The Motorboat Revolt: The Demise of the First Constitution of Maldives

A written constitution was introduced to Maldives on 22 December 1932. But less than a year after it came into force, the people of Malé revolted against the new constitution, tore it up and demanded the most vocal supporters of the constitution, including some ministers
be exiled to various islands. They were put on board the Maldivian Government-owned ship, M. V. Fathu-hul Salaam, nicknamed, the 'Motor Boat' anchored off Malé until they could be taken to the selected islands. But before they could be exiled, they escaped to Colombo by the 'Motor Boat'. Hence, the revolt against the constitution came to be referred to as the Motorboat Revolt.

The author of this book, Mohamed Ismail Didi who at that time held the position of the Deputy Minister of Trade was among those who escaped to Colombo. This vivid account of the demise of the first constitution and the subsequent fall of the then Sultan Mohamed Shamsuddeen III of Maldives was written by Mohamed Ismail Didi from his diary notes.