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And here dwelleth 300,000 invisible beings

Most Maldivians are by now familiar with the drama unfolding in Makunudhoo. It has been on the news a lot and has been blogged about a lot but photos haven't been very forthcoming - well, except for a blurred image on Haveeru Daily and a photo stolen from my Flickr stream published on Miadhu News. So here are some images of the historic Makunudhoo School where Man and Jinn live side by side and study side by side, though not always in harmony as has been revealed. The school may replace the island's currently most famous landmark: the residential ruins of the infamous Bodufenvalhugey Seedhee (known for various supposed supernatural feats such as "walking on water" between islands, "helping" the infertile conceive etc) including its "teleportation well".

And yes, in case you wonder, it is ridiculous to believe this is a battle between invisible Jinn and humans, especially when there are good explanations.

Enjoy... stand awed.









This entry was posted by Jaa on Saturday, May 17. 2008 at 09:50. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own blog.
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  1. maldeeb says:
    #1 2008-05-17 13:44 (Reply)

    that building looks like one of those barn houses in the southern US which serve as churches for crazy cults. or a commune of a Mormon patriarch and his wives. eerily deserted. do I hear langoliers? oh wait. that must be the angry jinn parents muttering about their kids' poor grades.

  2. Rumplestiltskin says:
    #2 2008-05-17 15:19 (Reply)

    Mass Hysteria is not an explanation- it is an observation, that is without explanation at present.

    There is no treatment for it either. SSRIs and other psychotropic drugs amount to nothing more than tranquilizers.
    Centuries of global experience has therefore yielded zilch on this matter.
    And as with this manner of other psychological malfunctions, mass hysteria also requires psychological reassurance, possibly through a language which the patients can relate to.

    It is of no relevance that jinns are lacking a scientific validation, as far as the solution is concerned. Because there really is no solution, except counseling and psychological reassurance.
    These local witch doctors seek to capitalize on the ignorance of these simpleton island folk, who have become the victims of not just what they perceive as "jinns", but also outsiders who seek to objectify their legitimate concerns and sufferings through mockery and a kind of bland humor that doesn't really hide 'their' ignorance on the matter either.

    This has reached the point where Government intervention is required. The Ministry of Health and the Atolls Ministry have failed utterly, and all blame lies with them. not the people of the island.

    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDP/is_2001_July_16/ai_77057810
    http://health.howstuffworks.com/collective-hysteria.htm
    http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/depress/antidprs.html

  3. jaa says:
    #2.1 2008-05-17 18:16 (Reply)

    I totally agree that mass hysteria is more of an observation than an explanation, especially in comparison to the scientific rigour involved in many of the other physical medical diagnosis. I also agree that the treatment is less-than-definite compared to most other medical treatments. But such is true of many (if not most) psychological illnesses isn't it?

    I think the fact that jinns lack scientific validation is of very much relevance to a solution because:
    a) the role of such a priori beliefs in making people susceptible to and triggering hysteria has been noted in research,
    b) the "treatment" being pushed by fanditha men and priests/imams involves reinforcement of those very beliefs that set it off and that has been noted to enhance the outbreaks.

    Maybe what "centuries of experience" has really made clear is the inadequacy of the supernatural "explanation"...

    And yes, I couldn't agree more that the government actions so far has been less than admirable...

  4. maldeeb says:
    #3 2008-05-17 15:50 (Reply)

    aw rumple you're such a killjoy. so different from your baby-eating days. i agree with the 'like defeats like' theory and fanditha guys being money-grubbers. and the bit about the evil govt. but whats a little humour now and then eh? last i heard ridicule is also a good way of making people question their beliefs.

    or maybe you're right about me being a simpleton. :S

  5. Rumplestiltskin says:
    #4 2008-05-17 15:58 (Reply)

    I dun mind the humor- jus the way you're channeling it..
    Of course you're jus as free to express views as you see fit. Ain't my blog.

    Said all i wanna say

    cheerio :-)

  6. naaz says:
    #5 2008-05-18 15:48 (Reply)

    jaa, interesting that interview. wish someone could research the phenomena...if one could befriend the fanditha veriya and find out what he is really doing.
    I am amused by the way the psychologist had to exit...!
    Looks like the cripple jinns may stay for a while and i am worried about these students who may be suffering from Dissociative disorder, specially with the mass hysteria going on and the belief by the fanditha veriya that "curing' or treating the kids...come a little low in the hierarchy of everything else which is being done. My belief is the more time the fanditha veriya is left alone to deal with this, the more time it will take for people to remain in this hysterical state. The psychologist, the psychiatrist, and other community leaders need to join hands and deal with this as soon as possible, giving it a more holistic, transparent and culturally acceptable twist.
    Out of concern for the kids in makunudu and feeling empathy to all those who are affected by this.
    Naaz

  7. jaa says:
    #5.1 2008-05-18 16:34 (Reply)

    Naaz,

    Truly worrying isn't it. Let's hope it gets resolved soon, somehow... anyhow... for the sake of those kids.

  8. HickoryDickoryDock says:
    #6 2008-05-18 16:55 (Reply)

    Well put, 'Naaz' :-)

  9. Shihab says:
    #7 2008-05-24 16:32 (Reply)

    Jaa, the bodufenvalhugey seedhi connection puts interesting new perspective to the island phyche. I guess we also need to understand how that connection affects the people's belief systems in the supernatural. [I believe in Jinni existence, by virtue of my faith in Islam.] The coexistence or rather the overlap of the human and jinni dimensions in time will be a very challenging subject for research, I think! That is the belief that creates the mental conditions that lead to this hysteria, I believe.

    Anyway, an interesting post. And I quite agree with Naz, on the solution.


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