TIMBUKTU

I am dashing off to Timbuktu, wanna tag along? Did you know Timbuktu is a real town in a real country? I didn't know for a long time. But I used to hear this term often. When I enquired with one of my seniors in service as to where he is headed, pat came the reply, "Timbuktu. Want to come along?" Timbuktu generally gives an impression of a small, desolate, remote and outlandish place.

Timbuktu is an ancient town in Mali (a West African nation) which has been existing since 12 th century. Located on the edge of Sahara Desert, Timbuktu is hardly 15 km from River Niger. It played a major role in the trade of gold, ivory and above all, slaves. It has many tourist attractions which earn most of the revenue the town survives on. The architecture of Timbuktu is very unique.

 

In 12 th century itself Timbuktu became an acknowledged centre of Islamic learning and a commercial establishment. It had three universities and more than 175 Quranic schools. Even books were written, copied and imported/exported in/from Timbuktu. The first mention of Timbuktu in travels is that by the Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta when he travelled to Timbuktu in 1353 while returning from his stay in the capital of the then Mali Empire.

Despite its illustrious history Timbuktu today is a poor town, impoverished even by Third World standards. Its current population is about 55,000 and the town regularly grapples with the curse of drought and floods (flooding occurs due to poor drainage system).