R.A. Kartini, a bygone heroine for the younger generation
R.A. Kartini, a bygone heroine for the younger generation
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian heroine of women's emancipation Raden Ajeng Kartini,
whose birthday is observed nationwide on Sunday, has become a
forgotten figure for the young generation as the observance has
lost its significance in their lives.
Many students interviewed by The Jakarta Post on Friday could
still vividly recall their experiences in kindergarten and
elementary school when they wore traditional attire in a Nona
Kartini contest in observance of Kartini Day.
Besides wearing traditional costumes, some also joined cooking
or flower arrangement contests as Kartini was remembered in the
celebrations as a feminine figure rather than a feminist.
No wonder, most of them were not able to give a more detailed
history about Kartini's life and contribution to the nation.
"I know that Kartini has made a great contribution (to the
cause of women) which enables girls to enjoy the same education
and rights as boys. But, don't ask me more about her life as I
hate the subject of history," said Sinta Nurafni, a student of
private high school Triguna in South Jakarta.
Sinta acknowledged that she never touched any book on Kartini,
except the compulsory history textbook.
Another student, Estika Idris even stopped for a while to
recall Kartini Day.
"When do we observe it? Oh yes ... its April 21, right ?" said
Estika.
Poor Kartini. Even her young female peer generation which she
had fought for, consider her a bygone heroine.
Born in Mayong village of Jepara municipality in Central Java
in 1879, Kartini was one of Jepara mayor Raden Mas Adipati Ario
Sosroningrat's 12 children from several wives.
Unlike her female peers, Kartini was able to receive Western
education which was a privilege for only those who belonged to a
royal family or children of Dutch descent. But, Kartini was
forced to stop attending classes as according to the old Javanese
tradition of pingit, a girl over 12 years old must stay at home
until a man asks for her hand.
During her quiet days at home, she sent many letters to her
friends abroad, expressing her provocative ideas and spirit to
rebel against the strong tradition which discriminated against
women.
Eventually, at the age of 24 -- an age considered too old to
get married at that time -- Kartini obeyed her father's order to
marry Rembang mayor Raden Adipati Joyodiningrat, who was 50 and
who already had three wives and dozens of children.
The marriage dashed her ambition to continue her studies
abroad, though she had obtained a scholarship to study in Europe.
Instead, Kartini established a special school for local girls
to realize her ambition to strive for woman's equality.
Unfortunately, many people fail to commemorate Kartini's zeal
and ideas partly due to the superficial observance of Kartini
Day.
Many kindergartens and elementary schools still have such
celebrations, but others, including SMU 6, Triguna high schools
in South Jakarta and state secondary schools 189 and 16 in West
Jakarta, have scrapped it from their school calendar.
"We stopped holding the celebration more than 10 years ago as
we have so many other activities to do," said a teacher of SMU 6,
Kristina Sumarni.
Bayu Ardika, a male student of SMU 6 high school in South
Jakarta acknowledged that Kartini has contributed much to
subsequent generations.
Valia Rahma, another student who is also a freelance presenter
in a private TV station said that she was still interested to
delve into Kartini's life and ideas to find personal inspiration.
"Like in Kartini's time, today we also face other restrictions
that stifle our freedom," Valia said.