Mumbo jumbo in the Maldives

Political folklorists say, there’s a charmed circle around every powerful person.

- R. PRASANNAN

Political gossipers would tell you stories about what many do to get into that circle, or to get others out. Several of our Panchatantra tales are about tricks played by people to get into the king’s favour, or how the jealous would poison the king’s ears against others.

Fathimath Shamnaz Ali’s is one such. She had been politically close to Mohamed Muizzu when he was mayor of Male, and she a town council member. She followed Muizzu when he rode to power in the Maldives last year, and moved into the presidential mansion Muliaage.

Blame it on the flawed vaastu of Muliaage, Muizzu soon despatched her to the environment ministry. Pretty vital, we would think, considering that climate change is a lifeline matter for the Maldives as is the actual line of control for us Indians. Many of the isles will sink if the globe warms by a degree or two, the polar ice melts, and the sea rises.