April
21, known as”Hari Kartini”, is a special day in this nation. It is observed as
the anniversary of the birth Raden Ajeng Kartini in Jepara, Central Java, 134
years ago.
From
an intellectual, aristocratic family, Kartini herself showed an interest in
education from an early age. She went to school until she was 12, when she
“schedule” at home in preparation for marriage – a common practice among
Javanese nobility.
But
Kartini’s Dutch language skill and thirsts for knowledge led to her becoming
pen friends with young Dutchwoman Rosa Abendanon. Through her correspondence,
Kartini kept abreast of the emancipation movement in the West.
She
also educated herself by reading cultural and scientific, magazines. Her
knowledge fostered herd desire to improve the social condition of Indonesian
women.
Kartini
was ahead of her time. She recognized that women didn’t have the freedom,
autonomy and legal status of their male counterparts, and that education was
crucial to empower women.
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Finding Kartini
We
have come a long way since those days, Indonesian women today make their mark
in various industries, from engineering to finance. We have alsa had a woman
president.
None
of this would have happeded if it wasn’t for Kartini, who established the first
school for women shortly after her marriage to the regent of Rembang in 1903.
Many
of her letters, with their powerful and still relevant observations, were
collected after her early death and published in the book Thourgh Darkness into
Light.
I
am so proud to have a progressive national heroine. Yet somehow I feel the
meaning of Kartini’s ideas have been lost.
To
me, Kartini, was unique in that she was a woman who wrote and spoke her mind on
issues that no one, not even men, were publicly discussing at the time. She
expressed her ideas- with pen and paper, mind you – to her friends, and
ultimately the world.
We,
with all the communications means that we enjoy, often choose to speak about
irrelevantthings. Glance at our Tweets and Facebook status, and let’s be
honest. Have we written anything meaningful at all to share with the world?
Speak Smart
As
I said, today’s technology allows us to stay connected with like-minded people
from across the globe. In my case, it allowed me to find out about the Speaker!
Competition, and to ultimately become its first winner in November.
Unlike
Kartini, I also have the privilege to meet people from other countries in
person. At the recent Youth Council Reception, hosted by Deputy US Chief of
Mission Ms. Kristen Bauer, I met Maria Skirk, a young diplomat who encouraged
me to keep voicing my opinions.
One
thing we all can learn from Kartini is that she didn’t hold a popular opinion
anyway. The recognition of the value and importance of her thoughts came later,
So
the moral of the story is…Don’t be afraid to have your say, my friend! Happy
Kartini Day!
If
you have a lot of ideas flowing in your mind, then c'mon, speak it up, let
others know it, and make it count. No one will ever know what you think and
believe if you won't say it. Who knows, it will change the world! And why not?
Unlike the era of Kartini, today we are never in shortage of gadgets that can connect
you to every corner of the world. Current communication devices are able to
connect people across borders and provide a powerful platform to create real
social change.
Also,
participating in social gatherings like Youth Speak Fun Day or discussion
forums will help you learn to speak your mind in more critical situations. This
was something I learnt when I was invited recently to a Youth Council Reception
hosted by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the USA, Ms Kristen Bauer. There, I
got a chance to have a chit-chat with Maria Skirk, a young diplomat who
encouraged me to keep voicing my opinion by actively joining meetings and
events, because it is a good chance to force yourself to participate until
speaking your mind becomes easier.
As
many of you have known, not saying anything is just as bad as saying the wrong
thing. So, please join me through our “speak!” magazine to speak out your
mind. If people around you are not interested to hear it, other parts of the
world might be badly curious to hear it and explore it further! Be like
Kartini. Remember, the words that made Kartini a great person were not going
through the hand of her close society, but through her friends far away in
other part of the world. Inspiring, right?
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