We Celebrated Kartini's Day

April 21, 2014 we celebrate what has been known as “Kartini’s Day.” Kartini’s Day is an Indonesian holiday commemorating the birth in 1879 of Raden Ajeng Kartini, one of the country's national heroes and a pioneer in the emancipation of Indonesian women. Throughout Indonesia women wear their national dress to symbolize their unity, and the nation enjoys parades, lectures, and various school activities.
Lady Kartini, the daughter of a Javanese nobleman who worked for the Dutch colonial administration, was exposed to Western ideas when she attended a Dutch school. When she had to withdraw from school because she was of noble birth, she corresponded with Dutch friends telling of her concern both for the plight of Indonesians under colonial rule and for the restricted lives of Indonesian women. She married in 1903 and began a fight for the right of women to be educated and against the unwritten but all-pervading Javanese law.

On September 17, 1904, at the age of 25, Kartini died in the regency of Rembang, Java, of complications from giving birth to her first child. Seven years after her death, one of her correspondents, Jacques H. Abendanon, published a collection of Kartini's letters, entitled "From Darkness to Light: Thoughts About and on Behalf of the Javanese People." In Indonesia, Kartini Day is still celebrated annually on Kartini's birthday.

In the celebration of Kartini’s day there were some performance from some people to sing ‘Ibu Kita Kartini’ song that was accompanied by an ensemble from some of the secondary student. Before the performance there was a short movie about Ibu Kartini. There was also a short drama from primary student about the letters that Ibu Kartini wrote to her friends. Next was the Indonesian fashion show from different province around Indonesia. The last part for the Ibu Kartini celebration was a fun dance.

Anyway, her story and the celebration have inspired me to write something about empowering women. In many places, education is special privilege for boys. Including in my country, my culture (my old and current culture) and my people. Education is prioritized only for men. Many people think, “it’s useless for women to be educated, in the end they will just be mother, housewife. Whose occupation is caring for her family, managing household affairs, and doing housework. So, they don’t need to be educated.” And also, my birthday have same date and month with birthday’s Kartini.