How to Pronounce Maumoon Abdul Gayoom

Meaning and Context

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is a pivotal figure in modern Maldivian history, having served as the President of the Maldives for an uninterrupted thirty-year period from 1978 to 2008, making him one of Asia's longest-serving rulers. His tenure, beginning when he was first elected president in 1978, oversaw the nation's significant economic development and increased engagement with the international community, though it was also marked by allegations of authoritarian rule and limited political freedoms. As a prominent Islamic scholar and a key member of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), which he founded, Gayoom's political legacy is deeply intertwined with the Maldives' transition from a traditional sultanate to a contemporary republic and, later, its fraught journey toward multi-party democracy. His complex role as both a state-builder and a political patriarch continues to influence Maldivian politics, especially through the career of his half-brother, former President Abdulla Yameen, and his daughter, former Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling is Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Common variations and errors often arise from transliteration and unfamiliarity with Dhivehi names. Frequent misspellings include "Mamoon," "Maumoun," or "Maumon," which drop or alter the double 'o'. The second part of his name, "Abdul," is sometimes incorrectly written as "Abdul-" with a hyphen, as in "Abdul-Gayoom," or merged as "Abduhl." The family name "Gayoom" is also frequently misspelled as "Gayyoom" (with an extra 'y'), "Gayoome," or "Gayoum." It is important to note that "Gayoom" is not a patronymic but a family name, and the entire name should be treated as a single, complete proper noun.

Example Sentences

After being elected president in 1978, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom focused on improving the Maldives' infrastructure and securing international aid.

Critics of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's administration often cite his government's strict control over political dissent during his thirty-year rule.

In his memoirs, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom reflected on the challenges of modernizing a nation of scattered islands.

The political rift between Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and his half-brother, Abdulla Yameen, became a defining feature of the Maldives' political landscape in the 2010s.

Scholars of South Asian politics frequently analyze the long presidency of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as a case study in personalized governance and development.

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