Name: Nayla nurzalfa

Class: X MIPA 3

BIOGRAPHY R.A KARTINI

Raden Ajeng Kartini was a leading feminist of women emancipation in Indonesia

who was born on 21 April 1879 in Jepara, Central Java. Her father, Raden Mas
Sosroningrat, was the mayor of Jepara. During that period, women received little
or no education at all. Women would end up giving birth and stay in the kitchen
all the time. Kartini rebelled in her quiet way against this injustice and inspired the
women of her nation to achieve more than what the society allowed them.

Kartini went to a Dutch school (Europese Lagere School) where she learnt to
speak Dutch fluently, which was unusual for Javanese women at the time. But
when she was 12 years old, her father prohibited her from continuing her studies
because of the tradition. A noble girl was not allowed to have a higher
education.Kartini’s father gave her certain privileges such as embroidery lessons
and occasional appearances in public for special events.

She learned by herself at home and spent her times reading books. She was very
concerned about women’s education in Indonesia. From the books, newspapers,
and European magazines that she read, she was very interested in European
women’s way of thinking. She determined to enhance the education of
Indonesian women. Kartini then established a school especially for women where
she taught how to read and write as well as other important skills.

Kartini sometimes discussed the issues together with a Dutch couple, the Ovinks.
Kartini had a book to read from Mrs. Ovink and started to correspondence with
pen friends in the Netherlands.On November 8, 1903, she wed the regent of
Rembang, Raden Adipati Joyodiningrat. Kartini gave birth to her only son, RM
Soesalit, on 13 September 1904. Unfortunately, Kartini passed away several days
later on 17 September 1904 at the age of 25. She was buried in Bulu Village,
Rembang.
 Following Kartini’s death, Mr. J.H Abendanon published a book called “Door
Duisternis Tot Licht” (Through Darkness to Light) which consists of the collection
of Kartini’s letters to her friends in Netherlands.To honor Kartini’s effort, a school
for women was built by Kartini Foundation in Semarang in 1912, which was
followed by a number of schools in Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Malang, Madiun,
Cirebon, and others.

In 1964, President Soekarno stated Kartini as Indonesian Heroine and set Kartini’s
birthday, 21 April, as the Indonesia National Day (Kartini’s Day).