ImportMaster: robot: import pages using Special:Import

2022-02-24T18:46:37Z

robot: import pages using Special:Import

New page

{{Short description|Island in Lakshadweep, India}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Minicoy
| sobriquet =
| image_name =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| map =
| map_alt =
| map_width =
| map_caption =
| coordinates =
| etymology =
| location = [[Arabian Sea]]
| archipelago = [[Lakshadweep]]
| waterbody = [[Indian Ocean]]
| total_islands = 1
| major_islands = {{hlist|Minicoy}}
| area_km2 =4.801
| area_footnotes = <ref name="cit">{{cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/lakshadweep/data%20sheet.pdf |title=Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census |publisher=Government of Lakshadweep |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722061135/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/lakshadweep/data%20sheet.pdf |archive-date=22 July 2016 }}</ref>
| rank =
| length_km =
| width_km =
| coastline_km =
| elevation_m = 2
| highest_mount =
| country = {{flag|India}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[States and union territories of India|Territory]]
| country_admin_divisions = [[Union territory]] of [[Lakshadweep]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[List of districts in India#Lakshadweep (LD)|District]]
| country_admin_divisions_1 = [[Lakshadweep]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = [[Island group]]
| country_admin_divisions_2 = Minicoy Islands
| country_admin_divisions_title_3 = [[Tehsils of India]]
| country_admin_divisions_3 = Minicoy Tehsil
| country_admin_divisions_title_4 = [[Subdivisions of India]]
| country_admin_divisions_4 = Minicoy Ward
| country_largest_city = Minicoy Bada
| country_largest_city_population = 9000
| population = 10,700
| population_as_of = 2014
| population_footnotes =
| population_rank =
| population_rank_max =
| density_km2 =2229
| density_rank =
| density_footnotes =
| ethnic_groups = [[Malayali]], [[Mahl people|Mahls]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 682559
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 04892
| website = {{URL|http://www.lakshadweep.gov.in/}}
| iso_code_type = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|ISO code]]
| iso_code = IN-LD-09<ref>Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code</ref>
|additional_info = {{Infobox|child=yes
| label2 = Literacy | data2 = 84.4%
| label3 = Avg. summer temperature| data3 ={{convert|32.0|°C|°F}}
| label4 = Avg. winter temperature| data4 ={{convert|28.0|°C|°F}}
| label5 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]| data5 =
}}
}}
'''Minicoy''', locally known as '''Maliku''' ({{IPA-all|məliku}}), is an island in [[Lakshadweep]], India. Along with [[Viringili]], it is on ''Maliku atoll'', the southernmost [[atoll]] of Lakshadweep archipelago. Administratively, it is a [[census town]] in the Indian [[States and territories of India|union territory]] of Lakshadweep. The island is situated 425 km west of [[Trivandrum]], the capital city of [[Kerala]].

==Etymology==
Minicoy is known as ''Maliku'' in the local language, Dhivehi, which is also the national and official language of the Republic of [[Maldives]]. The language is a descendant of [[Elu|Elu Prakrit]] and is closely related to the [[Sinhala language]], but not mutually intelligible with it. However, the Lakhshadweep Administration refers to Dhivehi as Mahl. This is due to a misunderstanding on the part of a British [[Indian Civil Service|civil servant]] who came to Minicoy in the 1900s during the time of the [[British Raj]]. The official asked a local what his language was and he replied "Dhivehi-bas". The official looked confused as he had never heard of this language. Noticing this, the islander said "Mahaldeebu" as he knew that locals on the [[Indian subcontinent|subcontinent]] referred to the kingdom to the south (the Maldives) by that name. The civil servant then official recorded the language of Minicoy as Mahl.<ref name="maldivesroyalfamily.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.maldivesroyalfamily.com/minicoy.shtml|title=Maldives Royal Family Official Website: Majid's Pages- Minicoy Island Website}}</ref>

The ancient name of Maliku was ''Mahiladū'' meaning women's island. Mahiladū derives from [[Elu|Elu Prakrit]] term ''Mahila du'', which literally means woman-island.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teMjElROVSo Asianet News - മിനികോയ് ദ്വീപ്‌ അകലങ്ങളിലെ ഇന്ത്യ]</ref>
However, the name ''Maliku'' is thought to have been derived from the Arab trader's term for the island, ''Jazirat al-[[Malik]]u''{{dubious|date=April 2014}} ('the island of the king'). <ref>Lutfy, Mohamed Ibrahim. Thaareekhuge therein Lakshadheebu</ref>{{page needed|date=January 2011}}

Minicoy islanders have long settled in the [[Nicobar Islands]] across the [[Bay of Bengal]]. These settlers regularly travelled back to Minicoy. The [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] had a reputation in the Maldives and Minicoy of being inhabited by [[cannibals]], and so collectively the Andaman and Nicobar groups were called "Minikaa-raajje" by Minicoy and Maldive islanders. This meant "cannibal kingdom".

