history of Republic of Maldives. Ukulhas (Dhivehi: އުކުޅަސް), one of the inhabited islands of Alif Alif Atoll, is a uniquely featured, environmentally friendly island in the Maldives. Being recognized as an environmental role model island in the Republic of Maldives, Ukulhas achieved a Green Leaf award in 2014 for its outstanding services on protecting and preserving the island's environment.
Like all the Maldivians, People of Ukulhas had been following Islamic law that generally supposed their conversation to the faith of prophet took place some 1400 years back. We have been following islamic religious procedures in particular. Ukulhas mosques were small and well-built and kept in clean at that time. Today we have Crimes were really rare in the island.
Facts of Ukulhas
Mother of Sultan Mohamed Imadhudheen II (Dhiyamigilee Bandaarain) called ‘Kan'baa Aminath Binth Mohamed’ (Ukulhahu Bodu Kan’baafaanu) is known to be from Ukulhas. Ukulhas recognizes one of the first islands which established formal schools in the island among all other inhabited islands of Maldives at the time of President Mohamed Ameen. The school was known ‘Reethi Madharusaa’ (Beautiful School)
Ukulhas won the 1st place on National Island Cleaning Competition among the female sector at the time of President Mohamed Ameen.
Ukulhas won the 1st place on National Canoeing Competition (Gaumee Reyhah falijehumuge Mubaaraai) at the time of President Mohamed Ameen. By winning three times on National Fishing Competition in the year 1963, 1964, and 1965, Ukulhas had owned the National Fishing Trophy at the time of President Ibrahim Nasir.
The first Cable TV center in the Maldives was established in Ukulhas in 1995 with the initiation of Ibrahim Ali (Bahaareege, AA Ukulhas) and Amir Khalid (Reynige, AA Ukulhas). At that time the Cable TV Centre to all the residences rebroadcast only 12 channels.
Historical changes on electricity
Ukulhas was firstly electrified on 16 December 1982 by the initiation of Abdulla Ali, Green Villa in association with owners of fishing vessels and Ukulhas community. Firstly electricity was transferred by only a 10 KW generator to residences, four mosques Island office. Generator cost was MVR 26000, wiring MVR 1800 and the construction of power house was MVR 2500. Hence the total installation cost of electricity was MVR 46500.
Wiring and generator installation was done by Island Chief of K.Hura Mr. Rasheed and the generator was imported from Singapore by Mr. Velanbuli Alifulhu, MA.Velanbulige, Male’. The whole task was completed successfully at the time of the Island chief Late Waleed Khalid. (Ref; Report Book dated on 3 Feb 1983). Ukulhas is known to be the 1st electrified Island among all other inhabited islands (except Male’) in Maldives in the year 1982. The first time electricity was provided for only four hours, from 6 to 10 pm. Later on it was transformed and made for six hours. Likewise it was extended gradually up to 24 hours a day. Ukulhas also known to be the 1st electrified island for 24 hrs a day (Except Male’) by the immense effort led by the Ukulhas people.
Historical political changes in Ukulhas
1. Katheeb Kaleyfaanu (Javaahirumaage/ AA.Ukulhas) [at the time of Shamsudhin] (Grand Father of Ibrahim Ali, (Dhon Ibrahim), Reynige/ AA.Ukulhas’ Dhonfuthu Kuda Katheebu (Brother of Maakudey)
2. Ibrahim Katheeb (Irumatheege AA. Ukulhas’, Father of Kalhuththube, Irumatheege, AA.Ukulhas’ and the grandfather of Ibrahim Ali (Irumathee Dhombe)/ Irumatheege, AA.Ukulhas [At the time of Shamsuddin]
3. Katheebu Kujjage Bappa, Abdulla Katheeb (Grand Father of Hassan fulhu and Ali fulhu)
4. Maakudey (Father of Hakeem) (At the time of Shamsudhin)
5. Katheeb Dhonbe’ or Bodu Katheeb (Father of Rashad, Guleynooran’maage AA.Ukulhas) at the time of President Mohamed Ameen.
