By As-Sulṭaan al-Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A’uẓam is remembered for resisting the Portuguese, who governed the Maldives from 1558 to 1573, after slaying Sultan Ali VI in Malé. In the Maldives, his triumph is celebrated on Qaumee Dhuvas, also known as National Day. He was also the first Maldivian Sultan to establish a unified military body. He is recognized as a national hero.
Following Sultan Ali IV’s death, the Maldives were controlled by An’dhiri An’dhirin and the Portuguese. An’dhiri An’dhirin, a regent of Sultan Hassan IX, was the first Maldivian and the only member of the monarchy to forsake Islam and convert to Christianity; after his deposition, he sought sanctuary in Goa, India. Following the conquest, the Portuguese governed the Maldives for 15 years.
Muhammad Thakurufaanu and his brothers Ali and Hasan fled the Maldives to Minicoy also known as Maliku in the Lakshadweep, India. They met the “Aaji” brothers. Hassan Aaji and Ali Aaji who assisted the Utheemu brothers in defeating the Portuguese. The three Utheemu brothers assembled the Kalhuoffummi.It is reported that Muhammad Thakurufaanu obtained assistance from the Maroshi Raaveribe (toddy-tapper), who repaired and maintained the sail of the Kalhuoffummi – the ship employed in the war – and supplied water to the vessel whenever it arrived in Maroshi.
They arrived on the capital island Malé the night before the day set by the Portuguese garrison of An’dhiri An’dhirin for the forced conversion of the population to Christianity, with the penalty of death for noncompliance. The Utheemu brothers, together with other Maldivians, battled and slaughtered the Portuguese garrison, regaining their country’s freedom. An’dhiri An’dhirin was slain by Muhammad Thakurufaanu’s musket fire.
After murdering An’dhiri An’dhirin, he sought sanctuary with Ali Raja of Cannanore, India, in accordance with the pact. Muhammad Thakurufaanu’s base of operations was Maliku, which was under Cannanore’s dominion. Ali Raja claimed lordship over the Maldives, as promised by Muhammad Thakurufaanu. The nature of Muhammad Thakurufaan’s connection with Ali Raja of Cannanore was described in a letter sent by a subsequent of Ali Raja known as Mariambe Ali-Adi Raja Bibi, to Sultan Muhammad Mueenudeen I of the Maldives. The letter was dated Friday, December 7, 1827, the 17th of Jumad al-Awla. According to the letter, Muhammad Thakurufaan had agreed into a deal that relinquish control of the Maldives to the Ali Raja of Cannanore if Thakurufaan was made a sultan. Muhammad Thakurufaanu signed a pact with Goa’s King Dom Manoel to ward off the Ali Raja of Cannanore. Although Muhammad Thakurufaanu was appointed as King Dom Manoel’s regent, the Maldivians designated Muhammad Thakurufaanu as Sultan of the Maldives and no longer acknowledging the sovereignty of the self-exiled Christian monarchs of Goa or their regents. According to the chronicles, he reigned wisely and was courteous and protected all the impoverished, even looked out for the people’s interests at the time. Muhammed Thakurufaanu died naturally on August 16, 1585.
Today is we mark the National day proudly as the day the Maldives gained freedom from the Portugese.