A British official once asked a Minicoy islander what the name of his island was. The islander told the official that he was from Maliku but usually lived in "Minikaa-raajje" (Nicobar). The official thought Maliku and Minikaa were the same place and recorded the name of this islander's home as "Minikaa". This later became anglicised as Minicoy.<ref name="maldivesroyalfamily.com"/>

Little did this islander know that as a result of this cross-cultural exchange, his home would forever be called by a name that sounded like "[[cannibal]]" in his own language.

==Geography==
[[File:Viringili.jpg|thumb|right|The islet of Viringili located at the southwestern end of Minicoy's reef where formerly the [[leprosy|lepers]] of the island were banished.]]
Minicoy is the second largest and the southernmost among the islands of the Lakshadweep archipelago. It is located 201 km to the southsouthwest of [[Kalpeni]], at the southern end of the [[Nine Degree Channel]] and 125 km to the north of [[Thuraakunu]], [[Maldives]], at the northern end of the [[Eight Degree Channel]]. The atoll is 10 km in length, having a maximum breadth of about 6 km. The closest geographic feature is the [[Investigator Bank]], a submerged shoal located 31 km to the northeast.<ref>[http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/pollux/pollux.nss.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/SD/pub173/173sec05.pdf Hydrographic Description (Indian Ocean Pilot)]</ref>

It is located 400 km west off the coast of [[Trivandrum]]. The atoll contains two islands. The main island is located on the eastern and southeastern side of the lagoon, along the reef fringe. It measures about 10 km from its northern end to its southernmost point and it is about 1 km wide in its southern half, while the northern half is a narrow sandspit, often less than 100 m wide. Minicoy is almost completely covered with coconut trees. One of the few landmarks of the island is a tall lighthouse. On the southern side of the main island lies the uninhabited islet of Viringili ([[Dhivehi language|Dhivehi]]: ވިރިންގިލި ; {{lang-ml|വിരിന്ഗാ}}, also called the Small Pox Island), measuring barely 200 m in length. Formerly the [[leprosy|lepers]] of Minicoy were banished to this island where they lived in abject conditions.

Maliku Atoll has a lagoon with two entrances in its northern side, '''Saalu Magu''' on the northeast and '''Kandimma Magu''' on the northwest. Its western side is fringed by a narrow reef and coral rocks awash. The interior of the lagoon is sandy and of moderate depth, rarely reaching 4 m. It has some coral patches.

This atoll is administered under the Indian Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Nine Degree Channel separates Minicoy and the Laccadive Islands. The closest island to Minicoy is Thuraakunu in the Republic of the Maldives. Since 1956, the Indian Government has forbidden the direct travelling between the two islands despite their geographic proximity and ethnographic similarities.

[[Maliku Kandu]] is the traditional name of the broad channel between Minicoy (Maliku) and Ihavandippulhu (Haa Alif Atoll) in the Maldives. In the Admiralty Charts it is called '''Eight Degree Channel'''. Other names for this channel are Addigiri Kandu and Māmalē Kandu. It appeared in old French maps with the name '''Courant de Malicut'''.

[[File:Malikatholhu.png|thumb|Map of Minicoy Atoll (Maliku)]]

===Villages===
There are total of eleven villages<ref>{{cite web|title=Minicoy Island|url=http://lakshadweep.gov.in/ISLAND_web/MINICOY/more.html|website=Official Website of Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep|access-date=1 August 2016}}</ref> ({{transl|mis|athiris, avah}}) on Minicoy Island. From north to south, they are:

# Kendiparty
# Pallessery
# Kudehi
# Funhilol
# Aloodi
# Sadivalu
# New Boduathiri
# Rammedu
# Boduathiri
# Aoumagu
# Bada

==Climate==

Minicoy has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Aw'') with warm temperatures throughout the year. Precipitation falls during most of the year; only January to March are relatively dry.