6. Khalid Katheeb, Reynige’ AA.Ukulhas (Later he was an Imam) at the time of Mohamed Ameen and Mohamed Fareed) Naibs was Dhon Alifulhu.
7. Alifulhu Kuda Katheeb (Brother of Dhonfathima of Dhonthuthube’)
8. Mohamed Fauzee or Kuda Katheeb (Father of Hussain Fiyaz, Faiyyliyaage/ AA.Ukulhas (Council Member in the first Ukulhas Council) at the time of President Ibrahim Nasir.
9. Waleed Khalid, Noovilaage’AA.Ukulhas (at the time of president Ibrahim Nasir) Khalid was an Imam, Naibs were Bodufolhudhoo Abdul Raheem and Kuramathi Raazee.
10. Dhonthuthu or Ibrahim Adam, Kuda Katheeb, (when Mohamed Fauzee Faiyyliyaage/ AA.Ukulhas died) at the time of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom. Waleed Khalid, Reynige was promoted to an Assistant Atoll Chief at the time of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom.
11. Imad Khalid, Sarumeelaa Manzil/ AA.Ukulhas, Kuda Katheeb (was a former Family Health Worker, when Waleed Khalid, Noovilaage/ AA.Ukulhas, was promoted to Atoll Office), Dhonthutthu held the post of support staff.
12. Mohamed Khalid, Meenaaz/ AA.Ukulhas, Kuda katheeb (at the time of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom)
13. Imad Khalid, Sarumeelaa Manzil/ AA.Ukulhas, Katheeb, (at the time of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom)
14. Mohamed Khalid, Meenaaz/ AA.Ukulhas, Katheeb, (at the time of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom)
15. Abdul Latheef Imad, Asseyri/ AA.Ukulhas, Kuda Katheeb (at the time of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom)
16. Mohamed Khalid, Meenaaz/ AA.Ukulhas, Bodu Katheeb (at the time of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom)
17. Imad Khalid, Sarumeelaa Manzil / AA.Ukulhas, Kuda Katheeb, (at the time of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom)
18. Shaukath Ibrahim, Udhares/ AA.Ukulhas, (at the time of President Mohamed Nasheed)
19. 1st Ukulhas Council (Shaukath Ibrahim, Udhares/ AA.Ukulhas; Abdulla Firaq, Naares, AA. Ukulhas; Hussain Fiyaz, Faiyyliyaage/ AA.Ukulhas; Ahmed Shahid Hassan, Rosy Villa/ AA.Ukulhas; and Ali Waheed, Lady Bird/ AA.Ukulhas, at the time of President Mohamed Nasheed)
20. 2nd Ukulhas Council (Shaukath Ibrahim, Udhares/ AA.Ukulhas; Abdulla Firaq, Naares, AA. Ukulhas; Ali Waheed, Lady Bird/ AA.Ukulhas, Mohamed Husnee, Guleynooranmaage/ AA.Ukulhas, and Ali Zameer, Vaarey Villa/ AA.Ukulhas).
Note: until Khalid Kuda Katheeb, the government did not pay salaries officially. Instead of salaries, small portions were given from catches by fishing vessels, fruits and vegetables by trees etc. on a monthly basis.
Geography
Ukulhas is close to the Northern boundary of Alif Alif Atoll, at 72° 51′ 52" E, 04° 12′ 54" N. The island is 71.68 km (45 mi; 39 nmi) west of the country's capital, Malé. It is an oval-shaped, flat coral sand cay, oriented North-West to South-East, 1025 meters long, 225 meters wide, for an area of 17.4 hectares.
Climate
Ukulhas has a tropical climate however warm temperature year around could experience with sunshine. The warm climate has got relatively minor variation in daily temperature throughout a year period. The weather is seemed to large during monsoons. Southwest monsoon lasts from May to November when the northeast monsoon goes from December to April. April is the hottest in average and December is to be recorded as coolest season in average.
