Gajaman Nona
| Gajaman Nona | |
|---|---|
|
Gajaman Nona's Statue Situated at Nonagama Junction, Ambalantota | |
| Born |
Dona Isabella Koraneliya Gardiya Arachchi March 10, 1746 Ceylon |
| Died |
December 15, 1815 (aged 69) Sri Lanka |
| Occupation | poetry |
| Spouse(s) | Thalpe Merenchegei Garadiya Arachchi |
| Parent(s) | Don Francisco Senaratna Kumara Perumal, Fransina Jasenthu Graivo |
Dona Isabella Koraneliya (Sinhala:දොන ඉසබෙලා කොරනෙලියා) (a.k.a. Gajaman Nona) was a Sri Lankan author who was noted for having the ability to write and recite impromptu Sinhala poetry. She was born in Kollupitiya, Ceylon as the second daughter of Don Francisco Senaratna Kumara Perumal and Fransina Jasenthu Graivo. She was baptized Dona Isabella Koraneliya Perumal. She had her early education within her own family.[1] She was talented earned her mother's title of Gajaman Nona (Lady Gajaman). She grew up in Matara,[2] a most beautiful and elegant woman with a taste for dressing like a Dutch gentlewoman which comes from her partially "Westernized" background.[3] She had most unusual talent in literature. This was highlighted in woman of her community and status.
her talents were noticed in her early age when someone hidden her water pot, she had composed a Sinhala verse:[4]
English Version:
Little golden pot, filled with water
And left on the edge of the well,
The one who hid it is a scoundrel who can't count to five or eight!
Will you give back my little pot, so that I can go home?
(Gooneratne 1999, p. 82.)
Between 1802 and 1806 Sir John D'Oyly was the Government Agent and Fiscal Collector in Matara and Hambantota districts. Gajaman Nona was left almost destitute by the death of her husband. She could not get a proper job. As she had several children to take care of, she asked John D'Oyly, the Government Agent, for some kind of assistance. Kind-hearted Sir John D'Oyly granted Nindagama (Area of Land in which one is able to live and farm for one's needs.). At present, this statue of her stands at Ambalantota, Nonagama Junction (name derived from Gajaman Nona). In gratitude, she composed a poem to Sir John.
Sources
- Best loved folk tales of Sri Lanka: legends and folklore By Manel Ratnatunga page 172,173,178 ISBN 81-207-2011-3, ISBN 978-81-207-2011-4
- This inscrutable Englishman: Sir John D'Oyly, Baronet, 1774-1824 page 4,87, 249 ISBN 0-304-70095-9, ISBN 978-0-304-70095-0
- The Gajaman story: Gajaman puvatha By Dayānanda Guṇavardhana page 11,41 : ISBN 955-95409-0-4, ISBN 978-955-95409-0-8
- Vignettes of far off things: introducing the history, tank civilization By Gamini de S. G. Punchihewa page 284,286,287
- This Inscrutable Englishman (Sir John D'Oyly 1774-1824) by Brendon Gooneratne and Yasmine Goonaratne page 81-102 ISBN 0-304-70095-9
Notes
References
- Gooneratne, B & Y (1999). "The Inscrutable Englishman", 1805-1810:The Noblest Chance in the World, 81(102).