{{Weather box
| location = Minicoy (1981–2010, extremes 1901–2012)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 32.8
| Feb record high C = 33.2
| Mar record high C = 34.3
| Apr record high C = 35.6
| May record high C = 36.7
| Jun record high C = 34.5
| Jul record high C = 33.4
| Aug record high C = 33.4
| Sep record high C = 33.2
| Oct record high C = 33.3
| Nov record high C = 33.2
| Dec record high C = 33.3
| year record high C = 36.7
| Jan high C = 31.1
| Feb high C = 31.4
| Mar high C = 32.4
| Apr high C = 33.0
| May high C = 32.8
| Jun high C = 31.3
| Jul high C = 30.9
| Aug high C = 30.9
| Sep high C = 30.9
| Oct high C = 31.1
| Nov high C = 31.0
| Dec high C = 31.2
| year high C = 31.5
| Jan mean C = 27.6
| Feb mean C = 27.9
| Mar mean C = 29.0
| Apr mean C = 30.0
| May mean C = 29.7
| Jun mean C = 28.4
| Jul mean C = 28.2
| Aug mean C = 28.2
| Sep mean C = 28.2
| Oct mean C = 28.1
| Nov mean C = 27.9
| Dec mean C = 27.8
|year mean C =
| Jan low C = 24.1
| Feb low C = 24.5
| Mar low C = 25.6
| Apr low C = 26.8
| May low C = 26.7
| Jun low C = 25.6
| Jul low C = 25.4
| Aug low C = 25.4
| Sep low C = 25.4
| Oct low C = 25.1
| Nov low C = 24.8
| Dec low C = 24.5
| year low C = 25.3
| Jan record low C = 17.8
| Feb record low C = 17.2
| Mar record low C = 19.1
| Apr record low C = 20.7
| May record low C = 19.7
| Jun record low C = 20.4
| Jul record low C = 19.7
| Aug record low C = 19.7
| Sep record low C = 20.3
| Oct record low C = 19.4
| Nov record low C = 17.2
| Dec record low C = 16.7
| year record low C = 16.7
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 30.3
| Feb rain mm = 16.5
| Mar rain mm = 21.6
| Apr rain mm = 50.2
| May rain mm = 168.0
| Jun rain mm = 315.5
| Jul rain mm = 246.1
| Aug rain mm = 214.2
| Sep rain mm = 150.1
| Oct rain mm = 163.5
| Nov rain mm = 152.3
| Dec rain mm = 65.5
| year rain mm = 1593.7
| Jan rain days = 2.0
| Feb rain days = 1.4
| Mar rain days = 1.3
| Apr rain days = 3.4
| May rain days = 9.2
| Jun rain days = 16.8
| Jul rain days = 14.3
| Aug rain days = 11.9
| Sep rain days = 10.7
| Oct rain days = 9.5
| Nov rain days = 8.1
| Dec rain days = 3.7
| year rain days = 92.2
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 71
| Feb humidity = 70
| Mar humidity = 69
| Apr humidity = 71
| May humidity = 75
| Jun humidity = 81
| Jul humidity = 80
| Aug humidity = 79
| Sep humidity = 78
| Oct humidity = 78
| Nov humidity = 77
| Dec humidity = 73
|year humidity = 75
| Jan sun = 269.7
| Feb sun = 248.6
| Mar sun = 272.8
| Apr sun = 261.0
| May sun = 217.0
| Jun sun = 138.0
| Jul sun = 151.9
| Aug sun = 192.2
| Sep sun = 195.0
| Oct sun = 229.4
| Nov sun = 219.0
| Dec sun = 260.4
| year sun =
| Jand sun = 8.7
| Febd sun = 8.8
| Mard sun = 8.8
| Aprd sun = 8.7
| Mayd sun = 7.0
| Jund sun = 4.6
| Juld sun = 4.9
| Augd sun = 6.2
| Sepd sun = 6.5
| Octd sun = 7.4
| Novd sun = 7.3
| Decd sun = 8.4
|yeard sun = 7.3
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]] (sun, 1971–2000)<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Minicoy Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 495–496
| access-date = 29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M113
| access-date = 29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDsun>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042602/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20%26%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20&%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf
| title = Table 3 Monthly mean duration of Sun Shine (hours) at different locations in India
| work = Daily Normals of Global & Diffuse Radiation (1971–2000)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M-3
| access-date = 1 March 2020
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
|source 2 = Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1981–2010)<ref name=TCC>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200301162037/https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=43369
| archive-date = 1 March 2020
| url = https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=43369
| title = Normals Data: Minicoy - India Latitude: 8.30°N Longitude: 73.15°E Height: 0 (m)
| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
| access-date = 1 March 2020}}</ref>
|date=April 2014}}

