Kartini

Kartini was a prominent Indonesian activist who advocated for women's rights and female education. She was born into an aristocratic Javanese family in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) on 21 April 1879. Her father was a regent of Jepara, a high-ranking civil servant under the Dutch colonial administration. Her mother was his first wife, but not the most important one. Kartini was the fifth child and second eldest daughter in the family. She had a privileged childhood and received a Dutch education until the age of 12. She wanted to continue her studies, but as a Javanese noblewoman, she was expected to follow the tradition of pingit, or seclusion, which restricted her freedom and social interaction until her marriage. During her seclusion, she read books and magazines that opened her mind to the ideas of feminism and nationalism. She also corresponded with several European friends, as well as Indonesian intellectuals and political leaders. She expressed her thoughts and aspirations in her letters, which later became famous. She was especially concerned about the situation of Javanese women, who she felt were oppressed by the feudal culture, the Islamic law, and the colonial system. She wanted to elevate their status and opportunities through education and social reforms. She also supported the Indonesian independence movement and the preservation of Javanese culture. In 1903, she was married to Raden Adipati Joyodiningrat, the regent of Rembang, who was 26 years older than her and already had three wives. She was unhappy in her marriage, but she used her position to set up a school for native girls in her husband's residence. The school was one of the first that provided education for Indonesian women. She also established a women's association and a cooperative for local artisans. She died on 17 September 1904, four days after giving birth to her only son, Soesalit. She was 25 years old. Her letters were published posthumously by her Dutch friend, J.H. Abendanon, in 1911, under the title Door Duisternis tot Licht (Out of Dark Comes Light). They were translated into several languages and became a source of inspiration for generations of Indonesian women and nationalists. She was declared a National Hero of Indonesia in 1964. Her image is featured on the Indonesian 10,000 rupiah banknote and her birthday is celebrated as Kartini Day in Indonesia.