Kartini power

Forget "People Power" in the Philippines! Even forget "Student Power" in Indonesia, if such a thing exists! But please do not forget "Kartini Power" especially in the month of April when the nation commemorates Kartini Day, on April 21.

The celebration is compulsory for women and girls who usually dress up in kebaya (Javanese traditional blouse) and kain batik (batik sarong) on that day. I suspect that our female television presenters are already imagining themselves appearing extra attractive on screen on that day.

But Kartini, who was a Javanese beauty herself, dedicated her life to the betterment of the women of her time who still lived in bondage. She was especially obsessed with equal education for males and females of her time. She couldn't care less about looks.

Her influence on the people and leaders of this country was, and still is, immense. After her death, the Dutch allowed schools to be named after her. There is a popular magazine now called Kartini. Supratman, composer of the national anthem, dedicated a song to her. If you pass Jl. Imam Bonjol and stop in front of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) building you will notice a statue in kebaya dedicated to Kartini. (IMF people must see it, too)

If you have been to Rome or Paris and seen the statues there, you certainly will wonder about the small size of the Kartini statue. Compared to its imposing surroundings and the famous Taman Suropati residential area (the Vice President, Jakarta governor and ambassadors reside nearby), it is, in my opinion, absolutely misplaced. The Kartini statue would be all very well inside the building, But outside, in the open air, it seems a mockery, as if it were mocking Kartini's merits. In my opinion she deserves to stand on a higher platform. After all, she was a hero to many women! Where she now stands, she looks like a dwarf instead of a giant personality.

The creation of a special ministry (of women's affairs) in both the Sukarno and Soeharto administrations only indicates the great influence and strength of Kartini's almost mystical power.

Unfortunately, the plight of today's Kartinis have been practically unaffected as seen by the droves of women seeking employment overseas. Child labor and child prostitution are still rife.

While Kartini looked down and contemplated the position of the rural people, women leaders in the post-Kartini era felt more challenged in looking up to their superiors. I doubt and often wonder if under a Pancasila welfare society, the numerous women jamu (herbal medicine) vendors with heavy burdens on their backs, would be allowed to make their daily rounds.

If you ever have a chance to travel to Central Java, do not fail to visit the town of Rembang, accessible by road via Cirebon or Magelang. It would be unsurprising if you heard Kartini weeping from the grave, if she knew that like her, many women, according to WHO statistics, still die a tragic death during childbirth. Their numbers are staggering.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta