Poems read in celebration of Women's Day

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.