Ali Manikfan
Ali Manikfan is a marine researcher, ecologist, shipbuilder, and a multilingual from Minicoy , Lakhshadweep, India.[1][2] He is noted for his self research skills in marine,ecology,agricultral fields even without holding any formal educational qualification.[1]
Life
Ali Manikfan was born to Musa Manikfan and Fatima Manika in Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep on 16th March 1938. His father, Musa sent him to Kannur for formal education. As he was not interested in formal education, he left his studies and returned to his home land. According to him formal education is artificial and pointless and best way to acquire knowledge is getting wisdom by observing our environment.[1] Ali manikfan has excelled in number of languages. Besides mother tongue Divehi (mahal), he learned English, Hindi and Malayalam, Arabic, Latin, French, Russian, German, Sinhalese, Persian, Sanskrit, Tamil and Urdu. His other areas of interest are marine biology, marine research, geography, astronomy, social science, traditional shipbuilding, education, fisheries, agriculture and horticulture. In 1956 he worked as a teacher and then became a clerk in Amin minicoy.(Indian government's chief civil official on the Island). But his interest was in marine life. In 1960s he joined in the laboratory of Fisheries Department.[1]
New fish species found out
While working with a marine boilogist, Dr.S Johns, Manikfan found out a new fish species. Dr. Jones impressed with Ali's observation skill and wide knowldege about marine life, gave name for this fish as Abudefduf Manikfani.[1]
Technical and agricultural experiments
Ali manikfan is following an agricultural methods that take nature in consideration. For his 130 acre land in valioor (Thirunelveli district), he produces his own electricity from a windmill which he designed himself.[3] He built a house there with materials that are naturally available in the region are more eco friendly.
- shipbuilder
In 1981 Ali Manikfan was given the responsibility of making the ancient Arab trading ship, Sohar by Irish adventurer Tim Severin. He went to Oman to direct the team of carpenters. It took one year to build the 27 metres long ship and four tons of coir were needed to sew the planks of its hull, in the same way that ancient Maldivians had built ships. Tim Severin traveled 9,600 km from Oman to China by this ship. The 'Sohar' is now displayed at a Museum in Oman.
- Calender
He designed lunar calender and strongly suggesting to follow a unfied lunar calender by muslims all over the world.[2]