It was over eight hundred years ago that the King of Maldive Island decreed that his people convert to Islam in order to get rid of Rannamaari that took away the lives of the young girls who reached puberty in this nation. Little did the people know that the Rannamaari that haunted the community of the capital island was no less than the King himself. [Otherwise why would this monster who lived in the faraway oceans have a fetish with just the children on the island where the King resided?]

The King [the Rannamaari] himself knew well that with the arrival of “foreign” civilization that was no more possible to avert, his only cause of action for existence was to change his mindset and his taste for pleasure. Similarly, today we are at the cross roads of civilization and the “foreigners” have engulfed us in a new sense of civilization.

I believe it is time, as the modern day Rannamaari which has existed in its phantom form has become exposed and needs to be looked at to adjust with the trying times. Our Rannamaari (in this modern day) is our attitude towards our young children who are vulnerable to our sick and perverted mindsets. This Rannamaari exists within us, and supports the fetish desires of a number of people amongst us.

It is time we get rid of this Rannamaari. Unfortunately, there is no Abul-Barakaathul-Barbary or Thibreezee to do that for us. We have to do it ourselves, because it is within us! It is not the King anymore. The King is us!

We need to “convert” our attitude to respect the rights of our children; to believe that they are not to be abused but to be loved and cared for; that we have a responsibility to provide a caring environment that is supportive and encourages them to develop into responsible global citizens capable of purposeful existence.

Let’s get rid of this Rannamaari once and for all!