Gajaman Nona | |
|---|---|
 A statue of Gajaman Nona at Nonagama Junction, Ambalantota | |
| Born | Donna Isabella Koraneliya 10 March 1746 |
| Died | 15 December 1815 (aged 69) Ceylon |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Spouse | Thalpe Merenchegei Garadiya Arachchi |
| Parent(s) | Don Francisco Senarathna Kumara Perumal, Francina Jasenthu Graivo |
Donna Isabella Koraneliya (Sinhala: දෝන ඉසබෙලා කොරනෙලියා) (a.k.a. Gajaman Nona) (10 March 1746-15 December 1815) was a Sri Lankan author who was noted for her ability to create impromptu Sinhala poetry.
She was born in Kollupitiya, Ceylon as the second daughter of Don Francisco Senarathna Kumara Perumal and Francina Jasenthu Graivo.[1] Gajaman was baptised as Donna Isabella Koraneliya at St. Paul's Church, Milagiriya in Bambalapitiya.[2] She was brought to Kahawatta in Beliatta as her father was undertaking Rājākariya. She had her early education within her own family.[3] She was talented and earned her honorific name Gajaman Nona (Lady Gajaman). She grew up in Weragampita,Matara,[3] where her father served as the Arachchi.With a taste for dressing like a Dutch woman, which came from her partially 'Westernized' background.[3] She had a surprising talent in literature, which was highlighted by the women of her community and status.
Her talents were noticed at an early age when someone hid her water pot, and she wrote this Sinhala poem:[3]
පුංචි රුවන් පුංචි රුවන් පුංචි කලේ
වතුර අරන් ළිඳ උඩ තිබූවාය කලේ
අට පහ නොදන්නා ජඩයෙකි මේක කලේ
ගෙදර යන්න දෙනවාද මගේ පුංචි කලේ
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?— English translation[4]
A statue of her stands at Ambalantota, Nonagama Junction (the name derived from Gajaman Nona) is situated at that nindagama.
