Nasional
Are We Supposed To Forget Hari Kartini?
by Teh Obenks on Apr.21, 2010, under Nasional
All people of Indonesia know R.A. Kartini. Raden Ayu Kartini, who was born on 21st April 1879, or sometimes known as Raden Ajeng Kartini, was a prominent Javanese and an Indonesian national heroine. Kartini is known as a pioneer in the area of women’s rights for native Indonesians.
Kartini was born into an aristocratic Javanese family in a time when Java was still part of the Dutch colony, the Dutch East Indies. Kartini’s father, Raden Mas Sosroningrat, became Regency Chief of Jepara, and her mother was Raden Mas’ first wife, but not the most important one. At this time, polygamy was a common practice among the nobility.
This time, 106 years had passed since her death. Kartini certainly did not expect people in this country to celebrate her every April 21st. There may be an excessive number of history that can still be corrected that Kartini’s Day (Hari Kartini) is better known as the National Women’s Day (Hari Perempuan Nasional).
Kartini as a female figure is one of perpetrators of history. By reading and looking at her letters, we can read a variety of ideas and ideals of Kartini. There are extraordinary ideas and thoughts inside. Kartini certainly is not a figure who want to be culted, even on a myth. Kartini is still an ordinary human figure which has strength and weakness.
