The Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage has recorded a substantial surge in public engagement regarding a national initiative to document the oral histories of the nation’s elderly population, Minister Adam Naseer Ibrahim announced. In a comprehensive interview with PSM News, Minister Adam Naseer positioned the preservation of ancestral knowledge as a primary administrative mandate designed to safeguard the Maldivian narrative.
The project has transitioned into its inaugural phase, involving the systematic training of approximately 10 custodians per island to serve as field researchers, the Minister Adam Naseer noted. He observed that citizens who traversed the previous six decades possess unique skills and cultural nuances defining the national character. By recording these lived experiences, the administration aims to establish a definitive archive of the country’s trajectory and the evolution of Maldivian identity.
"The collection of memories from our elderly citizens represents the acquisition of authentic assistance required for this endeavour, encompassing historical events, oral narratives, and the environments they witnessed," Minister Adam Naseer stated. "By aggregating the recollections of the elderly across every island, we will be able to accurately discern the state of the Maldives approximately 60 years ago; furthermore, these gathered memories can effectively be utilised for the requirements of contemporary AI technology".
Public support for the undertaking has been immense, Minister Adam Naseer remarked, noting that elderly citizens experience a profound sense of satisfaction when consulted. "The process flourishes when younger generations take the time to listen to their experiences in this manner," he added.
The ministry expects to codify these ancestral principles to expand possibilities for future national planning. Prior to field operations, Minister Adam Naseer confirmed, the government completed the academic groundwork, including the translation of technical methodologies into the Dhivehi language.