Senin
19 Mey 2014
Mahdalena
12340044
Writing
3, (7th Meeting)
Descriptive Paragraph
Topic : A person your admire
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R.A Kartini
Kartini is now one of
Indonesia’s national heroines It’s
been over 110 years since Indonesian heroine Raden Ajeng Kartini
penned her thoughts on the emancipation of women. Considered the pioneer
of women’s rights in Indonesia, Kartini, whose birthday the nation
celebrates on Monday, paved the way for many others in her wake
to continue the fight for respect and equal opportunity.
R.A.
Kartini was a powerful and beautiful woman outside but a patriot inside. She
used to be what every woman would dream of being, but still she saw through
it all and fought for what she believed every woman, as well as every man
could get, could be. There is so much of her to inspire any woman; her
vision, her bravery and courage, her drive and also will power, which
eventually brings us Indonesian women to be what we are now.
Raden
Ayu Kartini was born from the Regency Chief of Jepara and one of his wives
when Indonesia was still under the Dutch colony. At this time, polygamy was
still a common and legalized practice among the nobility. Other traditions
also shows women are somewhat alienated from education and freedom, such as
prohibition to school and arranged marriages. Fortunately, Kartini was born
into a family with a strong intellectual background. Her father allowed her
to go to school until she was 12. Among other subjects, she managed to speak
Dutch fluently. Here, following Javanese traditions, she was secluded in her
own house to prepare herself for an arranged marriage.
During
her seclusion, Kartini educated herself about liberty and education through
Dutch books and magazines. The books shared Dutch feminists’ visions and
opened her eyes to the many injustices and irrational traditions of her time.
She then wrote many letters and acquired Dutch pen pals. In her letters to
Rosa Abendanon and Zeehandelaar, she described her mission to educate and her
dream to become a teacher in her own school for women. She also expressed
criticism toward Qur’an traditions. She didn’t agree that Moslems had to
memorize and recite Qur’an without actually understanding it. She also
aroused questions about the justification of polygamy, which sabotaged
women’s dignity and value.
At
the age of 24, she was married to Rembang’s regency chief. She was the last
of his four wives. Kartini died a premature death at the age of 25. Her
struggle to educate women was continued by the Van Deventer family, who built
‘Kartini’s school’ in Semarang, followed by other womens schools across Java.
Her letters were published as a book entitled ,"Habis Gelap Terbitlah
Terang" (After Darkness Comes Light). Through her letters were the early
principles of improving balance between men and women in Indonesia. Her
strong voice and heart broke traditional barriers and showed what women were
capable of.
.The
21st of April is celebrated across the nation as Kartini day, because of her
struggle to gain freedom for Indonesian women. Kartini inspired many people
and bore a generation of educated and modern women. She inspires me not only
because of her great service to our country but also her vision and bravery.
When all the other women could only admire her entire life, she stood out and
dared to fight for what she believed.
I
personally believe that Kartini, courageous, wonderful and wise soul that she
was, would not want us to spend time speculating and grieving about the cause
of her death. She would want for all women of Indonesia – this generation and
the coming generations to make sure that never, ever, will Indonesian women
be the victims of egoistic people again, and be trodden underfoot like she
was.
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