Governance
The island has had a series of political changes throughout the last couple of decades. Before the existence and the ratification of present constitution, the island had been entirely centralized by the central government. The island had a chief (Head of the Island) who had to be appointed by the Atoll chief (Head of Atoll). The atoll chief was a person who had to be appointed by the Minister of Atolls and Administration. the minister had the fully power to control over the island and its people. Because of the appointees to the chief posts of the island and atoll, chiefs or heads were fully controlled by the Minister. Eventually disputes started to arise between chiefs and the people of the island. Island people did not have the right to decide what they wanted; beside that they had to accept whatever orders were given by the island chief, either good or bad.
After the ratification of the present constitution dated on 7 August 2008, within the democratic movement in the government everything had revolved. The centralized system of the government had changed into a decentralized system. Local governments were formed in the name of local councils. Councilors were elected by the people of the island. Councilors got the authority to make decisions in the name of island people. Councilors got the ful authority to decide what to do for their island and the people. They got the authority to utilize the resources within their jurisdiction outlined by the decentralization Act. Councilors, too, got the authority to pass local regulations well in accordance with the constitution, and ratified other laws and regulations.
Economy
Tourism in Ukulhas formally started on 15 November 2012. The first guesthouse in Ukulhas is Ukulhas Inn which was founded by Mr. Ibrahim Shifaz Shaukath, Ever Blue, Aa. Ukulhas and registered on 12 September 2012. The First International tourist who visited Ukulhas formally was a Thai national named Mr. Bandarn Suetrong, who made the booking through agoda.com and travelled Maldives from Thailand. He visited Ukulhas on 15 Nov 2012 and departed on 18 Nov 2012 (stayed in Ukulhas for four days).
Restaurants and cafes
Ukulhas cafés and restaurants offer diversify cuisines including western, eastern, Indian, Thai, continental and Maldivian ones. As Ukulhas is famous for fishing, fishes have always been the most prominent element of Ukulhas food. Especially sea food dinner makes you the keen interest of Maldivian taste. Like other parts of Maldives, Ukulhas food is spicy even though restaurants are ready to meet up your taste requirements by making it milder. Sweet, sour, hot and spicy foods are common in Ukulhas.
Today Ukulhas meals have been highly affected by western items like sandwiches, margarine; jam noodles and pasta like items. For common meals, like other Maldivians, Ukulhas community uses many items for their everyday meals. Traditional recipe of breakfast and all the other meals have already been altered. Beside of it Roshi (chapatti), mashuni (made of grated coconut, fish, lemon and onions), curries (made from fish or vegetable or egg), are used as popular dishes for breakfast. For lunch variety of items are prepared. Most of the islanders take rice with various types of curries (e.g.: curries made by fish, vegetable, chicken, dhal, potato, egg etc.), salads, garudhiya (fish soup), fried fishes, fried chickens, barbecued grilled fishes, raw vegetables and many others. Those meals are also served with numerous types of drinks. Coconut and Orange juice are the most popular drinks within the meals in Ukulhas Island.
Variety of appetizers, deserts, cool, soft drinks and coffees are also available at the restaurants. Alcoholic beverages and pork are prohibited by law in the local islands as per Maldives is known to be a 100 percent Muslim country. However those are served in other resorts and Cruises.
Waste management
Ukulhas is well regarded as an environment friendly Island where the waste is managed in a systematic manner. As a result of its outstanding services to protect and preserve the vulnerable environment, Ukulhas achieved the ‘Green Leaf Award’ by the Maldivian government in the year 2014. Ukulhas implements huge cleaning programs, planting programs, several programs on waste management and programs on marine and biodiversity. Hence today Ukulhas is exemplary island on dealing with mega environmental issues which results Ukulhas is marked as environmentally role model Island in its archipelago.
