Jakarta, IO – Indonesia has many illustrious heroines: Tjoet Nyak Dien, Christina Martha Tiahahu and HR Rasoena Said, just to name a few. However, there is only one whose day of commemoration is named after herself — R.A. Kartini.
Soekarno administration declared through Presidential Decree 108/1964 dated May 2, 1964 that Kartini is a national heroine and April 21, her birthday, is to be commemorated every year as “Kartini Day” to remind Indonesian women that they also need to participate in state development.
Raden Adjeng Kartini was born in Mayong, Jepara, Central Java, on April 21, 1879. She was the daughter of Raden Mas Adipati Ario Sosroningrat, a patih (chief minister) who was appointed as Regent of Jepara soon after she was born. She was the eldest daughter of her father’s first wife, M.A. Ngasirah, daughter of Nyai Haji Siti Aminah and Kyai Haji Madirono, a renowned religious scholar from Telukawur, Jepara.
Kartini’s father was originally a wedana (assistant to regent) in Mayong. The Dutch at the time stipulated that a regent must have a noblewoman as his wife. As M.A. Ngasirah was not high royalty, R.M.A. Ario married Raden Adjeng Woerjan (Moerjam), a direct descendant to the kings of Madura. Right after the wedding, he was named regent of Jepara, replacing the position of R.A. Woerjan’s biological father R.A.A. Tjitrowikromo.
Kartini had 11 siblings, including half-siblings. She was the eldest daughter from her mother’s side. Kartini’s family was ambitious and passionate about education. Her paternal grandfather, Prince Ario Tjondronegoro IV, was named regent at the tender age of 25 and was widely known in mid-19th century as one of the first regents who provided Western-style education to his children. Her elder brother, Sosrokartono, was a proficient linguist.
Kartini was allowed to study at the local European Elementary School (Europeesche Lagere School – “ELS”). She learned mathematics and Dutch among other subjects. However, she must stay at home since she turned 12 in accordance with Javanese ancient tradition called pingit (being kept inside a house until one is married). At home, she studied by herself and corresponded intensely with her Dutch friends, most notably Mrs. Rosa Abendanon.
Mrs. Abendanon supported Kartini’s education and sent her many European books, magazines and newspapers. These materials caught Kartini’s interest in the progress of European women’s thought. She became interested in advancing her fellow countrywomen, who were oppressed due to their low social status. She also read the Semarang newspaper De Locomotief edited by Pieter Brooshooft. From bookstores, she received leestrommel (Dutch magazine packages), which contained magazines on culture and science, as well as the women’s magazine De Hollandsche Lelie.