An In-depth Interview with Professor Ugail
Where in Maldives were you born? What island/neighbourhood did you grow up on/in? What was it like then? What is it like now (how has it changed?)?
It was the beautiful island of Hithadhoo, Addu City, located at the southernmost tip of the Maldives. In fact, that was predominantly the region where the British had one of its military bases while the Maldives had been under its protectorate before we claimed independence back in 1965. Consequently, much of the infrastructure in Addu City, people’s thinking and even to some extent our way of life has been shaped by the British. Back then, Addu was almost like an independent entity, cut off from the rest of the Maldives and even from the capital. For example, back then, my dad, who was working as a clerk at the British Royal Air Force base, used to get his weekly salary in pounds, shillings and pennies. Surprisingly, to this date, little has changed in Addu City. Many of the buildings, roads and even some of the signs put up by the British still remain.
How would you describe your childhood?
Well, though I am not from a well off family, I consider my childhood as privileged. I was born into a large family which was quite common back in the years. I had a memorable childhood as I grew up with the carefree vibes of the island life and my home would always be the deeper roots of love and affection that I often yearn to retreat.
You are a mathematician and computer scientist. When did you first become interested in these fields? What inspired your interest?
Being the eldest child, I guess I have always had an authoritative way of thinking and a questioning mind. I took a keen interest in the trivial details of my surroundings, and I was passionate about learning how things operate. I would say my father actually guided me with his knowledge and taught me to think above and beyond, in fact, he did have an extensive library of books too which helped me shape my thought process. As far as I can remember, I have always had an interest in Mathematics. I recall many occasions whereby I would sit in a quiet corner at home drowned into an algebra book while other kids played football outside.
What challenges did you face while trying to make your way in these fields in Maldives?
I was different, “weird”, if you must. Firstly, that doesn’t come off easy to pull off. I frequently got into trouble for my slightly over the top enthusiasm. I had to ignore the voices and thrive forward. Oh, and the school system does not always cater to individual interests. It is not just a problem in the Maldives. In general, the present school systems around the world tend to kill creativity. I was vastly under-supplied in every aspect, and it did not hold many opportunities. I must note though, I did have a handful of friends who were equally eager in taking part in our little adventures from time to time. I faced a lot of discrimination too, back in the days, especially after I moved to the capital city to pursue my education. Fortunately for me, I was able to handle it and use it to my advantage, undoubtedly, this too incorporated into the primal matter of the person that I am today.
You moved to the UK to attend university and you currently live and work in the UK. Why did you decide to leave Maldives?
I was offered a scholarship by the British Council to read Mathematics at King’s College London - one of the most prestigious Universities in the UK and for that matter in the world. Luckily I happened to have access to excellent tutors and mentors who enabled me to excel at my studies as well as cement my thought process. This, in turn, opened several doors for me for further studies, including a fully funded PhD scholarship by the British government to undertake research in Applied Mathematics at the University of Leeds in the UK. These opportunities I knew would not be possible elsewhere, and naturally, I chose to utilise them.
How did you feel when you first arrived in the UK? How did/does life in the UK compare to life in Maldives? How easy was it/has it been to get used to living in a different country?
England was the first ever foreign country I sat foot on. Consequently, for me, it was overwhelming as well as mind-boggling. For example, when I first arrived in England, I thought I had a good grasp of the spoken English, however, to my surprise, I discovered that I could not even understand half of what the immigration officer at Gatwick Airport in London was asking me about. Getting used to the London Underground was a bit of a challenge too, initially. The decision to settle down was not made with a fanfare of revelation. I guess I got accustomed to this wonderful country, and I seem to have grown rather fond of the moral, social and cultural values the British holds. And no, it was not really hard, I got acclimatised to the place rather quickly in fact. It may not exactly be fair to compare both; I have a profound love for both the places, for different reasons of course.
What did you/do you miss most about Maldives?
I miss the love, the smiles and the warmth of my people. The gorgeous weather and the beautiful beach are also somethings I miss dearly too. I am fortunate enough to have been able to travel many similar paradises in the world including the Bahamas and Hawaii. However, nothing can match the crystal clear waters of an endless turquoise hue, the feeling of strolling barefoot on the pearly white beaches and the millions of sparkling diamonds you witness in the night sky. They are truly out of this world, I must admit.
How has Maldives changed since you first left for the UK?
Quite a lot, in a lot of ways. The present day Maldives could very well be a synonym for an endless battle for survival, by delivering one’s maximum in order to attain the bare minimum. Back when I was growing up, it used to be different. I guess those days were not defined by the political spectacle that we see today. In fact, we used to have better moral and social values, in my opinion. I believe we have lost a bit of us through the process, we have grown towards negativity and criticism, we have accustomed to untruths, nepotism and corruption, and worse, we appear to be comfortable with it!
How important is it to you to give back to Maldives (e.g. promote Maldives mathematics/computer science talent, encourage the next generation of Maldivian mathematicians/computer scientists)?
