Dhivehi Bahuge Academy to release biography of Copy Rasheed

Dhivehi Bahuge Academy is working on releasing a biography of Mohamed Rasheed (Copy Rasheed), a celebrated Maldivian poet who died last November. 

The announcement was made by Dhivehi Bahuge Academy’s President Dr. Ashraf Abdul Raheem in a ceremony held at the Ahmadiyya International School in Male’ on Saturday evening to pay tribute to Copy Rasheed. 

Ashraf said that the Dhivehi Bahuge Academy has already started writing the biography. 

They expect to publish the book in the middle of next year, he said. 

A report written by Ahmed Shakir (Kashima) on Copy Rasheed’s life was presented at the ceremony. 

Kashima noted in his report that Copy Rasheed began his career at the age of 16 years in the field of journalism.  

Copy Rasheed had written for ‘Viyafaari Miadhu’, the only newspaper in Maldives in the 1950s. 

“The Late Copy Mohamed Rasheed was an outstanding teacher. He educated children based on the situation in Maldives at the time. He provided long service as a teacher at Madhrasathul  Salaam and Madhrasathul  Ahraar. And he also worked as a principal at Madhrasathul Ahmadiyya, which has made great educational advances,” wrote Kashima in his report. 

He also said that Kashima had played a pivotal role in bringing an end to the public perception regarding actors of stage plays, also making it something for “educated and capable youth and senior citizens”. 

Saturday’s ceremony was attended by members of Copy Rasheed’s family, as well as several Cabinet ministers. 

There were signs of sadness on the faces of attendees with each passing moment, as they felt the loss of such an influential and beloved figure in Maldivian literature. 

Roanu Hassan Manik presented a poem dedicated to Copy Rasheed, while Copy Rasheed’s granddaughter Lara Binth Hassan Ibrahim also made a presentation. 

Dhivehi Bahuge Academy’s President Ashraf and Ahmadiyya International School’s Principal Ahmed Shafeeq delivered remarks. 

Copy Rasheed’s son Yameen Rasheed presented his father’s poem ‘Marubalaa aima ey vakivany yaaruney! Dhirithibeennaa havaaley vathan loabivaa!”. 

Concluding the ceremony, Culture Minister Yumna Maumoon presented Copy Rasheed’s widow with the book of condolences the Dhivehi Bahuge Academy opened in his memory. 

Copy Rasheed died at the age of 72 years in a hospital in Male’ City on November 11. 

Copy Rasheed had received numerous awards during his years for his years of service to Maldivian literature. He received the National Award for Public Service in the field of Dhivehi and Arabic calligraphy in 1988, the National Award of Recognition for his contributions to the field of Dhivehi poetry in 2005, and the Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to the field of journalism by the Maldives Media Council in 2018. 

He also received the National Award of Honor for his contributions to Dhivehi language and litature in 2020.