The new Maldivian President, Mohammad Waheed Hassan, is a long-standing friend of India. He has never missed an Indian national day function to date, the Indian High Commissioner to Maldives, Dnyaneshwar Mulay said, when asked about the new President's leanings.
Dr. Mulay, a scholar himself, arranges meetings of well-known thinkers and scholars at his residence frequently. Dr. Waheed is a regular at these meetings. Dr. Mulay and Dr. Waheed are also co-patrons of the India-Maldives Friendship Association, which has a good membership. Dr. Waheed is a frequent speaker at the India Club, which boasts a membership of over 6,000. Dr. Waheed has also had a very successful visit to India recently.
His wife Ilham runs the Maldives Autism Association. The Indian High Commission is the sole sponsor that is not part of the government here.