==History==

=== Buddhist era ===
{{anchor | Buddhist | Buddhist era }}
{{See also | Buddhism in South Asia }}

There are remains in an area of the island known as "Salliballu" dating back from Minicoy's [[Buddhist]] past, about 800 years ago. The most conspicuous archaeological sites are two mounds or large heaps of ruins belonging to a [[stupa]] and another related structure. These sites were investigated by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] in the 1980s. The excavations yielded few discoveries, for the sites had been much damaged and vandalized previously. Still, a much-damaged large [[Buddha]] head was found buried in the area. The name "Salliballu" originated in the local name for the "[[Cross|Christian cross]]", because the locals say that an inscription with a "cross" was found there. But it is likely that, coming from a Buddhist site, it was a cross-shaped [[mandala]] or [[Vajra|visvavajra]], like those often found on inscriptions in archaeological remains in the Maldives.<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Xavier Romero-Frias]], ''The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom.'' Barcelona 1999</ref>

Local oral tradition has it that Kamborani and Kohoratukamana, two princesses from the [[Maldives]], came to Maliku. When they arrived, the [[Tivaru]], who had been living there before, left the island for [[Sri Lanka]]. The Kamborani's descendants are the bodun (land and shipowners) and the descendants of Kohoratukamana are the niamin (captains). The other status groups are made up of the descendants of their crew.<ref>Ellen Kattner, ''The Social Structure of Maliku (Minicoy)'', listed below (online).</ref>

=== Colonial era ===
{{anchor | Colonial | Colonial era }}

==== Under suzerainty of East India Company ====
{{See also | Kolathunadu | l1 = Kolathunadu of Kerala | Company rule in India | British India | History of the Maldives }}

According to the documented evidence, Minicoy Atoll has been under Indian administrations since the mid 16th century.

Until the 16th century, the Laccadives was under the [[suzerainty]] of the [[Kolathunadu|Kolathiri]] Raja of [[Chirakkal, Kannur|Chirakkal]] in what is now the Indian state of [[Kerala]]. With the [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] ascendancy in the region, it became necessary for the [[Kolathiri]] to transfer sovereignty of the islands to their hereditary admiral, the [[Ali Raja]] of [[Kolathunadu]] ([[Cannanore]]).

However, the kings and queens of the Maldives also issued edicts addressed to the subjects in their realm ''Malikaddu Midhemedhu''. This meant "Between Maliku (Minicoy) and Addu". Previously Addu was the southernmost island in the dominions of the Maldive kings and was in [[Addu Atoll]]. A 1696 CE grant issued under the Seal of the King Siri Kula Ran Mani ([[Mohamed bin Hajj Ali Thukkala|Sultan Mohamed IV]]) of the Maldives, regarding the building and upkeep of a mosque in [[Finey (Haa Dhaalu Atoll)|Finey]] at [[Haa Dhaalu Atoll|Thiladhummathi Atoll]] in Maldives, referred to him as {{transl|mis|Malikaddu Midhemedhu ekanuonna mi korhu anikaneh nethee korhu}} which meant "Sole Sovereign with no other over what lies between Maliku and Addu".

==== Under direct rule of British India ====
{{anchor | Colonial | Colonial era }}
{{See also | British raj | Arakkal kingdom | l2= Arakkal kingdom of Kerala | Ali Raja }}

In 1857, suzerainty over Minicoy transferred from the East India Company to the Indian Empire when [[Queen Victoria]] was proclaimed Empress. On 18 December 1790 Maliku was surrendered to the Court of Directors of the British [[East India Company]] by the [[Ali Raja]] [[Arakkal kingdom|Cannanore]], Junumabe Ali-Adi Raja Bibi II. The Ali Raja was allowed to administer Maliku in return for a tribute to the East India Company. She continued to dispute the transfer of sovereignty but in 1824, her successor, Mariambe Ali-Adi Raja Bibi made a formal written recognition of the suzerainty of the East India Company over Maliku (Minicoy). She and her successors, however, continued the tributary arrangement. On 27 July 1795, the Governor General of the Presidency of Madras under whose jurisdiction Minicoy was, abolished Junumabe Ali Adi-Raja Bibi's monopoly over [[coir]] trade. In 1905 under the heavy burden of debts to the Empire, Mohamed Ali-Adi Raja of Cannanore agreed to surrender sovereignty and control over Minicoy. He died before the formal transfer. After an attempt to backtrack, his successor Imbicchi Ali-Adi Raja Bibi finally signed over Minicoy to the Emperor [[Edward VII]] on 9 February 1909, backdated to 1 July 1905. Following this, Minicoy was annexed to the District of Malabar.

