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.