Kartini Poem by Sylvia Frances Chan

Kartini
Ibu Raden Ajeng Kartini

April 21, is the most beautiful day of all days in Indonesia, especially for the Indonesian woman,
but not everyone in Indonesia knows
what this day means for women.

Not all women know that either in Indonesia or all over the world.
It is Ibu Kartini day, and the song "Hari Ibu Kita Kartini" is famous
in Indonesia and all pupils from the primary school are singing this, but do they know what they are singing about?

And who is Ibu Kartini, the standard of courtesy is Ibu Kartini, and what is celebrated on April 21, except her birthday?

At my concordant school (concordant means here: the education is the same as in the Netherlands, all subjects are the same, which stands for Top Quality at that time) ,
but for Indonesian students and others who were not Dutch,
my bro and I included, the school fees were extremely expensive.

My mother thought that we, my only brother and I,
should be well educated, and for her,
that was the Carpentier Alting Stichting in Jakarta
We were lucky that father worked at Stanvac,
where his extensive trade knowledge on many matters
was greatly appreciated with a top salary.

I am still talking about what April 21 really means in Indonesia and around the world.

now about Ibu Raden Ajeng Kartini (Ibu means: Mrs)
She had the Indonesian royal title of 'Raden Ajeng', and was born on April 21,1879, in Mayong, a town in Java.

Her mother Ngasirah was one of the wives
of the regent Raden Mas Sosroningrat.
Ibu Kartini had two more sisters Kardinah and Roekmini.
Ibu Kartini had a strong bond with them.

Their father allowed them to go to school.
At that time, women received little or no education.
Ibu Raden Ajeng Kartini attended the Dutch primary school
(the Hollandsche Indische School, the H.I.S.) and she learned to read and write Dutch, among other things.
(to be continued in the next sequel)

The sequel will be in part two of 'Kartini, Ibu Raden Ajeng Kartini

Sylvia Frances Chan© - All Rights Reserved