A look at the turbulent politics of the Maumoon regime

“Majubooruvi Badhalu” by Aishath Waheed covers the pressures both from internal and external sources that forced Maldives to embrace liberal democracy.

With much research and detail, this book covers the era of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom when he was president from 1978 to 2008.

It covers the turmoil of Maldives’ politics from the time of president Ibrahim Nasir's decision in 1978 not to contest for another presidential term, up to the time when Maumoon lost the first democratic presidential elections in 2008 to president Mohamed “Anni” Nasheed.

As the book also covers in detail aspects such as the torture and murders in Maafushi prison, this book may not be suitable for the faint-hearted.

I bought this book from Ocean Library (Ma. South Shine, 1st Floor, Chaandhanee Magu, Male').

The book describes author Aishath as starting out her education at Male's private school, the English Preparatory and Secondary School (EPSS) and going on to serve the Maldives’ government at the tender age of 16.

She served about 18 years at the information technology section and aeronautical information services of Maldives Airports Company.

After achieving a diploma in special education, she served as a volunteer teacher at Malaysia's Dyslexia Center in Kuala Lumpur.

She is now working as a volunteer at the Blind and Visually Impaired Society of Maldives.

Aishath is also described as an avid reader and a researcher. "Majubooruvi Badhalu" is said to be the culmination of an effort at undertaking private research into Maldives' contemporary history.