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Ashely Wolfgram

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Aug 3, 2024, 11:28:26 PM8/3/24

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Panggil Aku Kartini Saja: A Biography of Indonesia's National Heroine

Panggil Aku Kartini Saja (Call Me Kartini) is a book by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, one of Indonesia's most celebrated writers, that tells the life story of Raden Adjeng Kartini, a Javanese noblewoman who fought for women's rights and education in the colonial era. The book is based on Kartini's letters to her Dutch friends, as well as historical documents and testimonies from her relatives and acquaintances.

Kartini was born in 1879 in Jepara, a coastal town in Central Java, as the daughter of a regent who served under the Dutch colonial government. She received a Dutch education until she was 12 years old, when she had to undergo pingit, a traditional seclusion for girls before marriage. During her pingit, she continued to read books and magazines from Europe, and developed a keen interest in social issues, especially the oppression and discrimination faced by women in her society. She also learned various crafts and arts from her mother and grandmother, such as batik, embroidery, and wood carving.

Kartini corresponded with several Dutch friends, such as Stella Zeehandelaar, Rosita Abendanon-Mandri, and Marie Ovink-Soer. Through her letters, she expressed her thoughts and feelings about her culture, religion, politics, and personal life. She also shared her dreams of opening a school for girls in Jepara, where they could learn not only academic subjects, but also practical skills and crafts. She believed that education was the key to emancipate women from ignorance and poverty.

In 1903, Kartini married Raden Adipati Joyodiningrat, the regent of Rembang, another town in Central Java. She was his fourth wife, and had to live in a polygamous household. However, she managed to persuade her husband to support her plan of establishing a school for girls in Rembang. She also befriended his other wives and children, and taught them various subjects and skills. She gave birth to a son, Singgih, in 1904.

Unfortunately, Kartini died four days after giving birth, at the age of 25. Her letters were collected and published by J.H. Abendanon, the former Minister of Education and Culture of the Dutch East Indies, in 1911. The book was titled Door Duisternis tot Licht (Out of Darkness into Light), and later translated into several languages. It became a source of inspiration for many Indonesians who fought for independence and social justice.

Pramoedya Ananta Toer wrote Panggil Aku Kartini Saja in 1962, as a tribute to Kartini's legacy. He also added his own analysis and commentary on the historical and social context of Kartini's life and struggle. He portrayed Kartini as a human being with flaws and contradictions, but also with courage and vision. He also criticized the colonial system that exploited and oppressed the native people.

Panggil Aku Kartini Saja is available in PDF format for download from various online sources[^1^] [^2^] [^4^]. It is a recommended reading for anyone who wants to learn more about Indonesia's history and culture, as well as the role of women in shaping it.