Gaumii salaam

ޤައުމީ ސަލާމް

English: National Salute
Gaumii Salaam
Emblem of Maldives
National anthem of Maldives
Lyrics	Muhammad Jameel Didi, 1948
Music	Pandith Amaradeva, 1972
Music sample
Gaumii salaam (Instrumental)

"Qaumii Salaam" (Maldivian: ޤައުމީ ސަލާމް; National Salute) is the current national anthem of the Maldives. The lyrics were written by Muhammad Jameel Didi in 1948, and the melody was composed by Sri Lankan maestro Pandith Amaradeva in 1972.

"Qaumii Salaam" is a declaration of national unity, the country's Islamic faith, the victory of historic battles and an homage to the heroes who fell defending the nation. It also wishes further development on the country, while paying respect to the leaders who had served her.

History

Until 1948, a melody without lyrics called the "Salaamathi" was performed by a royal band on state occasions at the Etherekoilu, the residence of the Sultan. Soon after it was decided that the Salaamathi needed lyrics accompanied by a new melody. The lyrics were written by a young poet and later chief justice, Mohamed Jameel Didi.

Jameel Didi wrote the words for the new "Salaamathi" bearing in mind the influence of Urdu poetry during the time, closely imitating its style and also furnishing his work with words borrowed from Arabic. Afterwards, Jameel Didi began looking for a tune to accompany his poem when he heard the noon chime (Auld Lang Syne) of his uncle's clock. The tune was adopted to the lyrics and the new "Salaamathi" was complete.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Maldivians became more aware of the importance of a national anthem and in 1972, shortly before the Maldives was visited by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the government hastily commissioned Sri Lankan maestro W. D. Amaradeva for a new melody for the anthem. The original lyrics were retained, with a few changes to emphasize the fact that Maldives has been a republic since 1968. As of 2013, this version of the anthem has survived without any modifications.

Lyrics

Dhivehi (Thaana)	Nasiri Romanization	Translation
ޤައުމީ މިއެކުވެރިކަން މަތީ ތިބެގެން ކުރީމެ ސަލާމް ޤައުމީ ބަހުން ގިނަހެޔޮ ދުޢާ ކުރަމުން ކުރީމެ ސަލާމް ޤައުމީ ނިޝާނަށް ޙުރުމަތާއެކު ބޯލަނބައި ތިބެގެން އައުދާނަކަން ލިބިގެން އެވާ ދިދައަށް ކުރީމެ ސަލާމް ނަސްރާ ނަސީބާ ކާމިޔާބުގެ ރަމްޒަކަށް ހިމެނޭ ފެއްސާއި ރަތާއި ހުދާ އެކީ ފެނުމުން ކުރީމެ ސަލާމް ފަޚްރާ ޝަރަފް ގައުމަށް އެހޯދައިދެއްވި ބަތަލުންނަށް ޒިކްރާގެ މަތިވެރި ޅެންތަކުން އަދުގައި ކުރީމެ ސަލާމް ދިވެހީންގެ އުންމެން ކުރި އަރައި ސިލްމާ ސަލާމަތުގައި ދިވެހީންގެ ނަން މޮޅުވުން އަދައި ތިބެގެން ކުރީމެ ސަލާމް މިނިވަންކަމާ މަދަނިއްޔަތާ ލިބިގެން މިޢާލަމުގާ ދިނިގެން ހިތާމަތަކުން ތިބުން އެދިގެން ކުރީމެ ސަލާމް ދީނާއި ވެރިންނަށް ހެޔޮހިތުން ހުރުމަތް އަދާކުރަމުން ސީދާ ވަފާތެރިކަންމަތީ ތިބެގެން ކުރީމެ ސަލާމް ދައުލަތުގެ އަބުރާ ޢިއްޒަތާ މަތިވެރިވެގެން އަބަދަށް އައުދާނަވުން އެދި ހެޔޮދުޢާ ކުރަމުން ކުރީމެ ސަލާމް	Qaumee mi ekuverikan mathee thibegen kureeme salaam. Qaumee bahun gina heyo dhu'aa kuramun kureeme salaam. Qaumee nishaanah hurumathaa eku boalan'bai thibegen, Audhaa nakan libigen e vaa dhidha ah kureeme salaam. Nasraa naseebaa kaamiyaabu ge ramzakah himeney, Fessaa rathaai hudhaa ekee fenumun kureeme salaam. Fakhraa sharaf gaumah e hoadhai dhevvi bathalunnah, Zikraage mathiveri lhenthakun adhugai kureeme salaam. Dhiveheenge ummen kuri arai silmaa salaamathugaa, Dhiveheenge nan molhu vun adhai thibegen kureeme salaam. Minivankamaa madhaniyyathaa libigen mi 'aalamugaa, Dhinigen hithaama thakun thibun edhigen kureeme salaam. Dheenaai verinnah heyo hithun hurumay adhaa kuramun, Seedhaa vafaatherikan mathee thibegen kureeme salaam. Dhaulathuge aburaa 'izzathaa mathiveri vegen abadhah, Audhaana vun edhi heyo dhu'aa kuramun kureeme salaam.	We salute you in this national unity. We salute you, with many good wishes in the national tongue, Bowing the head in respect to the national symbol. We salute the flag that has such might ; It falls into the sphere of victory, fortune and success With its green and red and white together, and therefore we salute it. To those heroes who sought out honour and pride for the nation We give salute today in auspicious verses of remembrance. May the nation of the Maldivians advance under guard and protection And the name of the Maldivians became great. We wish for their freedom and progress in this world And for their freedom from sorrows, and thus we salute. With full respect and heartfelt blessing towards religion and our leaders, We salute you in uprightness and truth. May the State ever have auspicious honour and respect. With good wishes for your continuing might, we salute you.

• Normally, only the first three stanzas are read when singing.

External links

• The Maldives Royal Family website has a page on the anthem, including a midi file version.
• Streaming audio of the national anthem of the Maldives, with information and lyrics