A man was a king long ago.
He led a place called the Maldives. He was the last king there. Now that place has a new way to lead. It is a big change. Do you like to learn about kings?
A man named Fareed was a leader.
He was the last Sultan of the Maldives. Later, he became the first King. He led his land for many years.
He helped run the group of leaders. People voted to change how they lead. They chose to have a republic instead. This meant the king had to step down. He lived in a large home. He died in the city of Malé. He was buried in a big cemetery. It was a very big change for his land.
Muhammad Fareed Didi was a leader in the Maldives.
He was born in 1901. He studied in Ceylon. This place is now called Sri Lanka. He came home and became a prime minister in 1932. He also led the People's Majlis. This is the group of leaders for the land.
In 1954, a group of leaders held a secret vote. They chose him to be the 84th Sultan. He ruled as Sultan for many years. In 1965, he became the first King. He was the first to use the title "His Majesty."
Later, the people had to make a big choice. They voted on how to lead their land. Most people wanted a republic. A republic is a way to rule without a king. In 1968, the Maldives became a republic. This ended a long line of rulers. The King left the royal palace. He lived in a home in Henveiru. He died in the city of Malé in 1969. He was buried in a cemetery in Galolhu.
Muhammad Fareed Didi was a very important leader.
He was the last Sultan of the Maldives. He was also the first King of that land. He used the title "His Majesty" for the first time. This was a big change for the country. His life marked the end of a very long era.
His journey as a leader began with study. He went to the Royal College Colombo. This school was in Ceylon, which is now Sri Lanka. He lived there for seven years. When he returned, he became a prime minister in 1932. He worked for Sultan Hassan Nooraddine II. Later, he was the speaker of the People's Majlis.
In 1954, the Maldives became a Sultanate again. This happened after a revolution changed the government. A new group of leaders was elected. They held a secret vote to pick a new ruler. They chose Muhammad Fareed Didi as the 84th Sultan. His first prime minister was Ehgamugey Ibraahim Ali Didi. Later, Velaanagey Ibrahim Nasir became the new prime minister.
Change came to the Maldives through voting. In 1967, leaders voted on how to rule. They decided if they should have a monarchy or a republic. A republic is a way to rule without a king. Forty out of forty-four leaders voted for a republic. In 1968, a national vote was held. About 81.23% of the people voted for the republic. This ended a monarchy that lasted 853 years.
After the monarchy ended, the King's life changed. He left the royal palace in 1968. He moved to his own home in Henveiru. This home is called Maabagychaage today. It is now the parliament house. He died in the city of Malé on May 27, 1969. He had a state funeral. He was buried in the Galolhu Cemetery.
Muhammad Fareed Didi was a significant political figure in Maldivian history.
He served as the final Sultan and the first King of the Maldives. His reign marked a major transition for the nation. He was the son of Sultan Prince Abdul Majeed Didi. Fareed Didi held power during a time of great political change. He ruled as Sultan starting in 1954. Later, he became King in 1965. His leadership spanned the end of a centuries-old monarchy.
Fareed Didi received an education abroad in the British Colony of Ceylon. Ceylon is known today as Sri Lanka. He spent seven years studying at the Royal College Colombo. This time abroad prepared him for future leadership roles. Upon his return, he entered Maldivian politics immediately. On December 16, 1932, he became the prime minister. He served under Sultan Hassan Nooraddine II. He also held the position of speaker for the People's Majlis. The People's Majlis is the national parliament. He served in this legislative role from 1933 until 1942.
The political structure of the Maldives shifted significantly during his lifetime. After the fall of President Mohamed Amin Didi, the country changed. A referendum was held to decide the future of the government. The nation decided to return to a Sultanate. This required the creation of a new People's Majlis. The previous parliament had been dissolved following a revolution. A special Majlis was elected to manage this transition. These members held a secret vote to select a new ruler. They chose Prince Mohammed Fareed Didi as the 84th Sultan in 1954.
During his early years as Sultan, Fareed Didi managed various government officials. His first Prime Minister was Ehgamugey Ibraahim Ali Didi. This leader was also known as Ibraahim Faamuladheyri Kilegefaan. The leadership of the prime minister changed during the Sultan's reign. On December 11, 1957, the first Prime Minister was forced to resign. The following day, Velaanagey Ibrahim Nasir was elected as the new Prime Minister. This change in administration was a key part of the government's operations. These leaders worked within the framework of the Sultanate.
In the late 1960s, the Maldives faced a choice about its system of government. On November 15, 1967, the parliament held a decisive vote. The members had to choose between a constitutional monarchy or a republic. A constitutional monarchy is a system where a monarch shares power with a government. A republic is a system without a monarch. There were 44 parliamentarians involved in this decision. Forty of these members voted in favor of becoming a republic. This parliamentary vote set the stage for a larger national decision.
A national referendum followed the parliamentary vote to confirm the change. This vote took place on March 15, 1968. The citizens of the Maldives participated in deciding their government's future. The results showed that 81.23% of the votes cast favored a republic. This massive majority led to the official declaration of the republic on November 11, 1968. This event ended the monarchy in the Maldives. The monarchy had been the system of rule for 853 years. This transition changed the very foundation of Maldivian society.
After the monarchy ended, Fareed Didi's role in government concluded. He was deposed from the throne in 1968. He left the royal palace and moved to his private residence. This home was located in the Henveiru ward. It was called Maabagychaage, which is the parliament house today. He lived there until his death in the city of Malé. He passed away on May 27, 1969. The nation honored him with a state funeral. He was buried in the Galolhu Cemetery, marking the end of his life and his era.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (2)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.