Wooden sign boards
Today ukulhas islanders do not require going out for dump their garbage; Island council manages island wastes in a systematic manner. For outside trash management, dustbins are kept in an adequate distance everywhere in the island. People in the island may not require throw their litters such as cans, bottle, papers etc. Therefore, the island and its beaches are kept clean and tidy. In ukulhas, households manage their wastes by segregation, such as recyclable items (e.g.; aluminum, copper, steel, plastics, papers etc.), organic items (e.g.; food items), and plant materials (e.g.; leaves, stems etc.). After the segregation the wastes are kept in the houses. Except Friday, each day council pick-up visits houses to collect segregated wastes for disposing and managing; Fees are collected by the council for the waste management.
Education
Ukulhas School
GCE Advance Level Education in Ukulhas Island
‘Ukulhahu School’ established in the island of Ukulhas is recognized and notified as the first ever A-Level institution in the North Ari Atoll in the history of its archipelago. The A Level studies program (A Level campaign) was started and initiated with an immense effort led by the people of Ukulhas Island.
After the inauguration of the A-Level program, Ukulhas community composed an organizing and managing committee for the A-Level program in the name of “A Level Committee”. When the A-level committee emerged from the first day itself, they started its functions, trying to cross all the steps towards its establishment and sustainability. With enormous and tremendous efforts led together by the A Level Committee and the citizens of ukulhas the A-Level program has reaped immense success as the first A- level batch of the institution achieved the national top ten awards.[1] For the continuity and sustainability of the ‘Ukulhas A Level program’ from the beginning, the citizens of ukulhas have been filling their commitment volunteering and providing free aid for all the students at all means if it is in relation with their academic progress.
Qualified students from other islands are highly invited to join the program with Ukulhas Community providing everything required for the whole A Level program including travel costs, accommodation, clothing, uniform, pocket money, books, stationeries etc. Ukulhas community spends more than 1.5 million rufiyaa each year for the program. It’s a huge and a fantastic opportunity to join the ‘Ukulhas School’ to pursue A-Level studies in a gentle and a friendly environment.
Health Services
Based on historical findings, there were no provisions of formal health services in Ukulhas before 1982. Before 1982 people in Ukulhas used to obtain health services from traditional medical practitioners. Traditional medical practitioners used to treat patients by using herbal medicine, which referred to as plant’s seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, flowers etc .
Formal health services were first established in Ukulhas at the island’s administrative office on 7 June 1982 by establishing an independent section with a local Family Health worker. The family Health worker was a person who only qualified for the provision of limited, basic health services, such as local consultations, counseling, distribution of birth control drugs, dressing a wound, distribution of other symptomatic medicines etc. It was Family Health worker’s duty to visit local residences in a periodic manner to monitor the health standards of Islanders and to maintain records which have to be sent to the Concern central government Authorities.
After several years of limited health services provided by a local Family Health worker, people of Ukulhas found an independent Health institution in the name of Health Post on 14 August 2004, with more facilities and equipment available than the ‘Family Health Section’. Health post provided two trained traditional birth attendants with Family Health workers.
On 1 June 2007, the day started with a new chapter by establishing a Health Center after many years of limited Health services with a professional Medical Officer (Medical Doctor), Staff Nurses and Administrative staffs. Health Center is equipped with modern sophisticated equipment including, ECG machine, Nebulization facilities, IV injections etc. The Centre also designed with consultation rooms, admission wards, and other required facilities. The Health Centre started its operation with a Pharmacy and an ambulance which operates for urgent and exceptional matters.
Health Center is operating with a qualified doctor who is assisted by nurses and is always on standby for urgent matters after his scheduled duty every day. The Centre is open for its services for Accidents and emergency care for 24 hours a day.
Sports and Leisure
Gymnasium Fitness and Training
'Body Work' in Ukulhas is the first ever established body building and fitness training institution in North Ari Atoll. Sophisticated equipment available such as, bench press machine, chest fly machine, shoulder press machine, let pull down machine, biceps curl machine, leg extension machine etc. The gym is organized and run by the oldest Association in the island known as Glorious Sports Club (GSC).
Kudakudhinge Ufa (Children's Park)
This magnificent park, Kudakudhinge Ufa stands proudly as a testament to the community's commitment to the well-being of the children. Children enjoy playgrounds and entertaining feature such as plastic toys, outdoor fitness equipment, leisure chairs, bungee trampoline and other suitable equipment. The park is designed for all ages of children, with adult supervision.
