(Waves of Wisdom is a podcast by the President of Maldives Professional Speakers Association, Iyaz Waheed.)
From Meedhoo to Majeediyya: The Roots of Wisdom
Every journey begins with a story. Dr. Ahmed Anwar’s story begins on the island of Meedhoo, where learning was a way of life, not a luxury. His father sent him to Male’ for better education.
He grew up in Nedhunge – the home of Ali Najeeb: the island’s only photographer, a man of many talents and deep reflection. Najeeb’s home was a gathering place for island leaders from across the Maldives who came to share their hopes for their people.
“As a small boy, I listened to their conversations,” Dr. Anwar recalls.
“The experience of their stories was transferred to wisdom.”
Those evenings were his first classrooms. No chalk, no board: just the rhythm of dialogue and the pulse of purpose. Listening became his way of learning.
It was Najeeb who later helped him join Majeediyya School in Malé: the heart of a new era in Maldivian education. English-medium instruction was just taking root under Sri Lankan teachers and principals. For a young boy from Meedhoo, it was a vast ocean of opportunity.
He learned not only subjects but spirit: that knowledge must serve people, not pride.
From those early years grew the humility and curiosity that would guide him through a lifetime of service, from isalnd classrooms to the birth of a national university.
🕊️ Part 1 of 5 · A Waves of Wisdom Reflection Series
🌺 This reflection is part of a five-part series tracing Dr. Anwar’s journey through learning and leadership. Up next Part 2 — “The Teacher Who Served: From Mysore to Shaviyani.”
Smile and Let Smile 