=== After independence of India ===

==== 1956 plebiscite and integration with India ====
{{anchor | Plebiscite | Referendum | Integration }}
{{See also | Political integration of India }}

After the [[independence of India]] in August 1947, the possessions of the Emperor of India passed to either the Indian Union or Pakistan according to an agreed demarcation line. The rulers of the [[princely state]] of British India had the choice of acceding to either India or Pakistan. Since Minicoy was earlier in a sovereign possession of the British Raj, India held a plebiscite in Minicoy in 1956 to determine whether or not the people of Minicoy wished to join the Indian Union. A referendum was held and an absolute majority of the Minicoy decided to join the Indian Union.

==== Union Territory of India ====
{{anchor | UT }}
{{See also | States and union territories of India }}

After the plebiscite, on 1 November 1956, Minicoy was incorporated into the Union Territory of Laccadive, Minicoy, and Aminidivi Islands, renamed [[Lakshadweep]] in 1973. At this time, the Maldives was still not independent from the British.

=== India-Maldives maritime treaty ===
{{anchor | Maritime | Maritime boundary | Treaty }}
{{See also | Exclusive economic zone of India | India–Maldives relations }}
[[File:Lighthouse worms eye.jpg|thumb|upright|Worm's-eye view of the Lighthouse in Minicoy island]]

In December 1976, India and the Maldives signed a [[List of maritime boundary treaties|maritime boundary treaty]] whereby Minicoy was placed on the Indian side of the boundary.<ref>"India–Maldives: Agreement between India and the Maldives on Maritime Boundary in the Arabian Sea and Related Matters", in Jonathan I. Charney and Lewis M. Alexander (eds., 1998). ''International Maritime Boundaries'' (Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, {{ISBN|978-90-411-0345-1}}) pp. 1389–1399.</ref> India and Maldives officially and amicably decided their [[maritime boundary]] in 1976,<ref name="CFR">{{cite web|url=http://www.himalmag.com/97mar/cov-mal.htm |title=Maldives, Sri Lanka and the "India Factor" |access-date=5 June 2008 |publisher=Himal South Asia Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529195009/http://www.himalmag.com/97mar/cov-mal.htm |archive-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> in 1982 when the brother of the [[President of Maldives]] [[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom]] declared that the neighbouring [[Minicoy Island]] that belonged to India were a part of Maldives; Maldives quickly and officially denied that it was laying claim to the island.<ref name="CFR"/><ref name = trivedi>Ramesh Trivedi (2007). ''India's Relations with her Neighbours'' (Isha Books, {{ISBN|978-81-8205-438-7}}) p. 177.</ref>

India and Maldives continue to enjoy friendly relations and a [[India–Maldives relations|strategic partnership]] in economic and military fields.<ref name="G">{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+in0176) |title=china - India relations |access-date=5 June 2008 |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] Country Studies}}</ref><ref name="CFR"/> [[India]] continues to contribute to the [[Indian Armed Forces|security]] of the island nation of [[Maldives]].<ref name="CFR"/><ref name="VA3">{{cite book |author=Devin T. Hagerty |title=South Asia in World Politics |pages=102–103|publisher=Rowman and Littlefield |year=2005 |isbn=0-7425-2587-2}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{As of|2001}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> the island of Minicoy had a population of 9,495. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Minicoy has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 80%. In Minicoy, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

