Thread by @NaajihDidi

#DhivehiArchives
In a republican system of government the supreme authority of the nation rests with the people and their representatives. The first republican form of government, with an elected head of state and representatives, was adopted by the Maldives on January 1st, 1953.

Prior to that, throughout our recorded history, the Maldives had a monarchy that was structured in accordance with the norms of the earliest kingdoms in this region. It was a monarchy that was deeply ingrained in Maldivian culture.

The adoption of a republican system on January 1, 1953 was not at all the consequence of protests by the public who disliked the monarchy, were dissatisfied with it, or felt they were denied their rights

The political leaders in power of the Maldives decided to change the system 69 years ago, leading to the formation of a republic. They achieved this by steadily eroding and destroying the monarchy's power such that it eventually collapsed on its own.

In 1920, H.C.P. Bell noted that the Maldives had a system of government that was, to a significant extent, a constitutional monarchy for many centuries prior and arguably from the beginning. It was not, however, founded on a written constitution. It was founded on traditions.

On December 22, 1932, when Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddin III, the 10th king of the Hura dynasty, was in power, the nation's first constitution was ratified. It is true to say that this marked the beginning of the monarchy's decline.

The first constitution of the Maldives was not a result of the people's demands for their rights. Many of the rights listed there were unfamiliar to the general public. The constitution came about as a result of the conflict between the political leaders and the king.

Following a tainted relationship between the political elites and the King, the 1932 Constitution was "torn" and annulled. Two years later, in 1934, Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen III, the last monarch to reign in the old tradition, was deposed and exiled to Fuvahmulah.

Afterward, Sultan Hassan Nooraddeen, the son of Sultan Mohamed Mueenuddeen II, was crowned. Mohamed Farid Didi, the son of Abdul Majeed Rannaban'deyri Kilegefaanu, the most influential political figure in the nation at the time, served as prime minister.

The Prime Minister was the head of government at this period, while the King was the Waliyul Amr (supreme head). Then, whileThen there was a time when the Interior Minister served as the head of government and the monarch and prime minister shared the title of Waliyul Amr.

Then there was a time when the Interior Minister served as the head of government and the monarch and prime minister shared the title of Waliyul Amr. Then, in 1943, the king and prime minister abruptly resigned, and the duties of the king were assumed by a caretaker committee.

Then the constitution was changed and Abdul Majeed Rannaban'deyri Kilegefaanu, a political leader who was not from the Huraa Royal House, was elected as the king. However, Abdul Majeed never accepted it and passed away in 1952. Mohamed Amin was the Interior Minister at that time.

Abdul Majeed's passing left a void in the Maldives' political structure. Following that, it was believed that Mohamed Amin Didi, the country's then-prime minister and interior minister, was the only person qualified to lead it as both the head of state and the head of government.

A few months before Abdul Majeed passed away, Mohamed Amin Didi was appointed to serve as the Maldives' Waliyul Amr (Supreme Head of State), as Abdul Majeed had not yet acceded to the throne. The transition of the Maldives from a monarchy to a republic began with this.

The People's Majlis debated "the system of government" on April 12, 1952, and a special committee was formed to plan it. It was decided by the committee that it was necessary to turn the Maldives into a republic after conducting discussions at Mohamed Amin Didi's home, Athireege.

People from Māle & other islands present in Māle at the time were notified about the vote to change the form of government on April 14 & 15. Amin Didi stated at the briefing that "at the request of the people, it has been determined necessary to turn this place into a republic."

Ibrahim Faamudheyri kilegefaanu, Chief Justice Abdullah Jalaluddeen, Amin Didi's deputy Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, and Ibrahim Shihab were among those who spoke at the briefing and advocated for a republic.

The Maldivians have consistently been obedient to their rulers. As a result, the masses supported the desired form of administration, and on April 16, 1952, those in attendance in Maale voted to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic with Mohamed Amin Didi as its head.

Except for those who were in Maale at the time, no other members of the populace had a say in the conversion to a republic. But as was already mentioned, the Maldivians have always submitted to their rulers. The first republic was established in this manner.

It did, however, take less time to end than to begin. On April 16, 1952, a vote was taken to form the republic, & it was established on January 1, 1953, 8 months & 14 days later. On August 21, 1953, it came to an end with a "revolution" after only 7 months and 20 days.

After that Maldives was ruled by a revolutionary committee led by Ibrahim Faamudheyri Kilegefaanu & Ibrahim Mohamed Didi from August 21, 1953 to March 6, 1954. A new monarchy-compliant constitution was passed by the Parliament on January 31, 1954, to replace republican one.

On February 5, 1954, a general election was held in Māle to determine the system of government and the monarchy was re-established and on February 31, 1954 the People's Majlis elected former Prime Minister Mohamed Fareed Didi to be the new king of the Maldives.

On March 7, 1954, Mohamed Farid Didi ascended the throne as Sultan Mohamed Farid I and ratified the new constitution; on March 11, 1954, on the advice of the newly elected People's Majlis, he appointed Ibrahim Faamudheyri Kilegefaanu as the Prime Minister of the Maldives.

A political dispute over the lease of Gan to the British for the construction of a military facility led to Ibrahim Faamudheyri Kilegefaanu's resignation as prime minister on December 11, 1957. Ibrahim Nasir was made prime minister by Sultan Mohamed Farid I on December 12, 1957.

Ibrahim Shihab, who witnessed the events wrote, "After a few days of Ibrahim Nasir's prime ministership, the relationship between the King and the Prime Minister began to deteriorate. The King and Prime Minister held opposing viewpoints, which is why."

Shihab added, "We were able to see how much Sultan Mohamed Farid cared about the public interest. Some of the powers and rights he possessed as king were neglected by the head of state, despite the fact that others who were unaware of this fact were unaware."

Shihab wrote that this resulted in the monarchy once more becoming a republic. As in the past, the then-ruler decided to change the nation from a monarchy to a republic for the second time. It wasn't a change that was made because the public disliked the political structure.

On November 15, 1967, the People's Majlis called for a vote to alter the form of government, 13 years after the monarchy was restored following a brief republic of 7 months and 20 days. The switch to a Republican system was approved by 40 of the 44 members present.

On March 15, 1968, a referendum was held to determine whether the Maldives should be a republic or a monarchy. 93.34% of the people supported the republic. As was previously indicated, the Maldivians had always been obedient to the government, which was pushing for a republic.

The People's Majlis chose Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir as their presidential candidate on September 9, 1968. Then, on September 27, 1968, a public vote was held to determine if Ibrahim Nasir should be elected president.

Ibrahim Nasir approved the newly created Republic Constitution on November 11, 1968, the same day he took office as the Second Republic of the Maldives' first president. At that point, the old Maldivian monarchy entered the annals of history as an antiquated system of government.

The Prime Minister was the head of government at this period, while the King was the Waliyul Amr (supreme head). Then, as the king and prime minister were still present, Hassan Farid, the interior minister and younger son of Rannabanderi Kilegefan, be named the Waliyul Amr.