Reviewed by: Dinis Dwi Shinta R. - Research and Development ISAFIS
When we hear the name "Kartini", I believe that we will automatically correlate her name to emancipation or the famous "Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang". But, how deep actually do we know about her struggle in emancipation or stories and values that lie behind Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang? Through this book, Pramoedya Ananta Toer---a legendary Indonesian author---takes us to one century before this day to see the world through the point of view of a lady with wide vision of change within a narrow-minded society. After reading this book, I realize that it is indeed such a major loss if we only know Kartini as a lady who struggled for emancipation when actually what she'd done is beyond that.
Kartini was born when imperialism and feodalism strictly dictate the society in the late 1890s. The society couldn't do much besides than saying amen to whatever they're told to do and Kartini wasn't an exception. Wanting it or not, she had to obey the Javanese culture at that time with all the strict rules and stratification. But, it didn't last long because when she had to experience pingitan which didn't allow her to go out of the house for four years, she got to read a lot of Dutch literatures. From those literatures which were more democratic and liberated, she realized that there were a lot of things in that society which didn't feel right and had to be fixed.
Pramoedya Ananta Toer tried to emphasize how a lot of literatures that Kartini had read made her a critical thinker who believed that education was a way to the enlightenment of the society. Although education was still a luxury and limited to those with privilege, a lot of Dutch courses that were opened in Java made more people literate to Dutch. By this, language barrier which created information blockade about East Indies' political movement could be penetrated. Education made them became more vocal and critical toward the government. They didn't instantly say amen to what feodalism and imperialism dictate them any longer.
Despite that, Kartini still thought that it wasn't enough because the chance to get education was still limited to the upper class men, while the women were discriminated. To fulfill her ambition in the right equality to get education, Kartini established a school designed for women. After she passed away, this school was run under Kartini foundation by van Deventer family.
Women nowadays might want to thank Kartini for it is only by her bravery to break Javanese feodalism could there be girls at school and women at work. Although rights equality has brought a massive change within the society, problems regarding women do not stop growing. There are still a huge number of violence against women, gender-biased wage payment, human trafficking, and the list goes on. We are not going to wait for Kartini to rise from her resting place to solve these problems for us, are we? Women these days could rise as the young Kartini and work hand in hand with men to contribute for the betterment of this country. The future of this country doesn't lie on the women only or the men only. It lies on the hands of the whole young generation.
I'd like to recommend this book to the young generation because learning deeper from a history is truly necessary. From this book, we could know Kartini by heart, far deeper than what's been told on our schools' textbooks. I believe that it will give a call upon our souls to glorify her struggle more than merely wearing traditional clothes, reading poems, and joining cooking festival every April 21.
It will give us a boost to empower each other. Reading this book will also remind us that once there was an Indonesian who despite all the restrictions and limitations could struggle to break the boundaries in order to pursue better living condition for the society. In other words, it is a reminder for us to remain determined in taking parts to pursue a more prosperous society realizing that more opportunities are now closer to us than it was to Kartini. If she didn't give up, then why should we? This book will also makes us realize how grateful should we be for being able to experience education---a luxury in Kartini's era---and therefore should make the most of it instead of taking it for granted.
The best part about this book is that Kartini shared a strong power through her words that would make us realize and believe that we could do far more than what we have ever imagined before. We would nevel feel the power that strong unless we read and dive deep into this book. That's why, I'm sure that this book is indeed worth to read.
