Naushad Waheed

Maldivian cartoonist

Naushad Waheed

ނައުޝަދު ވަހީދު

Born|

Naushad Waheed Hassan Manik

(1962-12-15) 15 December 1962 (age 62)

Machchangolhi, Malé, Maldives

Spouse|

Aishath Hussain

(m. 1989)​

Children| 2
Relatives| Mohamed Waheed Hassan (brother)
Deputy Ambassador of the Maldives to the United Kingdom
In office
2008 – 16 February 2012
President| Mohamed Nasheed
Mohamed Waheed Hassan

Naushad Waheed Hassan Manik (born 15 December 1962) is a cartoonist and painter from the Maldives.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Manik was born on 15 December 1962 in Machchangolhi, Malé, Maldives.[1][2] He studied in Majeediyya School.[2] In 1976, he undertook his first art class, soon becoming more interested in arts.[1] In 1978, he went to South India and was influenced by his art master.[1] In 1980, he was awarded the best all round artist in his school.[1]

In 1987, he met Suzanne Pruner, in California, U.S.[1] Pruner financed Manik to study at Art Instruction School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1][2]

## Career

[edit]

Manik participated in the 4th South Asian art biennale, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he met several Asian artists.[1][2] After Manik was imprisoned in 1990 for drawing a political cartoon, his fame grew as a political cartoonist.[1] In 1993, Qasim Ibrahim commissioned Manik to draw 1200 canvases.[1] In that same year, Manik drew a controversial portrait of president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, which stunned locals.[1]

He was appointed as Deputy High Commissioner of Maldives to the UK in 2008, later resigning in 2012 after the resignation of Mohamed Nasheed.[3][4] He was later reappointed at an unknown date and later dismissed on 13 September 2023 after calling Mohamed Nasheed the 'founder of democracy in the Maldives.'[5]

## Detainment

[edit]

Manik was taken as a political prisoner in 1990 after drawing a political cartoon in a public weekly newspaper.[1] He spent three years in house arrest, but was later pardoned by president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.[1]

He was detained by the government for four months following the publication of one of his cartoons in the magazine Hukuru in 1999.[6] Manik's charge was retaliatory.[6] In 2001, he was arrested for participating in debates critical of the government, tried for treason, and sentenced to 15 years in prison.[3] He was released on 22 February 2006.[7]

While Manik was imprisoned, he was named an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience.[8]

## Family life

[edit]

Manik is the brother of former president Mohamed Waheed Hassan.[3] Manik has been married to Aishath Hussain since 1989, and has had two children.[1]

## Award

[edit]

Naushad received the President's award in 1997 for his drawings.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Biography". Naushad Arts. Archived from the original on 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
2. ^ a b c d e "ނައުޝާދު ވަޙީދު" [Naushad Waheed]. The President's Office (in Divehi). Retrieved 4 March 2025.
3. ^ a b c "UK High Commission auctioning painting to help Japanese tsunami victims". Maldives Independent. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
4. ^ Robinson, JJ (16 February 2012). ""You are my brother and I will always love you": Dr Waheed's brother resigns from UK post, calls for President to follow". Minivan News. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
5. ^ "Maldives fires Naushad, deputy ambassador to UK". Sun. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
6. ^ a b "Naushad Waheed". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
7. ^ "Maldives: Release of artist and internet dissident highlights failings of justice system" (PDF). Amnesty International. 22 February 2006. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
8. ^ "Maldives: Reforms will gain no credibility unless prisoners of conscience are released" (PDF). Amnesty International. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 5 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Naushad Arts
* Naushad's Biography
* Amnesty International press release[permanent dead link‍]

*[m.]: married