The entire park is surrounded by security fencing with gates at main entry. Part of the playing area is a grassy lawn area with benches and shaded structures. Benches are placed as outdoor seating which have been provided by the landscape and slip resistant paving goes along with the theme of the design which starts from the entry.
In front the main entrance, a beautiful fish pond is seen with various pond fishes such as cat fish, Algae eater, Fathead minnow, Gold Fish, Koi carp, Sturgeon etc. Precisely this park should be an example of why 'Ukulhas' is such a great place to work and live.
Culture
Dress code
Ukulhas culture has been diversified by Arabs, Africans, Sinhalese, and Indians. Lifestyle and the ordinary dress of the man was very simple, consisting of drawers, a cloth bound around the loins, after the mode of the Singhalese, and a handkerchief twisted round the head. On special days, such as Fridays, when they attend the mosque, the high caste wears a shirt and jacket.
Costume
The women's costume is exceedingly becoming. A cloth is worn around the waist, and reaching down to the ankles, (mostly of native manufacture), coarse in texture, of a dark chocolate colour, with a border of parallel black and white stripes. Over this they wear a kind of loose shirt, or gown, of silk, with short sleeves, reaching nearly to the knees, which is not made to fit to the neck and shoulders, but is gathered in round them; the openings for the neck and arms are ornamented with embroidery in gold, silver, and silk thread. The hair, which is black, and generally long and thick, is tied up behind, and a handkerchief of the same colour as the shirt is bound round it. All ranks wear similar costumes, the distinctions of caste being marked by the difference in the quality of the silk material of which the shirt is made, and of the embroidery.
Skill of Manufacturing
Maldivians were denoted for a great skill of manufacturing mats as though they were fond of great skill of lacquer and fine arts, which led them to hold their reputation upon their harmonious life and furnishing of their reputation. In Suvadiva Atoll of Maldives they were made from a grass called by the Maldivian hau; which were used with three colours of black, dark yellow and white and which were obtained from plants which were lasted quite a long time. Walls mostly were built from coconut thatch, which surrounded most of the houses at the height of six to seven feet. This impeded the free air passage especially as the windows where too small to admit the breezes, which results in some residents being unhealthy even though their houses were scrupulously clean. The Maldivian so-called design, was sometimes made apparent in case of illness, as many could have survived if they could have refrained from closing the passage of air. The inner compartment in the houses was used as a sleeping room in many of the houses, and this apartment also remains for women especially when they were not engaged in household or any other activity.
Canoes
Within the fort there would be many old canoes, some might be quite useless, being rusty and chocked with coral. Some were supposed to be serviceable while some are precisely not. The unserviceable canoes and fishing vessels would be taken back for firewood to cook their regular meals.
Fishing and other activities
Fishing was their favourite exercise, however selling coir ropes and thatches made by islanders and a collection of cowry shells, turtle shells and ambergris were sold to produce their major income.
Maadu
Ukulhas 'Maadu' is an extremely delicious, rounded shape, elaborated cake shaped sweet which is prepared on the occasion of Eid festivity to deliver the real traditional taste of their homemade confection. The texture of this sweet is really similar to toffee and other homemade confection but the taste is really different. Step 1 In a flat-bottomed aluminium deep pan put all the pre-selected ingredients for Hunihakuru (Coconut sugary paste), made by ground tendered coconuts (Gabulhi Huni), toddy based suger (Dhiyaahakuru), and Pandan leaves (Raabaafai) for additional flavours. Melt on a very low flame, whisk all the ingredients by a wooden spoon until it becomes thick, dough coconut sugary paste. Step 2 Keep the flat-bottomed aluminium deep pan over the open flame or rudimentary stove made by three stones in a triangle shape which acts as a support to the cooking pan and wrap sea hibiscus leaves (Dhiggaa fai) or banana leaves (keyo fai) inside the bottom of the pan and surrounding edge of the pan. Put coconut sugary pastes (Hunihakuru) inside the wrapped pan after mixing up the coconut augary paste with ground cassava (Dhandialuvi fuh), flour, ground rice (handoo fuh) and some rose waters (Maafen - Finifenmaa or Huvandhumaa). Keep few sea hibiscus leaves or banana leaves on the combined ingredients in the pan and put thick ringed ash on top of the ingredients. Put coconut husks on top of ash ring and below the pan. Put the fire on top and bottom of the pan. Continue the heat for three consecutive times. Each heating time coconut husks have to be renewed. After all, the maadu is made! This cake shaped sweet definitely gives a fantastic taste!
