Kartini's Letters & Thoughts

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Letters

After Kartini died, Jacques Abendanon collected and recorded the letters that RA Kartini had sent to her friends in Europe. Abendanon at that time served as Minister of Culture, Religion and Crafts of the Dutch East Indies. The book is entitled Door Duisternis tot Licht which literally means "From Darkness to Light". This book of collections of Kartini's letters was published in 1911. This book was printed five times and in the last printing there were additional Kartini's letters.

In 1922, Balai Pustaka published it in Malay with the title Habis Dark Rising Terang: Boeah Mind, which is a translation by Empat Brothers. Then in 1938, Out of Darkness Comes Light version of Armijn Pane, a New Poet writer. Armijn divides the book into five discussion chapters to show changes in Kartini's way of thinking over the course of his correspondence. This version was printed eleven times. Kartini's letters in English have also been translated by Agnes L. Symmers. In addition, Kartini's letters have also been translated into Javanese and Sundanese languages.The publication of Kartini's letters, an indigenous woman, greatly attracted the attention of the Dutch community, and Kartini's thoughts began to change the view of the Dutch community towards native women in Java. Kartini's thoughts contained in her letters also became an inspiration for Indonesian national awakening figures, including W.R. Soepratman who composed the song entitled "Our Mother Kartini". The song describes the essence of women's struggle for independence.

Thoughts

In Kartini's letters, her thoughts were written about the social conditions at that time, especially about the condition of indigenous women. Most of her letters contain complaints and lawsuits, especially regarding the culture in Java which is seen as an obstacle to women's progress. He wants woman to have the freedom to gain knowledge and study. Kartini wrote down her ideas and aspirations, as written: Zelf-ontwikkeling and Zelf-onderricht, Zelf-vertrouwen and Zelf-werkzaamheid and also Solidariteit. All of this is based on Religieusiteit, Wijsheid en Schoonheid (namely Divinity, Wisdom and Beauty), coupled with Humanitarianism (humanity) and Nationalism (love for the motherland).

 All of this is based on Religieusiteit, Wijsheid en Schoonheid (namely Divinity, Wisdom and Beauty), coupled with Humanitarianism (humanity) and Nationalism (love for the motherland)

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IDR 5 banknote printed in 1952 with Kartini's image.

Kartini's letters also contain her hopes for outside help. In her introduction to Estelle "Stella" Zeehandelaar, Kartini expressed her wish to be like European youth. She describes the suffering of Javanese women due to the constraints of adat, namely not being able to sit freely in school, having to be secluded, being married to a man they don't know, and having to be willing to have a partner.

Kartini's letters reveal much about the obstacles that must be faced when a woman aspires to be a more advanced Java. Even though he has a father who is classified as advanced because he has sent his daughters to school even though they are only up to 12 years old, the door to go there is still closed. Kartini loved her father very much, but it turned out that this love for her father also became a big obstacle in realizing her dreams. The father in the letter also expressed so much love for Kartini. He is said to have finally allowed Kartini to study to become a teacher in Betawi, even though previously he had not allowed Kartini to continue her studies in the Netherlands or to enter medical school in Betawi.

Kartini's desire to continue her studies, especially in Europe, was indeed expressed in her letters. Several pen friends supported and tried to realize Kartini's wishes. When Kartini finally canceled her wish, which had almost come true, it was revealed that her pen friends were disappointed. The intention and plan to study in the Netherlands finally switched to Betawi after being advised by Mrs. Abendanon that that was the best for Kartini and her sister Rukmini.

In mid-1903, when he was about 24 years old, his intention to continue his studies to become a teacher at Betawi disappeared. In a letter to Mrs. Abendanon, Kartini stated that she had no intention anymore because she was about to get married. "...In short, I don't want to use this opportunity anymore, because I'm about to get married..." Even though at that time the Dutch teaching department had opened the door for Kartini and Rukmini to study in Betawi.

Just before her wedding, there was a change in Kartini's assessment of Javanese customs. He became more tolerant. She thought that marriage would bring its own advantages in realizing the desire to establish a school for native women at that time. In her letters, Kartini stated that her husband not only supported her desire to develop Jepara carving and schools for native women, but also mentioned that Kartini could write a book.

This change in Kartini's thinking implies that she has shed more of her ego and become a human who prioritizes transcendence, that when Kartini almost got her dream of going to school in Betawi, she preferred to make sacrifices to follow patriarchal principles that she had been opposed to, namely marrying the Duke of Rembang.

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