About Minicoy ( Maliku )

Minicoy, locally known as Maliku (Dhivehi: [mliku]; Malayalam: ) is a census town in the Indian union territory of Lakshadweep and was formerly a part of Maldive Islands. The ancient name of Maliku (Minicoy) was Mahilad, mahila (women) + d (island) meaning women's island. However, now Minicoy is called Maliku in the local language. The name Maliku is thought to have been derived from the Arab trader's term for the island, Jazirat al-Maliku ('the island of the king'). Since it was the ancient capital of Lakshadweepa. Minicoy islanders have long settled in the Nicobar Islands across the Bay of Bengal. These settlers regularly travelled back to Minicoy. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands had a reputation in the Maldives and Minicoy of being inhabited by cannibals, and so collectively the Andaman and Nicobar groups were called "Minikaa-raajje" by Maldive and Minicoy islanders. This meant "cannibal kingdom". A British official once asked a Minicoy islander what the name of...