Of course, it is very important. I am obliged to help my country by any means possible, within the best of my ability. I want to inspire the youth, I want our people’s mind to open beyond what’s taught by the book, I want them to develop life skills, I want the younger generation to be innovative and be able to appreciate the real knowledge. I want to contribute to our education system to hopefully overhaul and incorporate critical thinking instead of the limited and tailored curriculum they teach today. I believe that awareness is the key to change people’s mind-set and I often utilise my visits to deliver lectures to try and raise awareness on these matters. I write weekly articles in local language as well as communicate my thoughts via social media platforms. Furthermore, recently I have also gifted them a book titled “Sihhee Hadhiyaa” written in the local language which roughly explains evidence based healthy living habits, some from my personal experiments as well. These are tiny leaps, but I hope they bring out great changes in the long run.
What makes Maldives special? What makes the Maldivian people special?
The people, their warm welcome, their friendly gestures and their kind hearted smiles.
What challenges do aspiring mathematicians and computer scientists in Maldives face? What advice would you give them?
There are many factors, I must stress. There is a general lack of interest and motivation among our youngsters to do STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects. We lack resources to fuel the enthusiasm of budding scientists. Consequently, interests often get killed off quite early on. Further, career paths for STEM based professions are very restrictive. My advice to aspiring Maldivian scientists would be to look beyond the homeland, at least for the moment, and refrain from following the 'normal' routes, since there is little to be gained by being the 'average'.
What famous Maldivians inspire you?
The late president, Amin Didi is certainly one of them. In many ways, he is the father and the great architect of the modern Maldives. Back in the early 1950s, while in office, he introduced a six point clear vision for the nation, lasting a mere three years which brought about major political, administrative, commercial as well as cultural reform to the country. He showed the way towards freedom and rights for our women and even introduced football to us. Another inspiring figure for me is the late Hussain Rahaa of Addu City. Mr Rahaa was a renowned intellect of his time. He taught many of our elders - from some of whom I had the opportunity to learn much as a youngster.
If somebody was visiting Maldives, what traditional Maldivian dish should they eat (please describe it)? Why? Where is the best place to eat it?
"Masroshi"- It's not really a traditional dish but more of a tea time snack but an all-time favourite of mine too. It comes in circular shapes and the size often varies. It is a grilled flour based flat disk that consists of a filling of coconut and tuna, seasoned to the just right amounts of zest and tanginess. It is absolutely piquant. Oh, and I like them home made! However, if you would like to settle for an eatery, just walk into any traditional cafe/restaurant, you can get it served.
What is the biggest misconception about Maldives?
Many foreigners assume that Maldives is an incredibly expensive place to holiday in, they think it is a place to which only millionaires visit on their private jets. This is far from true, for you can visit and enjoy the Maldives on a budget.
How does the Maldives we see in glossy magazines and the Maldives experienced by tourists compare to the real Maldives?
There is no difference! However, don't simply take my word for it. There's a famous story of a rich gentleman who could hardly believe his eyes upon arrival to his hotel in the Maldives. In fact, at the jetty of the island, he took out the glossy brochure he used to book his holiday and compared what he saw in real life with the image in the brochure. He could spot no difference between the two!
What is the best thing about Maldives?
Simply put, for me, it’s the people – their kind and affectionate nature.
What is the worst thing about Maldives?
Over the years, we have convinced ourselves to live with negativity and injustice instead of standing up against it. I think our people need to reset their minds and learn that power lies within the people themselves and that a miraculous nirvana is not achievable via a particular creed or a form of government. Unlike the late President Amin Didi and other great heroes from the past, our present leaders appear to be fairly short-sighted and fail to realise the enormous potential the paradise on Earth has to offer us.
Tell me something about Maldives only a long-time resident would know.
The Maldive islands are a bit of an intricate archipelago, literally and figuratively, one might be surprised to learn. It essentially carves into three different entities, astoundingly different from each other; 1. the capital city of Male - this is the most compact point one could possibly imagine, with a frighteningly high population density, an array of concrete jumble, adorned with the appalling bedlam of the traffic from jammed streets that are painfully narrow to begin with. This is also the centre point of economic and developmental progress, a screaming mess of political mayhem, yet the only gateway for opportunities, education and even tertiary health care, which bluntly sums up the root causes of the congestion. 2. The islands – with slow life, relaxed pace, hopeless and in some cases even desperate, where dreams are born and often halted unless one is determined to brawl his or her way through the extensive barriers. 3. The tourist resorts – the infamous paradise of mesmerising azure waters, clear blue skies and breathtakingly white, sandy beaches, the paradigm of holiday heaven, the ultimate dream destination of a million couples but the level of luxury and magnificence that the average Maldivian can only dream of!
As a professor and a leader in your field what is your contribution to science and why must Maldivians be proud of you?
Starting from my PhD work, I have developed a mathematical equation that can describe the real world inside a computer. Simply put, when I see an object in the real world, say a beach, a palm tree or even a spec of white sand, I view them as a solution to a single mathematical equation. Thus, this equation can represent any physical entity from the real world inside the computer. We have used this concept to solve many practical problems. For example, we have developed prototype software for NASA to help them design aircraft and we use it to compress computer game data in order to efficiently deliver game content to devices via online. Numerous other problems relating to healthcare, engineering and even entertainment are being solved using this concept. I am not sure if one should be proud of me for my work, but it’s a small contribution to science and technology, in my part, I believe.