" In opening this path, we will carry countless thousands of our fellows, whose spirits have been trampled upon, to a world of freedom and happiness that will lift millions of people in this nation of ours to greater heights; and as such, help bring about the completion of a work that has no end..."
(excerpted from a letter by R.A.Kartini to Dr. G.K. Anton,June 10,1901)
In rememberance " KARTINI" To the champion of women's emancipation in Indonesia.....
Kartini was born Raden Ajeng Kartini on April 21, 1879. She was the third daughter of then Jepara regent K.R.M.A.A. Sasraningrat, through his union with his mistress M.A. Ngasirah.
According to the tale told by her young sister Kardinah, Kartini already showed signs when she was still small that she would grow to become an extraordinary woman.
This was indicated by her active character, inteligence, crotical nature and her constant desire to know about the issues she encountered, in addition to her abilities in caring for, guiding and instructing her younger sisters.
It is said that the young Kartini was a child who was passionate about studying. This caracteristic would eventually lead her to her fate as a thinking woman who would continuosly seek ways to free both society and her nation from the bonds of ignorance and oppression.
In fact, until her final days, Kartini continued to advocate for the development of the children of her nation.
She's reaching through barries, Kartini began her crusade when, in 1892, she entered seclusion. Seclucion was a conservative tradition practiced at the time by Javanese families of the noble class, where in all female children were kept at home once they reached adolescence, between 11-12 years old. It was not unusual that these young women, yearning for their freedom from this, were forced to accept a new " torture " upon their release from the trap of this tradition of seculsion ; that is, by being forced to enter into marriage with a man they did not know, often of an age very far from their own and who already possessed several wives and children. She's perhaps was still luckier than most. Her father was a man also of progressive thought and occasionally permitted her to accompany him on his official visits through the territories under Jepara regency. Kartini's physical body may have been imprisoned behind the walls of Jepara regency but her spirit and thoughts broke through the limits of space and time. Her intellect, social sensitivity and perceptions blossomed within her shackles and became ever more fertile with the new knowledge and experiences she gained through her correspondence with Dutch peers and close friends, the literature supplied by her father and dearest brother R.M.P. Sosrokartono as well as the long discussions she held with her sisters Rukmini and Kardinah.
Kartini is a pious woman.
At the end of 1903 she's received a proposal of marriage from K.R.M.A.A.Djojoadiningrat the regent of Rembang. Many to this day have questioned why Kartini in the end was willing to "trade" her idealism for a marriage to a polygamist when she knew very well that polygamy was just one of the causes of misery among women of her class. Whatever the case, she was a child who had a father and mother.
She's a heroine
On Sept 17, 1904 she's drew her last breath. Undoubtedly she left behind much to be done for the development of society and her nation.
(YOUTHSPEAK #APRIL 06, 2008)
In rememberance " KARTINI" To the champion of women's emancipation in Indonesia.....
Kartini was born Raden Ajeng Kartini on April 21, 1879. She was the third daughter of then Jepara regent K.R.M.A.A. Sasraningrat, through his union with his mistress M.A. Ngasirah.
According to the tale told by her young sister Kardinah, Kartini already showed signs when she was still small that she would grow to become an extraordinary woman.
This was indicated by her active character, inteligence, crotical nature and her constant desire to know about the issues she encountered, in addition to her abilities in caring for, guiding and instructing her younger sisters.
It is said that the young Kartini was a child who was passionate about studying. This caracteristic would eventually lead her to her fate as a thinking woman who would continuosly seek ways to free both society and her nation from the bonds of ignorance and oppression.
In fact, until her final days, Kartini continued to advocate for the development of the children of her nation.
She's reaching through barries, Kartini began her crusade when, in 1892, she entered seclusion. Seclucion was a conservative tradition practiced at the time by Javanese families of the noble class, where in all female children were kept at home once they reached adolescence, between 11-12 years old. It was not unusual that these young women, yearning for their freedom from this, were forced to accept a new " torture " upon their release from the trap of this tradition of seculsion ; that is, by being forced to enter into marriage with a man they did not know, often of an age very far from their own and who already possessed several wives and children. She's perhaps was still luckier than most. Her father was a man also of progressive thought and occasionally permitted her to accompany him on his official visits through the territories under Jepara regency. Kartini's physical body may have been imprisoned behind the walls of Jepara regency but her spirit and thoughts broke through the limits of space and time. Her intellect, social sensitivity and perceptions blossomed within her shackles and became ever more fertile with the new knowledge and experiences she gained through her correspondence with Dutch peers and close friends, the literature supplied by her father and dearest brother R.M.P. Sosrokartono as well as the long discussions she held with her sisters Rukmini and Kardinah.
Kartini is a pious woman.
At the end of 1903 she's received a proposal of marriage from K.R.M.A.A.Djojoadiningrat the regent of Rembang. Many to this day have questioned why Kartini in the end was willing to "trade" her idealism for a marriage to a polygamist when she knew very well that polygamy was just one of the causes of misery among women of her class. Whatever the case, she was a child who had a father and mother.
She's a heroine
On Sept 17, 1904 she's drew her last breath. Undoubtedly she left behind much to be done for the development of society and her nation.
(YOUTHSPEAK #APRIL 06, 2008)
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