==Transport==
[[MV Corals|MV ''Corals'']], MV ''Lagoons'', MV ''Amindivi'', MV ''Arabian Sea'', MV ''Bharat Seema'', MV ''Dweep Setu'', MV ''Kavaratti'', MV ''Lakshadweep Sea'' and MV ''Minicoy'' are the important passenger ships connecting [[Lakshadweep]] with [[Kerala]]. The passage takes between 14 and 20 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lakshadweep.nic.in/howtoreach.html|title=How to reach the Union territory of Lakshadweep|access-date=2014-08-27|publisher=lakshadweep.nic.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231102317/http://lakshadweep.nic.in/howtoreach.html|archive-date=31 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Agatti Airport]] is the only civilian airport in [[Lakshadweep]]. Helicopter transfer is available from Agatti to Kavaratti throughout the year. The flight from [[Cochin]] to [[Agatti Aerodrome|Agatti]] takes approximately one hour thirty minutes. Flights operate six days a week. The Government of India is planning to develop an airport at Minicoy Island to boost tourism and promote tuna fishing industry for improving livelihoods in Lakshadweep.<ref>{{cite news|title= Lakshadweep's Minicoy Island to get airport |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/coming-soon-airport-at-lakshadweeps-minicoy-island/article9949217.ece |work=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |date= 8 November 2017| access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref>

The [[Lakshadweep]] authorities are seeking an opportunity to invest in Port City of Kerala [[Kollam]]. They are ready to invest in a passenger terminal with dormitory facilities and an office to guide the people of Minicoy reaching Kollam Port.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/lakshadweep-keen-on-investing-in-kollam-port/article86649.ece|title= Lakshadweep keen on investing in Kollam port|access-date=2014-08-27|work= The Hindu|date= 7 December 2009}}</ref> Traditionally, Lakshadweep's connections with the mainland have been through [[Kollam]], [[Kochi]] and [[Beypore]] ports. But Minicoy, a small atoll at the southernmost end of the archipelago, is closer to Kollam than to either Kochi or Beypore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Passenger-Ship-Service-Likely-between-Kollam-and-Minicoy/2014/06/25/article2298964.ece|title= Passenger Ship Service Likely between Kollam and Minicoy|access-date=2014-08-27|publisher= The New Indian Express}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Ali Manikfan]], born 1938

==Image gallery==
<gallery widths="180">
File:ISS002-E-7260.PNG|Satellite picture of Minicoy
File:Map of Lakshadweep-en.svg|Map
</gallery>

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* Bell, H.C.P.: The Maldive Islands, An account of the physical features, History, Inhabitants, Productions and Trade. Colombo 1883.
* Ellis, R.H.: ''A Short Account of the Laccadive Islands and Minicoy''. Government Press, Madras, 1924.
* Kattner, Ellen: ''The Social Structure of Maliku (Minicoy).'' In: ''International Institute of Asian Studies (IIAS) Newsletter''. Nr. 10, 1996, S. 19–20. (Online at http://www.maldivesroyalfamily.com/minicoy_kattner.shtml).
* Kattner, Ellen: ''Bodu Valu – Big Ponds: Traditional Water Management and its socio-cosmic Implications in Minicoy/Maliku, an Indian Ocean island''. In: Ohlig, Christoph (ed.) ''Antike Zisternen''. Publikationen der Deutschen Wasserhistorischen Gesellschaft, 9. Norderstedt: Books on Demand GmbH, 2007, pp. 145–172.
* [[Xavier Romero-Frias]], The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, {{ISBN|84-7254-801-5}}
* Divehi Tārīkhah Au Alikameh. Divehi Bahāi Tārikhah Khidmaiykurā Qaumī Markazu. Reprint 1958 edn. Male’ 1990.
* Divehiraajjege Jōgrafīge Vanavaru. Muhammadu Ibrahim Lutfee. G.Sōsanī.
* "The Encyclopaedia of Islam", new edition, Index Volume, Fascicule 2, Glossary and Index of Terms, Bill, 2006, LARGE book-size paperback, 592 pages, {{ISBN|978-90-04-15610-4}}.
*Das, Nrupal: Minicoy Island: Beaches, Culture and People of Minicoy, Lakshadweep Islands. 2018, Kindle, 37 Pages (Available Online - [https://www.amazon.in/Minicoy-Island-Beaches-Culture-Lakshadweep-ebook/dp/B07KGCVD7T/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 Minicoy, Lakshadwweep Islands])

==External links==
{{Commons category|Minicoy Island}}
* [http://www.webindia123.com/territories/lakshadweep/land/islands3.htm#MI Information about Minicoy Island]
* [http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=31154 A Language dies in India]
* [http://www.qrz.com/db/vu7m Amateur (Ham) Radio Special Event Station VU7M of Minicoy Lighthouse ILLW 2012]

{{Lakshadweep}}
{{Malabar}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Minicoy| ]]
[[Category:Islands of Lakshadweep]]
[[Category:India–Maldives border]]

Minicoy - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup: Source modification. Information added.

ImportMaster: robot: import pages using Special:Import