Maldives Faces Famine and Unrest: The 1943 BoduThiladummathi Uprising and Post-War Crisis of 1948–1953

The 1943 BoduThiladummathi Uprising

The Impact of World War II on the Maldives: Food Security, Trade Disruptions, and the Post-War Great Famine of 1948–1953

The Maldives, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, experienced significant economic and social challenges during and after World War II (1939–1945). While the Maldives face a major famine during the war itself, the period was marked by disrupted trade, food shortages, and the establishment of a British military base in Addu Atoll. These wartime disruptions set the stage for the severe Great Famine of 1948–1953, which was far more devastating than any wartime shortages, resulting in widespread starvation and deaths across the Maldives,

Maldives' experience during WWII, focusing on food security, government responses, the role of the British as protectors, and comparisons with other regions like India and Sri Lanka. It also examines why the Maldives was less prioritized by the British and the broader implications of WWII’s global trade disruptions on famine conditions, drawing parallels with other significant famines of the era.

World War II and the Maldives:

A Strategic but Vulnerable Outpost

During World War II, the Maldives, a British protectorate since 1887, played a strategic role in the Indian Ocean due to its location. In 1941, the British established a secret military base, on Gan Island in Addu Atoll, which included a runway, seaplane base, and bunkers. This base was critical for Allied operations against Japanese forces, with planes flying in from Singapore and Sri Lanka. The military presence brought some economic benefits, such as access to luxury goods, but it also disrupted local agriculture by clearing farmland, impacting food production in Addu Atoll. Despite these disruptions, the Maldives did not experience a significant famine during the war itself, unlike other regions such as Bengal, and Java.

However, the war severely disrupted the Maldives’ trade with its key partners, India and Sri Lanka, due to naval blockades and heightened risks in the Indian Ocean. German and Japanese submarines patrolled the region, with notable incidents like the torpedoing of the British oil tanker Loyalty in Addu Lagoon in 1944. These disruptions made it difficult to transport essential goods, including food, leading to shortages that foreshadowed the more severe post-war famine. The Maldivian government attempted to mitigate these shortages by rationing rice and sending grain to the atolls, but these efforts were limited by logistical challenges and internal governance issues.

The Post-War Great Famine of 1948–1953

While wartime food shortages were manageable, the post-war period saw the Maldives plunge into a severe famine from 1948 to 1953, known as the Great Famine. This crisis was far more devastating, with widespread starvation and significant mortality, including at least 12 deaths reported in North Thiladhunmathi Hoarafushi. The famine was characterized by extreme shortages of food, clothing, and fabrics, forcing people to resort to desperate measures such as eating magoo plant roots, Scaevola taccada, also known as beach cabbage using burlap sacks for clothing, and shrouding the dead with beached boat sails. The northern Maldives, particularly Thiladhunmathi Atoll, was hit hard, with a famine that sparked an uprising against the government, reflecting deep discontent with its handling of the crisis.

Bodu Dhathuru Documentary Credit/ Thiladhun Online

The causes of the Great Famine are debated among historians. While traditional narratives attribute it to the lingering effects of WWII’s trade disruptions, scholars like Ibrahim Hussain Manik and Ibrahim Shihab argue that government mismanagement under Mohamed Ameen Didi, who served as Prime Minister and later President, was a significant factor. The government’s response included sending staple food supplies, teaching officials to cultivate crops, founding the Maldives Government Bodu Store for food purchases, and buying fish at high prices from local fishermen. However, these efforts were undermined by wasteful spending , government owed significant debts, including MVR 5.6 million to P. B. Unbuchi Company and MVR 4.2 million to Bohra merchants, further straining resources.

British Protectorate Role and Limited Support

As a British protectorate, the Maldives retained internal self-governance, while the British were responsible for defense and foreign affairs. The establishment of British naval base. The Royal Navy base ("Port T") in Addu Atoll brought supplies, likely including some food for military personnel, but there is no specific documentation of direct food aid to civilians during the war. The British focus was on military strategy, with Port T Addu playing a crucial role in securing the Indian Ocean against Axis powers. Incidents like the torpedoing of the Khedive Ismail" 

Women in the Second World War The Sinking of SS Khedive Ismail by a Japanese submarine in Huvadhu Kandu in February 1944 and the sinking of HMS Maaloy in March 1944, which killed the Maldives crown prince Hassan Fareed, underscored the ongoing threat in the region. However, these events did not translate into significant humanitarian aid for the Maldivian population.

