Gaumii salaam

Qaumee Salaam (Dhivehi: ޤައުމީ ސަލާމް, National Salute) is the current national anthem of the Maldives. The lyrics were written by Muhammad Jameel Didi in 1948, and the melody was composed by Sri Lankan maestro Pandit Wannakuwattawaduge Don Amaradeva in 1972.

Gavmee Salaam is a proud declaration of national unity, the country's Islamic faith, the victory of historic battles and an homage to the heroes who fell defending the nation. It also wishes further development on the country, while paying respect to the leaders who had served her.

History

Until 1948, a melody without lyrics called the 'Salaamathi' was performed by a royal band on state occasions at the 'Etherekoilu', the residence of the Sultan. Soon after it was decided that the Salaamathi needed lyrics accompanied by a new melody. The lyrics were written by a young poet and later chief justice, Mohamed Jameel Didi.

Jameel Didi wrote the words for the new Salaamathi bearing in mind the influence of Urdu poetry during the time, closely imitating its style and also furnishing his work with words borrowed from Arabic. Afterwards, Jameel Didi began looking for a tune to accompany his poem when he heard the noon chime (Auld Lang Syne) of his uncle's clock. The tune was adopted to the lyrics and the new Salaamathi was complete.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s Maldivians became more aware of the importance of a National Anthem and in 1972, shortly before the Maldives was visited by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the government hastily commissioned maestro W.D. Amaradeva for a new melody for the anthem. The original lyrics were retained, with a few changes to emphasize the fact that Maldives has been a republic since 1968. As of 2007, this version of the anthem has survived without any modifications.

Lyrics

Thaana

Text as written in the Thaana script:

Romanized Transliteration

Gaumee mi ekuverikan matee tibegen kureeme salaam,

Gaumee bahun gina hyo du'aa kuramun kureeme salaam.

Gaumee nishaanang hurmataa eku bo lambai tibegen

Audaa nakan libigen e vaa dida-ak kureeme salaam.

Nasraa nasiibaa kaamyaabu-ge ramzakang himenee

Fessaa rataai hudaa ekii fenumun kuriime salaam.

Fakhraa sharaf gavmang e hoodai devvi batalun

Zikraage mativerun lhentakun adugai kuriime salaam.

Dhivehiinge ummay kuri arai silmaa salaamatugai

Dhivehiinge nan mollu vun edai tibegen kuriime salaam.

Minivankamaa madaniyyataa libigen mi 'aalamugai

Dinigen hitaa matakun tibun edigen kuriime salaam.

Dinaai verinnang hyo hitun hurmay adaa kuramun

Siidaa vafaaterikan matii tibegen kuriime salaam.

Davlatuge aburaa 'izzataa mativeri vegen abada'

Audaana vun edi heyo du'aa kuramun kuriime salaam.

Translation

We salute you in this national unity.

We salute you, with many good wishes in the national tongue,

Bowing the head in respect to the national symbol.

We salute the flag that has such might ;

It falls into the sphere of victory, fortune and success

With its green and red and white together, and therefore we salute it.

To those heroes who sought out honour and pride for the nation

We give salute today in auspicious verses of remembrance.

May the nation of the Maldivian Islanders advance under guard and protection

And the name of the Maldivian Islanders become great.

Thus we pledge as we salute.

We wish for their freedom and progress in this world

And for their freedom from sorrows, and thus we salute.

With full respect and heartfelt blessing towards religion and our leaders,

We salute you in uprightness and truth.

May the State ever have auspicious honour and respect.

With good wishes for your continuing might, we salute you.

External Links

• Himnuszok - A vocal version of the Anthem with the current lyrics, featured in Szbszig's "Himnuszok" website. This version is taken from the "Voice of Maldives" Interval stored in the Interval Signals Online website.
• Maldives Royal Family
• Midi file of Gaumii Salaam

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