Last Friday we celebrated our Independence Day amid much fanfare and pageantry. Everyone looked forward to the occasion, reflecting on the past and looking ahead towards the future. Achieving full political independence 43 years ago from Britain, a major world power, was a Herculean task. There were struggles, confrontations, demonstrations, verbal duels and hard negotiations that culminated in our independence. Four decades later, today there are few who can remember the bitter taste of not being independent, the opportunities we missed, or the time we lost without developing our country. There are a few articles and books that recapture those days of unprecedented national unity and solidarity. They show the complete allegiance and trust accorded to the champion of independence and the hero of modern Republic of Maldives. Our revered hero of independence is a leader of great foresight and wisdom, a man who spoke the ultimate Maldives, a man of action. H was a leader who commanded great respect from the people, managing the affairs of our small country with calm and ease. Ibrahim Nasir deserves to be remembered not only on our Independence Day, but forever for achieving our independence and for the great services he rendered to our country.
Even as we are enjoying a better and more prosperous life, and are about to usher in a new dawn of freedom and democracy, we have to salute this great leader who had contributed so much to transform and develop the Maldives. But are we doing that? Where is this leader when we are celebrating the joys of independence and our hard earned development? Sadly, our great hero is far away living a lonely life without much contact with any Maldivians. It is so sad that he is living in Singapore in exile. Maldives changed to a Republic from a monarchy under the leadership of Ibrahim Nasir and as the first President of the second republic; he served our country with distinction. He introduced English medium education, tourism, mechanized fishing boats, modern telecommunication, an international airport, free market business, international trade, election of atoll committees and atoll chiefs, a modern judiciary and an administrative system.
Nasir was a strict ruler with a consistent policy. He maintained good relations with colleagues but enforced strict discipline when it came to misconduct and neglect. He did not hesitate to take punitive measures against close colleagues and even his own children and relatives where work, morality and ethics were concerned. He was a man of action and integrity, feared and respected by all. Excellent management of time was one of his rare virtues. In negotiations, he was tough and unrelenting, and that was the hallmark of the dialogue he had with Britain during times of crisis and in the struggles for independence. From a personal side Nasir was a jovial man with lots of humor among friends. He loved driving and boating and enjoyed movies.
Maldivian intellectuals today believe that Nasir was shabbily treated after he voluntarily relinquished power in a rare gesture of true democracy. Citizens were instigated to humiliate and shame the great leader who gained them independence and rendered invaluable service. Young Maldivians of today have not seen this leader and those with a sense of nationalism would feel regret for sending this leader into exile. For 30 years Nasir has never felt the warmth and beauty of the country he loved and served so much. He has been living abroad since a few months after he stepped down. He served two terms as President, and he refused to accept nomination to become president for a third term. A foreign reporter remarked that Nasir was one of the few leaders in this part of the world who knew the time had come him to say goodbye. That was very true; there were many members of the Majlis and senior colleagues who were in tears when Nasir said no to their request to serve longer. But those tears dried immediately and many of the same people called him a traitor and voted to have a have a full investigation into what they called misappropriation of government funds. After he left Male', mass demonstrations were held against him, labeling him traitor, calling death for him. He was tried in absentia and sentenced. But during the past years those feelings have changed, and more and more people realized Nasir was a true leader of rare statesmanship. Many felt Nasir was unjustly treated and punished out of sheer jealousy and vengeance. There is growing love and respect for President Nasir, and most Maldivians want to give a rousing welcome to this aging leader who has recently been seriously ill and received intensive care. Thankfully Nasir's health is better. But there are increasing number of Maldivians who are desperate to have their leader back in the country to be treated honorably as President Ibrahim Nasir.
When I was watching the colorful items of Independence Day celebrations, I was wishfully imagining how nice it would be if President Nasir was there to see the celebrations. How great it would have been if the former President was seated next to President Gayoom. But these are only dreams, and our history has been such that we will not have this honor and privilege for the time being. I was also imagining if there will be a possibility of President Gayoom personally inviting President Nasir to return home and according the former president the grand welcome that befits the revered leader. I was also thinking, if one of the TV channels would request from President Nasir the privilege of giving a short message to the people on the occasion of Independence Day. It is his day and to have a special interview from the leader who shunned publicity will be worth trying. When I say this I know giving interviews and messages is not Nasir's style. What is important is to convince President Nasir that we respect and appreciate him, we are sorry for what we have caused to him, and we really want to rewrite our history about his yeoman services.
Some well informed sources say Nasir is very hurt and angry about the unkind and ungrateful treatment he received from the country which was so dear and close to his heart. It seems he does not meet people and he is hesitant to talk to people. He has seen two sides of the coin, flattery, praise, pouring when he was the boss, but all out to insult and ruin him when he left power. Nasir knows only too well, there is a taste of hypocrisy in everything, and those beautifully phrased praises are like paper roses. But today's reality is a great majority of Maldivians highly respect and appreciate their illustrious leader and they want him back with honor. They want to call him President Nasir, they want to accord him the country's highest honor. They want to salute him and remember him with reverence and love. It is no longer hypocrisy, these feelings are from their hearts and minds for a leader of exemplary leadership and quality.
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