Poems read in celebration of Women's Day
By Carla Bianpoen
JAKARTA (JP): When the first women's congress was held in December 1928, the objective was primarily to join forces for the women's cause, i.e. the position of women in matrimony and education. Marking women's awakening, the first congress united women's organizations which were determined to halt polygamy, a custom that had caused women too much suffering. These were also the objectives which echoed the urge for women's rights and the call for equality advocated by Raden Adjeng Kartini several decades before the congress.
The first day of the congress, Dec. 22, was later observed by the nation as Hari Ibu, or Women's Day.
Today, almost 60 years later, it seems the issues are not much different, although some progress is emerging. The poetry reading held last week at the Jakarta Playhouse to commemorate the Women's Day uncovered a portrait of women who, while still haunted by the same issues of before, are at the same time trying to move toward a vision in the spirit of the first women's congress.
Some people in the audience may have felt slightly disappointed at the content of the selected poetry. For, while hailing women's virtues, the poems in fact revealed the hard fact that gender disparities are continuing to disadvantage women.
"The old woman's name is pain and sorrow and eternal smiles" is in Umbu Landu Paranggi's poem Ibunda Tercinta (Beloved Mother), read by Atie Wardiman Djojonegoro, the wife of the minister of education and culture and a medical doctor by professional training.
Atie, known for her growing interest in and concern for the development and progress of Indonesian women, said, "I wanted to highlight this situation as one which needs to be changed."
Farida Oetoyo, the director of the Jakarta Playhouse, who is also renown as a ballet choreographer, quotes Kartini's letter dated Nov. 6, 1899, to her friend Stella Zeehandelaar. Repudiating poligamy, Kartini writes:
Can you imagine what pain a woman has to endure when her husband espouses another woman whom she has to accept beside herself. He may torture her to death, abuse her as he chooses, and when he decides not to set her free, she can forget about her right.
"I think this issue continues to be an issue in our days, that's why I selected this piece," Farida commented.
Aiko Sunoko, the 29-year-old leader of 1.5 million Buddhists adhering to Buddha Dharma, presented a poetic ballet performance called Ken Dedes. It was about the wife of a bupati (regent). She was so beautiful that Ken Arok, the King of Kediri, an old Javanese kingdom, lusted after her and killed her spouse in order to get her. She then seemed to have everything a woman of that time might desire. She had become royalty, the spouse of a powerful husband, there was abundant richness, a float of attendants, and what not. Nevertheless, said Aiko, her life was pretty empty for love was missing.
Even more urging was the voice of Aisyah Amini, a member of parliament who is also a member of the National Commission on Human Rights. In a poem written in between sessions of parliament, Aisyah stated that women's dual role has so far only added to women's burden. She claimed an egalitarian position for women in every aspect of life and concluded that the role women play would be the key to achieving the nation's expectations.
Rocker Renny Djajoesman did not speak of rights, but of deeds. Reciting a tale by Taufik Ismail, Renny held the audience spellbound by her choice of poetry and superb acting. Derita anak yatim piatu selepas pesta ulang tahun tetangga (An orphan's sorrow after a neighbor's birthday party) tells of an unusual birthday party and the stir it has evoked in the mind of an orphan who has always thought of a birthday party as a party which should have all the attributes usual in a western style birthday celebration.
Just imagine his endless surprise mixed with a certain degree of disappointment when there was no usual birthday cake nor any candles to be blown. Instead, the party goers got local food of the finest quality. There was also no present for the birthday child. Instead it was the child who treated his mother with a present. There is courage in this story, the courage to be different, and there is vision, the vision of a future with a character.
While some women just read from a piece of paper, others uncovered their hidden talents of acting. For many of the women reading the poems at the Jakarta Playhouse last week, it was the first time in their life, an experience which is certain to have an impact on their future aspirations.