Ibrahim Nasir
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Ibrahim Nasir | |
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| File:Ibrahim nasir maldives.jpg Ibrahim Nasir | |
| 2nd President of the Maldives | |
| In office 11 November 1968 – 11 November 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi |
| Succeeded by | Maumoon Abdul Gayoom |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 September 1926 Male, Maldives |
| Died | 22 November 2008 (aged 82) Singapore |
Ibrahim Nasir Rannabandeyri Kilegefan (Dhivehi: އިބްރާހިމް ނާޞިރު ރައްނަބަނޑޭރި ކިލޭގެފާނު), KCMG, NGIV (2 September 1926 – 22 November 2008) was a Maldivian statesman who served as his country's Prime Minister under Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi (from 1957 to 1968 ) and succeeded him to become the first President of the Second Republic from 1968 to 1978. He died on 22 November 2008 at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
Genealogy
Nasir belonged to the royal family of previous Maldivian sultans. Nasir was the son of Velaanaage Ahmad Didi and Nayaage Aishath Didi daughter of Moosa Didi son of Dhadimagu Ganduvaru Maryam Didi daughter of Husain Didi son of Al-Nabeel Karayye Hassan Didi son of Prince Ibrahim (Abdulla) Faamuladheyri Kilegefan son of Sultan Muhammad Ghiyasuddin son of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar II son of Sultan Muzaffar Muhammad Imaduddin II of Dhiyamigili dynasty.
Political career
Nasir was widely credited with modernizing the long-isolated and nearly unknown Maldives and opening them up to the rest of the world. His foremost work included that of bringing Maldives to the United Nations even with the opposition of some nations that felt awkward at including a nation of such a small size. He laid the foundations of the nation by modernizing the fisheries industry with mechanized vessels and starting the tourism industry. Even today the nation is dependent on these two industries as a primary source of income for the nation.
He was credited with many other improvements such as introducing an English-based modern curriculum to government run schools.[1] He brought television and radio to the country with formation of Television Maldives and Radio Maldives for broadcasting radio signals nationwide. Nasir abolished Vaaru, a tax on the people living on islands outside Malé, as well as many other taxes on various imports to the country, some of which have been since re-instated. He brought about the independence of Maldives from being a protectorate of the British Empire. Before his resignation he proposed to the Parliament a motion in favor of that no one may be elected as President for more than two terms. (It was rejected by the parliament.) He built the first international airport in the Maldives (Malé International Airport).
Criticism
Nasir was criticized for his authoritarian methods and repression of political activity during his career.[1] Most notably was been criticized for his iron-fisted methods in handling an insurrection by the people of Thinadhoo, Addu and Huvadu Atolls, who formed a breakaway government - United Suvadives Republic - with closer ties to the British, for a brief period of time.
Later life
Nasir was succeeded by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who was then Minister of Transport and former permanent representative of the Maldives to the United States.
The former president went into exile in Singapore when his mandate ended. In 1981, Gayoom sentenced him to jail in absentia for corruption and plotting a coup d'etat, though Nassir was pardoned. Kidney problems have plagued him in the time since then.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Former President Nasir Dies; Minivan News 22 November 2008
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