The British presence during the post-war famine was similarly limited. British officials, including the Governor General of Ceylon, attended ceremonies in the Maldives, indicating awareness of the crisis, but they did not intervene significantly. This lack of support can be attributed to several factors:

• Strategic Priorities: The British prioritized regions like Ceylon and India, which hosted major military bases and had greater strategic importance. Ceylon, for instance, experienced a post-war economic boom, with markets flush with goods and a GDP per capita higher than Thailand and Korea by 1950.

• Protectorate Status: The Maldives’ internal governance was left to local authorities, limiting British responsibility for domestic issues like food security.

• War and Post-War Recovery:

  
  

  Great Bengal Famine of 1943

Comparisons with Other WWII Famines

The Maldives’ post-war famine can be contextualized within the broader landscape of WWII-related famines, which were driven by disrupted trade routes, naval blockades, and policy failures. The Bengal famine of 1943, which killed 2.5 to 3 million in British India, is one of the most studied, with historian Amartya Sen’s entitlement theory highlighting that it was not solely a food availability issue but a failure of distribution. British policies prioritizing military needs, combined with a cyclone and trade disruptions, led to widespread starvation and social upheaval. Similarly, the Dutch famine of 1944–1945, known as the Hongerwinter, killed 18,000 to 22,000 due to a German blockade, with long-term health impacts on survivors. In Southeast Asia, famines in Java (1.3–2.4 million deaths), Henan (2 million deaths), and Vietnam (1 million deaths) were exacerbated by Japanese occupation and poor harvests.

Unlike these wartime famines, the Maldives’ Great Famine occurred post-war, suggesting that while WWII’s trade disruptions laid the groundwork, domestic factors like government mismanagement were critical. In contrast, India, post-independence, implemented effective food management policies, such as the Green Revolution and Public Distribution System, preventing major famines after 1943. Sri Lanka, benefiting from its role as a British Crown Colony and robust trade networks, avoided food crises entirely during this period.

Maldivian Preparedness and Government Response

The Maldivian people were ill-prepared for the Great Famine, as evidenced by the desperate survival measures and the uprising in Thiladhunmathi Atoll. The government’s focus on non-essential spending, coupled with the lack of robust food security investments, left the population vulnerable. While efforts like rationing rice and importing food were made, they were insufficient, and the financial strain from debts .

The political instability that followed, with Mohamed Ameen Didi’s deposition in 1953, reflects the challenges in the post-World War II era, particularly with the Great Famine of 1948–1953, which caused widespread hunger and economic hardship.

The Maldives’ experience during and after World War II illustrates the complex interplay of global and local factors in shaping food security outcomes. While the wartime British military presence in Addu Atoll brought some economic benefits, it also disrupted local agriculture, and trade disruptions with India and Sri Lanka set the stage for post-war challenges. The Great Famine of 1948–1953, far more severe than wartime shortages, was exacerbated by government mismanagement and limited British support, highlighting the vulnerabilities of small protectorates. Comparisons with India and Sri Lanka, which benefited from greater British attention, and other WWII famines, such as Bengal, underscore the importance of effective governance and distribution systems in preventing famine. The Maldives’ story serves as a poignant reminder of the long-term impacts of war and the critical need for resilient food security frameworks in vulnerable regions.

The history of the Maldives is not just a tale of idyllic beaches and tourism; it is also a narrative shaped by geopolitical tensions and the repercussions of conflict that have echoed through its society and economy. The islands, strategically located in the Indian Ocean, have often found themselves at the crossroads of international interests, which has sometimes led to political instability and conflict. As a result, the Maldivian people have faced significant challenges, particularly in the realm of food security. The disruption caused by conflict can severely affect agricultural production, supply chains, and access to essential resources. In the Maldives, where the majority of food is imported, the vulnerability to external shocks becomes even more pronounced. This dependency on imports not only makes the nation susceptible to global market fluctuations but also highlights the urgent need for developing robust local food systems that can withstand such pressures. Furthermore, the impacts of climate change exacerbate these challenges, as rising sea levels and extreme weather events threaten both the agricultural viability and the overall stability of the islands. It is crucial for policymakers to recognize the interconnectedness of conflict, food security, and climate resilience. By investing in sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing local food production capabilities, and establishing strong frameworks for emergency response, the Maldives can build a more resilient food security system that protects its population from the adverse effects of both historical and ongoing conflicts. In conclusion, the narrative of the Maldives underscores the importance of addressing the long-term consequences of war while simultaneously reinforcing the need for innovative and adaptive food security strategies, particularly in regions that are inherently vulnerable to both human and environmental challenges. The lessons learned from the Maldives can serve as a valuable guide for other nations facing similar threats, emphasizing the necessity of proactive measures to secure food systems in the face of adversity.