Minicoy, the southernmost island of Lakshadweep, and the Mahal language

Background

The Minicoy Island is the southern-most island of Lakshadweep, situated at a distance of 398 km (215 nautical miles) south-west of Kochi, having an area of 4.80 sq km, and it is 11 km long and crescent shaped.
It is the second largest island of the territory. The closest land to Minicoy is Thuraakunu Island in the Republic of the Maldives, which the Administration records as about 100 km to the south across the Vangaaru Channel.
The languages spoken are Hindi, English, Malayalam and Mahal, and the Administration describes Minicoy as the only people in India speaking Mahal, as a linguistic minority.
The island is organised into 10 villages known as 'Avah', named Bada, Aoumagu, Boduathiri, Rammedu, Sedivalu, Aloodi, Funhilol, Kudehi, Falessery and Kendiparty from south to north. Each Avah has its own internal organisation headed by a Moopan, and each village is headed by a Bodukaka and a Bodudatha, the first Bodukaka looking after internal matters and the second external affairs.
The village house is where the 'Baemedu', the assemblage of villagers, is held.
'Lava' is the most popular dance form on Minicoy, where the rest of the territory's popular folk arts are Kolkali and Parichakali, and the colourful race boat of the island is the 'Jahadhoni'.
The lighthouse of the island is one of the oldest and was constructed in 1885. The Administration's island-at-a-glance table gives Minicoy a population of 10447 at the 2011 census and a literacy rate of 93.01.