KARTINI-KARTINI

21 April is Kartini Day, an Indonesian national holiday, since President Sukarno declared it in 1964, commemorating the birth of Raden Ajeng Kartini (Jepara, 21 April 1879) a prominent Javanese, one of the Indonesian national heroine and a pioneer in the emancipation of Indonesian women. Throughout Indonesia women or girls wear their national dress Kebaya and Batik or other Indonesian traditional dresses to symbolize their unity and the nation enjoys parade and events. 

Kartini is the daughter of Sosroningrat, a Javanese nobleman and Regency Chief of Jepara, who worked for the Dutch colonial administration, was exposed to Western ideas when she attended a Dutch school. When she has to withdraw from school because she was of noble birth, she corresponded with Dutch friends telling her concern both for the plight of Indonesians under colonial rule and for the restricted lives of Indonesian women. 

She was married on 12 November 1903 and began a fight for the right of women to be educated and against the unwritten but all-pervading Javanese law, Adat. Her husband understood Kartini's aims and allowed her to establish a school for women in the east porch of the Rembang Regency Office complex. She died on 17 September 1904 at the age of 25, four days after the birth of her first son on 13 September 1904. She was buried in Bulu Village Rembang.

After Kartini died, J.H.Abendanon the Minister for Culture, Religion and Industry in the East Indies collected and published the letters that Kartini had sent to her friends in Europe. The book was titled Door Duisternis tot Licht (Out of Dark Comes Light / Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang) and was published in 1911. It went through five editions with some additional letters included in the final edition and was translated into English by Agnes L. Symmers and published under the title Letters of a Javanese Princess.

Inspired by Kartini, the Van Deventer family established the R.A. Kartini Foundation which built schools for women Kartini's Schools in Semarang in 1912, followed by other women's schools in Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Malang, Madiun, Cirebon and other area. Now, 134 years after Kartini's birth, she left a legacy of emancipation for Indonesian women. Here, I chose some of Indonesian women who have Kartini spirit in their modern day life. 

Anggun Cipta Sasmi International Singer/Songwriter
Anne Avantie Fashion/Kebaya Designer
Artika Sari Devi Actress/Top 15 Miss Universe 2005 
Chelsea Elizabeth Islan Actress/Model
Christine Hakim Actress/Film Producer/Activist
Cinta Laura Kiehl Actress/Singer
Christina Rantetana The First Admiral in Indonesia's Navy 
Dewi Fortuna Anwar International Researcher in LIPI
Dian Pelangi Fashion Designer
Dian Sastrowardoyo Actress/Model
Entin Kartini The First Indonesia's Ship Captain
Fahira Idris Activist/Politician 
Farah Quinn Indonesian Celebrity Chef
Ghea Panggabean Fashion Designer
Hanum Rais Writer/TV Person
Ida Fiqriah Indonesia's First Woman Pilot
Josephine Komara Textile/Fashion Designer
Mariana Renata Model/Actress
Martha Tilaar Entrepreneur/Cosmetic Expertise
Meeghan Henry Singer
Mira Lesmana Film Director/Producer/Songwriter
Nadya Hutagalung Model/TV Host/Actress/Activist
Pia Alisjahbana Entrepreneur/Journalist
Pratiwi Sudarmono Scientist/Astronaut
Rachel Maryam Actress/Politician
Rachmawati Soekarnoputri Politician
Rini Sugianto International Animator
Rumiah Police Brigadier General/The First Indonesia's Head of The Regional Police Force
Sri Mulyani Indrawati Economist/Managing Director of World Bank
Sundari Soekotjo Keroncong Singer
Susi Susanti World Champion Badminton Player
Tania Gunadi Actress
Tri Rismaharini Major of Surabaya
Zara Zettira ZR Writer