https://www.reddit.com/r/maldives/comments/1j73eqm/keylakunu/
created by Wide_Reading3105 on 09/03/2025 at 08:40 UTC
16 upvotes, 2 top-level comments (showing 2)
I was thinking about it and realized its basically a time capsule of sorts of life in the 1800s (the storm occurring in 1821). Has anyone been there? Seen the ruins? Should there be a conservation effort made to maintain these as archeological or historical sites?
Comment by z80lives at 09/03/2025 at 10:48 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
IIRC there were attempts to repopulate the island after the storm. To my knowledge, there isn't much left intact. "Keylakunu Thalhaali Visaara" is probably one of the more consequential environment disaster we had until the 2004 tsunami. Despite the name, about 30 islands were severely affected, including Rinbudhoo near Hulhudheli but most islands were rebuilt and repopulated. I don't exactly remember how many islands remained without a population, after all the storm affected the entire Maldives. The storm's impact on our collective memory survives through folklore in a lot of islands, like this story[1] I shared a while ago here in this subreddit. Mohamed Ibrahim Luthufee wrote a very good article on the subject in Faiythoora.
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/maldives/comments/179tzi2/a_folk_story_about_kurinbi_beauty_is_a_curse/
Regarding conservation, I think there are lots of historical sites and settlements that needs to be added to a list. If you take a look at a lot of older islands, (e.g. Kinolhas) the historical villages and settlements are usually in an uninhabited location away from the modern settlement. Shape of islands in Maldives are constantly changing, every decade. There was a recent paper on that subject I read, but unfortunately, I can't remember the title, author or year right now.
There are also lot's of natural disasters forgotten. Last section of Tarikh highlights some natural disasters that happened during the authors time (Tajuddin?, Sirajuddin and Muhibuddin). IIRC Bell might have compiled a table of some of these disasters. Perhaps it's a good topic for someone to research further on, with recent knowledge and add more context to these events.
Comment by loothe at 09/03/2025 at 09:25 UTC
8 upvotes, 2 direct replies
General apathy for our history is disheartening. I think we should discover and preserve every little bit of history left by our ancestors.