JAKARTA - Raden Ajeng (RA) Kartini is known as a great figure in the emancipation of Indonesian women. He dared to break through Javanese cultural rigidity in view of women. His letters inspired many parties. The Dutch were also proud of him.
Kartini is considered an important lesson in the success of ethical politics. This condition made Dutch friend Kartini look for a scholarship for him. Kartini also had the opportunity to take medical education in Batavia. Kartini at that time was one step towards STOVIA.
Living as a native in the colonial era is often miserable. Colonialization makes the natives deliberately left stupid. His degree and his self-esteem were trampled on. All because most of the bumiputras do not have access to education.
Schools at that time were like expensive goods. Those who can access education are only limited circles, dominated by men alone. Those born as women can only bite their fingers. The lives of women are often described as underdeveloped even from priyayi families.
They are only considered proficient in kitchen and case matters. Everything changed when RA Kartini was present. The woman who was born in Jepara, April 21, 1879, was able to take advantage of her status as the daughter of the Regent of Jepara, Raden Mas Adipati Aryo Sosroningrat.
This status made him able to feel European-style education. As a result, Kartini's mind is open. What's more. He wanted to dedicate his intelligence to something more useful. He began to criticize one by one Javanese feudal culture.
He also stated that it was strange when the Javanese saw that there were women who could go to school. Kartini put these thoughts in her letters to Dutch friends, especially husband-wife Jacques Henrij Abendanon and Rosa Abendanon.
Recently Kartini's life has been further educated. Kartini's father began to treat Kartini like a Javanese woman in general. She was only allowed to study at the Europeesche Lagere School (ELS). She was not allowed to continue her education to a higher school.
The official confession from the Government is in accordance with the progressive attitude of the Regent of Sosroningrat. He has never held discrimination between Raden Ayu's children and the children of Mas Ajeng Ngasirah. Discrimination is only carried out between boys and girls, in terms of freedom. All the boys, after graduating from ELS, are included in Hoogere Burgerschool (HBS) in Semarang.
There are also those who then continue their lessons to the Netherlands. Meanwhile, women, both Soelastri and Tiga Serangkai: Kartini-Roekmini-Kardinah - all after the ELS completion, directly, according to custom, are included in the pingitan, and may not continue lessons on HBS, "said Wardiman Djonegoro in Kartini's book: His Life, His Swimming, and His Goals (2024).
Kartini's path to further education was disrupted. However, Kartini did not give up. Kartini's strong desire to pursue education began to be looked at by her best friend Jacqures Henrij Abendanon. He, who incidentally was one of the drivers of ethical politics (political retaliatory) of the Dutch East Indies, saw Kartini's strong intentions.
Abendanon understands Kartini herself is in doubt about her future goals. One day he wants to be a teacher. Another day he wanted to be a doctor. However, Kartini had asked about the possibility of herself attending Bumiputra's medical school in Batavia, STOVIA to Abendanon.
The man who became Director of Ethical Education for the Dutch East Indies in the era of 1900-1905 continued to look for ways so that Kartini could become the first Bumiputra female doctor to break up STOVIA. He tried to lobby the Governor General of the Dutch East Indies for Kartini to continue her studies.
He considered Kartini's success to have an important meaning for the Netherlands. This is because the Dutch East Indies is no longer known to the world as a backward country. Abendanon has tried all the ways so that Kartini can go to school. He tried to prepare everything and succeeded.
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Problems arise. Kartini's father did not agree with the education his son would take. Kartini's dream of getting an education at STOVIA which gave birth to great national figures such as Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo did not happen.
Kartini also received a scholarship to study in the Netherlands. However, he did not take that opportunity again. Later Kartini chose to get married and soon passed away on September 17, 1904.
Travel to Batavia opens Kartini's hopes. He sees the opportunity to continue education higher than ELS. Kartini began to ask Abendanon about the possibility of entering medical school, which at that time was only filled with men. Abendanon stated that he was able to pave the way.
Kartini also approached her father to ask for his blessing. Although quite progressive, Sosroningrat is still hard to let go of his daughter. He stated that the Javanese women's path to hope was full of obstacles. He said, only 20 years into medical school for Bumiputra women, "wrote in a Tempo magazine report entitled Life and Explore The Princess's Asa (2013).
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