Minicoy - The Tight-fisted King

The Tight-fisted King

An oral tradition of the Maldives (according to the late Magieduruge Ibrahim Didi, a Maldivian learned man from the island of Fuvahmulah) explains why Minicoy is not politically part of the Maldives anymore:

Some time in the past (perhaps during the 17th century), Minicoy was devastated by a great cyclone which destroyed most houses and a great number of coconut trees. Following the catastrophe, a delegation of Minicoy islanders from the best families in the island sailed to the King in Male' asking for gold to help them through the hard times. However, the Maldive King told them that he had not enough money in his treasury and that he was not able to help them. Hence the delegation of Maliku nobles went onwards to the Malabar coast, where they found favor with the king of Cannanore (Kannur) who welcomed them and helped the Minicoy people to rebuild their island in exchange for their loyalty. Henceforth the Minicoy Islanders owed allegiance to this kingdom of the SW Indian shore..

Minicoy Island or Maliku is the only inhabited island of the Maliku Atoll and is located at 8°17′N 73°02′E / 8.283, 73.033Coordinates: 8°17′N 73°02′E / 8.283, 73.033. It is the second largest and the southern-most among the islands of the Lakshadweep archipelago, measuring about 10 km from its northern end to its southernmost point. Minicoy is a long island, almost completely covered with coconut trees. One of the few landmarks on the island is a tall lighthouse.

On the southern side of the main island lies the uninhabited islet of Viringili where formerly the lepers of Minicoy were banished.

This atoll is administered by India under the Indian Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The closest island to Minicoy is Thuraakunu in the Republic of Maldives.