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Our seas have been our most cherished blessing, livelihood and our most proud possession for as long as we have existed on these islands. It is a part and parcel of being ‘Dhivehi’ - Maldivian. It looks however, the sea demons are not very happy with us anymore. Can one of our black magicians -fanditha verin- call for seas to be calmer and kind for us as it has been. 

On a different thought it might be, just might be, that seas have always been the same. We have not being aware of or worried about the impact and the force of it because we did not have graphical images and other means – called media – to deliver and tell our horrific stories of dealing with nature’s unfathomable force. Since the time I remember we have had tidal waves and wind storms but we as a people have mostly tamed and trusted seas to live with and safeguard us. I guess our grandfathers at their time as well had natural disasters. I cannot imagine they had any assistance from any charity or government organization in dealing with their big waves.

That makes me think ‘how did Maldivians survive up to today?’

Back then we didn’t make billions out of our seas either. We are not equipped or prepared for these inevitable calamities that our people in our islands by natural design are subjected to experience. Tsunami did warn enough, if it taught anything to big heads in public offices is becoming questionable. Safe islands are not safe, not yet. Yes, we know things cannot be achieved overnight. Can we implement a nation wide survival skill program as a national priority; what to do during winds, rains, tidal waves and tsunamis. Can it be a serious requirement for schools?

I cannot stop wondering how we as a people survived to present day. Probably, we didn’t! I think many of us didn’t.