The "screws" that firmly held the Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu (Voice of Maldives) in its most complete form are being removed one by one.
Today, the station's listeners and staff are mourning the farewell of Ali Hilmy, a dedicated producer who has parted ways with the institution after 41 years.
His voice did not separate from the Voice of Maldives for any other reason but because he has reached the retirement age of 65, to give time to his family and to rest. Had it been up to him, he would never have left. Hilmy’s heart holds a love for "Adu" that is far deeper than that. The employees there view him even more closely. Nasrullah Idrees, the Director of Voice of Maldives who worked with Hilmy, described him as a "model of loyal service."
Hilmy’s departure is not just a loss for the station. The Maldivian media has lost a role model in the dissemination of news and information.
However, 41 years ago, he did not join the station with the intention of doing such work. He entered the institution as a storekeeper in charge of maintaining equipment. Climbing step by step, he eventually joined the on-air department.
His talent in the field of program production, for which he is widely recognized today, began after participating in a script and drama writing course held by the station, conducted by an expert from Bangladesh.
Noting that Hilmy possessed the caliber to advance in that field, the instructor requested him to transfer to the program section. Though he initially hesitated, at the instructor's urging and the request of Yoosuf Riyaz who was then the Coordinator of the Program Section, a letter was written to the then-head of the station, 'Summer Blue' Ibrahim Manik.
"At that point, Ibrahim Maniku took me aside and asked, 'Do you know the extent of this work? It will be very tiring; during an important period, you might have to stay awake without going home,'" Hilmy recalled of the memories from 1991. "I told him I applied knowing all those things."
He was transferred to the program section within that week. From that point until his retirement, he worked in that section. Although he served briefly as the head of the "Deenuge Adu" channel upon its inauguration, his entire career thereafter was built on program production.
One of Hilmy’s most notable programs is Habarufeetha. Producing and presenting that current affairs program, which aired after the midday news and later after the night news, was one of his most important responsibilities at the station then. When Hilmy took over the program, which was being presented by Ali Abdullah at the time. Some listeners found it difficult to accept, as they began hearing a voice that was out of the norm for them.
However, the program later became Hilmy’s trademark.
Dhathuruverinnaaeku, which aired every Friday afternoon at 1:30 PM featuring stories from people on the boats anchored in the Malé harbor, was also a notable program of Hilmy’s.
Hilmy was also a participant in many of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s trips to the atolls from 1996 to the end of 2004. After recording the speeches given by President Maumoon at those gatherings onto cassettes, his responsibility was to board the Coast Guard vessel and broadcast them to the President’s Office via its radio telephone. The news sent by the President’s Office to the media would be the reports written after listening to the recordings Hilmy broadcasted.
"There are many such memories," Hilmy said.
Every day he spent at the station was a day that taught him many things about life. Communicating with beautiful language, good ethics, and how to carry oneself among people were learned there. "It was the Voice of Maldives that made me a person."
The "Adu" of that time is not the "Adu" of today. Back then, it was one of the nation's most powerful institutions, which the entire Maldives listened to and through which the public learned many things from the news and programs broadcasted. It was a key partner in building the Maldives we see today. "Being involved and contributing to those things is a great joy," Hilmy said.
But today, he wishes to spend time with his family after preserving that past with its sweetness. Although he might do some personal work, he has no intention of going to another job, especially not to another Maldivian media outlet.
"But I will be ready to do anything the Voice of Maldives calls for."
No employee of the station would doubt that. As Nasru wrote, Hilmy’s position and his contribution to the workplace environment were that significant. After Hilmy’s retirement, the emptiness felt by the staff when they first entered the office told that story.
