Witness to history: Fathimath Moosa's journey to market matriarch

Faathuma: I was about seven years old when I came from my island (Nolhivaramfaru) with the hope to study. I stayed at Fonilun’bo ge, but I didn’t get the chance because I was too busy with housework. So, I had to give up on that dream very early on. I don’t know the exact dates but I remember having to queue up with coupons to get food. It was during president Mohamed Amin’s rule.

I remember Malé being a lot darker at night, there were maybe three or four street lights on the whole island back then. And one of the clearest memories I have [from that time] is of Amin Didi getting attacked by the mob. I was an onlooker, like many others. 

I was fascinated but extremely frightened, it was violence like I had never seen before or since. 

I worked for a long time as a janitor at Aminiyya School. It was during President Nasir’s reign. 

I married my sweetheart Lhahuththu [now deceased] during president Nasir’s time in power. We had been dating for a very long time though. 

I don’t remember my age, but I would have been much too young by today’s standards. We had one child, she gave me three grandchildren, all girls. They have all completed their studies and are married but I am yet to be a great-grandmother.

My husband Lhahuththu always wanted one, and he would walk around the old valhoamas [cured tuna] market with his goods on either end of a stick. He would get locked up very often for that but finally, [the late] Umar Zahir gave him a golhi. I believe out of sheer persistence. 

I think I was working at the airport back then, and I would sit at my husband’s golhi after I finished work or during my days off. In fact, back when we were supplying goods to the islands, I would get one of those large banana stalks and take it all the way to the boats. Lhahuththu meanwhile would sit at the golhi, he was only too happy to have me do that kind of physical work.

It was during president Nasheed’s administration. The president himself came by the market golhi I was renting out at the time and asked me if I was facing any difficulties. I told him everything was difficult for me as I was having to rent out a golhi because I didn’t fit any of the criteria to get my own. He laughed and told an aide to see to it that I was able to apply for my own golhi as soon as any became vacant. So, first, I got the 31 No. golhi, and later, I was given this golhi in exchange for it.

I liked Nasheed’s administration because of the benefits for us elderly people, the allowance and Aasandha were very revolutionary changes. And while this may not be a popular opinion, I liked Maumoon’s administration too, I was able to live my life the way I liked. But I understand that there were real concerns over violence and police brutality.