Solomon Islands, a hidden gem in Melanesia, comprises six large and over 900 small islands, nestled northeast of Australia in Oceania
Island Nation
Human presence in Solomon Islands dates back to between 30,000 and 28,800 BC, marking it as a region of ancient human activity
Ancient Inhabitants
The arrival of the Lapita people significantly shaped the cultural and demographic landscape, leading to the modern indigenous Solomon Islanders
Lapita Influence
In 1568, Álvaro de Mendaña was the first European to set eyes on the islands, leading to their naming as ‘the Solomons’
European Discovery
Mendaña’s return in 1595 and subsequent visits by explorers like Pedro Fernandes de Queirós in 1606 further mapped and documented the Solomons
Revisitation and Mapping
By June 1893, the southern islands fell under British protection, heralding a new colonial era, led by Captain Herbert Gibson
British Protectorate
World War II turned the islands into a battleground, notably featuring the fierce Battle of Guadalcanal among global powers
World War II Impact
From a British protectorate to self-governance in 1976, Solomon Islands' journey to independence culminated in 1978
Path to Independence
Today, Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy, with Charles III as the monarch, represented locally by a governor-general
Modern Governance
The 2007 Bollywood film ‘Taare Zameen Par’ highlighted Solomon Islands' unique cultural aspect of cursing trees to death, a testament to its global cultural imprint
Cultural Legacy
In Solomon Islands, a traditional belief holds that cursing a tree can cause it to die, showcasing a unique ritualistic interaction with nature