Cultural music in Ukulhas
Boduberu
Boduberu is one of the most popular forms of traditional music and dance founds in Ukulhas even in the Maldives too. Boduberu is performed by about 15 people, including four drummers with background and a lead singer. Bodu beru is played with a set of drums and an Onugan’du.
Thaara
Ukulhas won the 1st place on National Cultural Music Competition called ‘Thaarajehun’(Thaara was called a duff). Thaara has a traditional Ray skin drum head with tuning machines installed discreetly underneath the drum) at the time of Sultan Shamsuddin.
Bandiyaa
Ukulhas was also very famous among the atoll, for Bandiyaa jehun, which is perhaps related to the Indian pot dance. Women of 8 or 12 in 2 rows perform this dance. Dancers mark the beat with metal water pot, while wearing metal rings. Bandiyaa groups from Ukulhas perform the Bandiyaa Dance on occasions like Eid-Al-Adha and School breaks. During 1980’s Bandiyaa was modernized and performed either sitting or standing, and have added drums and harmonicas.
Notable people
Khalidbe'
Khalidbe', 76, strongest old man lived in Ukulhas, famed for his braveness and strongness, was a fisherman who started his fishing at the age of 10 and known as the oldest fisherman who practiced fishing activities same as his young followers. He did carpentry works, worked as a toddy man, worked as a social worker and helped many people for their starvation during the economic disaster led by world war 2 . He used to climb 16 palm trees a day to take toddy for more than two years and used to help poor families. He was a kind and generous man who was familiar to rest of the Islanders.
Ibrahim Adam (Kaadu Dhonbe')
Ibrahim Adam (Kaadu Dhonbe'), 78, an extraordinary social worker, brilliant mathematician when he was young, certified Latin language teacher who learned Mathematics at the age of 19 from Ekolhumathee Beybe, Kudakatheeb Alifulhu and Khalidbe', is a well remarkable man from Ukulhas. He was assigned as a Shopkeeper of 'Kaaduge' (the only shop available in the island) at the time of President Mohamed Ameen, to sell staple foods such as rice, wheat, maize etc, where his salary was about g500 of millet (1 raathaa hila binbi) which was later replaced by a portion from fish catches. He was assigned as an 'Assistant Head of Island' on 20 May 1975, served as an assistant head of island for 11 years and served in the state for 39 years and was retired at the time of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom. He was assigned as an official volunteer to provide fundamental education to all the illiterate men and women in the Island and served as a volunteer for more than 4 years. He used to attend all the inquiry based on Mathematics. Kaadu Dhonbe' knows traditional music such as Gaaodilava, Thaara, Dhigumagu ete and he is a well-known cultural music trainer. His main social activity was keeping the Island clean and tidy. He himself did various cleaning activities and kept encouraging men and women to involve in cleaning activities.
Kalhuthube'
Kalhuhthube', 75, is a great man from Ukulhas, known as a genealogist, who has a vast knowledge of ancestry. He taught great details of 'Aage Ali' ancestry and other dynasties of Ukulhas which made to realise his strong memory. He was a skilled mason too when he was young, he used to build many water wells and never charged anything for his work and time. He is also famed for lagoon fishing and pole and line fishing, who is known one of the few skilled men who knows how to catch horse mackerels in rough seas.
Historical research and article is provided by Mr. Ramiz Ibrahim