WIMALARATNA KUMARAGAMA

WIMALARATNA KUMARAGAMA

Born on 1919.01.18 at Narampanawa in the Kandy District, Wimalaratna Bandara Kumaragama earned a name as poets whose writing had a distinctive mark. He studied at Morapitiya and Theldeniya Vidyalayas at the early stages and then proceeded to Rahula Collage, Katugastota and Dharmaraja College, Kandy for his English education.

After finishing his school education, he took up competitive examination for admission to the government clerical service and was successful. His first appointment was to the kachcheri Anuradhapur. However, he did not remain long as a Kachcheri clerk. On the results of another competitive examination, he was promoted as a Divisional Revenue Officer. This was an administrative post that replace the old Rate Mahatmayas. He was 23 years old then.

As a DRO, he had to work in several rural areas which included Anamaduwa, Hanguranketha, Kalawana, Kotmale, Kolonna and Daladagam. In his long association with the not so fortunate people of these areas he had opportunities to personally understand their hopes and aspiration, beliefs, problems and miseries, sorrows and joys. He was no doubt moved and his sincerity and sympathetic concern for these people can clearly be seen in his poems.

Silumina, a prestigious weekly newspaper had a place for his compositions. The poetry monthlies of the time, Mee Vadaya, Dedunna, Ambavanaya and Suwanda carried his compositions. Budu Ruwa, Sundara Hamy, Arachchi Rala, Aiyanayaka, Dadayama, Vanniye Dosthara, and Aganthuka Sathkaraya were some. Hapumali and Nil Seenaya were his books of poetry.

Wimalaratna Kumaragama deserves commendation for several happy features in his poetry. He adopted a bold and independent approach. He was not found by the traditions and practices followed by many in his own times. His themes were novel and had been selected in relation to the woes and miseries of village folk who fought hard for day to day living. The craze for the use of “beautiful shining” words at the cost of their appropriateness in expressing that apt meanings feelings and experiences was rarely found in his poems. The words, phrases and idioms were identical with what is spoken by the rural people. There is instance where the originality of poetical thinking can be observed. One cannot help thinking that Wimalartna Kumaragama had the potential to achieve much more, had he lived longer.

Unfortunately, death took him away on 30.12.1962 when he was only 43.