Wimalaratne Kumaragama
Encyclopedia
Wimalaratne Kumaragama (January 18, 1919 - December 30, 1962) is a prominent Sri Lankan poet, of the Colombo
era. A Divisional Revenue Officer (DRO) by profession, his poems were centred round Wanni,and the people of Wanni. They emanate the life of the villagers and its characters, surroundings, environment, animals and their experiences. He depicted their lives in a broader perspective and described the environment beautifully in poetic language.
. Even as a student, he was interested in Sinhala Literature and he used to write poems to the school magazine. At Dharmaraja, he was an outstanding student and passed the Matriculation Examination
with distinctions.
. In 1942, he was successful in the D.R.O. Examination. In 1944, he assumed duties as an Assistant Government Agent at Anamaduwa. He later served as a DRO in areas like Hanguranketha, Kalawana, Daladagama and Kotmale.
He loved Wanni and its innocent villagers. Like Leonard Woolf
, the great Kumaragama lived with the villagers and his poems were centered round Wanni. He knew the pulse of Wanni Folks. The general public loved his company. Sometimes the innocent villagers came in search of him to solve their private and confidential problems. He kept everyone happy, and sometimes recited "Hitiwan Kavi", or Instant verses. His poems emanate the life of the villagers and its characters, surrounding, environment, animals and their experiences. Some of his outstanding, famous and popular poems Wanniye mal, Harak Hora, Iiyanayake, Yantam beruna, Game-wewa and Herath Hami depicts the true life of the villager of Wanniya. He also served as the Editor of the "Colombo Young poets' Society".
Wimalaratne was a fine student of English literature. He was a voracious reader and had a good knowledge on English Poetry. He as well as his contemporaries such as Meemana Prematilaka and Sagara Palansooriya, are said to be great admirers of Romantic poets
of the likes of John Keats
, Percy Bysshe Shelley
, William Wordsworth
and Alfred Tennyson.
The life of the Great Poet Wimalaratne Kumaragama, who had shone like a bright star in the firmament of sinhala poetry, was so simple, but he was full of life. After a life entirely devoted to uplift the standard of living of the poor villagers of Wanni, he died on December 30, 1962.
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
era. A Divisional Revenue Officer (DRO) by profession, his poems were centred round Wanni,and the people of Wanni. They emanate the life of the villagers and its characters, surroundings, environment, animals and their experiences. He depicted their lives in a broader perspective and described the environment beautifully in poetic language.
Early life
Wimalaratne Kumaragama was born on 18 January 1919 at Narampanawa, Patadumbara, Pallispattu Korale West. He was the second, in a family of seven and possessed a majestic and charismatic personality. He had his primary Education at Werapitiye school and later attended the Bilingual school at Teldeniya and Sri Rahula Vidyalaya, Katugastota. He ended his schooling at Dharmaraja College, KandyDharmaraja College, Kandy
Dharmaraja College , founded in 1887 is a premier Boys' School in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist school with around 175 teaching staff and around 4,500 students. The school has many renowned figures in its alumni including William Gopallawa, A. E...
. Even as a student, he was interested in Sinhala Literature and he used to write poems to the school magazine. At Dharmaraja, he was an outstanding student and passed the Matriculation Examination
Matriculation examination
The term matriculation examination refers to educational qualifications in many countries. Usually this has to do with student's transfer from secondary to tertiary education. For more detailed information, see "Matriculation"....
with distinctions.
Civil service & Poetry
After passing the Government Clerical Competitive Examination, he started his career as a clerk at the Kaccheri, AnuradhapuraAnuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
. In 1942, he was successful in the D.R.O. Examination. In 1944, he assumed duties as an Assistant Government Agent at Anamaduwa. He later served as a DRO in areas like Hanguranketha, Kalawana, Daladagama and Kotmale.
He loved Wanni and its innocent villagers. Like Leonard Woolf
Leonard Woolf
Leonard Sidney Woolf was an English political theorist, author, publisher and civil servant, and husband of author Virginia Woolf.-Early life:...
, the great Kumaragama lived with the villagers and his poems were centered round Wanni. He knew the pulse of Wanni Folks. The general public loved his company. Sometimes the innocent villagers came in search of him to solve their private and confidential problems. He kept everyone happy, and sometimes recited "Hitiwan Kavi", or Instant verses. His poems emanate the life of the villagers and its characters, surrounding, environment, animals and their experiences. Some of his outstanding, famous and popular poems Wanniye mal, Harak Hora, Iiyanayake, Yantam beruna, Game-wewa and Herath Hami depicts the true life of the villager of Wanniya. He also served as the Editor of the "Colombo Young poets' Society".
Wimalaratne was a fine student of English literature. He was a voracious reader and had a good knowledge on English Poetry. He as well as his contemporaries such as Meemana Prematilaka and Sagara Palansooriya, are said to be great admirers of Romantic poets
Romantic poetry
Romanticism, a philosophical, literary, artistic and cultural era which began in the mid/late-1700s as a reaction against the prevailing Enlightenment ideals of the day , also influenced poetry...
of the likes of John Keats
John Keats
John Keats was an English Romantic poet. Along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, he was one of the key figures in the second generation of the Romantic movement, despite the fact that his work had been in publication for only four years before his death.Although his poems were not...
, Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language. Shelley was famous for his association with John Keats and Lord Byron...
, William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
and Alfred Tennyson.
The life of the Great Poet Wimalaratne Kumaragama, who had shone like a bright star in the firmament of sinhala poetry, was so simple, but he was full of life. After a life entirely devoted to uplift the standard of living of the poor villagers of Wanni, he died on December 30, 1962.
Books
- Nilseenaya (1941)
- Oruwa (1942)
- Sanwega Wedana (1946)
- Sapumalee (1946)
- Surathallu (1961)
Poems
- Herath Haami
- Aiyanayake
- Dadayama
- Wanniye mal
- Game wewa
- Kira
- Aarachchi rala
- Sirageya
- Yantham Beruna
- Harak hora
- Buduruwa
- Sundara Haami
- Aganthuka sathkaraya
- Awurudu niwaduwa
- Muthuge prashna
- Wanniye dosthara