TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Google has featured face drawing of Raden Ajeng Kartini as Google Doodle on Thursday, April 21, 2016, coincided with the commemoration of Kartini’s birthday in Indonesia.
Kartini was a Javanese female figure and Indonesian national heroine. She was born in Jepara, West Java on April 21, 1879. She is famous for being a pioneer of local women rising. Kartini is also known as women’s empowermen figure in Indonesia.
She wanted Indonesian women to get equal status in the society, particularly in education. She often expressed her thinking through letters and writings.
Kartini went to school at age 22. A year later, however, she quitted and went into seclusion. Having quitted school, Kartini often held correspondence with Dutch citizens, through which she received many information and insights.
Kartini often read European books, newspapers and magazines. Having read its publication, Kartini was interested to European women’s progressive thinking. She wanted Indonesian women to progress and get equal social status.
At the time, Kartini saw that local women were having lower social status. She expected that women could get freedom, autonomy and equality before the law.
The letters written by Kartini contained her thoughts on social conditions at the time, particularly on local women conditions. Most of her letters expressed her grievances and criticisms especially on Javanese culture that was deemed hampering women’s progress.
In 1903, Kartini married to Rembang regent at age 24. Four days after delivering her child, Kartini died at age 25 on September 17, 1904.
MAYA NAWANGWULAN
