Letters of a Javanese Princess

Raden Adjeng Kartini was born into an aristocratic Javanese family. Kartini’s father allowed her to attend school until she was 12 years old. Here, among other subjects, she learnt to speak fluent Dutch, an unusual accomplishment for Javanese women at the time. After she turned 12 she was ’secluded’ at home, common among Javanese nobility, to prepare young girls for their marriage. During her seclusion, Kartini continued to educate herself on her own. Because Kartini could speak Dutch, she acquired several Dutch pen friends. One of them, a girl by the name of Rosa Abendanon, became her very close friend. Books, newspapers and European magazines fed Kartini’s interest in European feminist thinking, and fostered the desire to improve the conditions of indigenous women, who at that time had a very low social status.

She deeply loved her father and her family, particularly her father who encouraged her so much in her life. On the hand, she deeply loved her Indonesian sisters who were subjugated by the social and religious laws of the time. Two diametrically opposed duties by the same name… Love!

For Kartini, the suffering of Javanese women reached a pinnacle when the world was reduced to the walls of their houses; and they were prepared for a polygamous marriage.

Kartini expressed criticisms about religion. She questioned why religious teachings must be memorised and recited without an obligation to actually understand it.

Kartini became an inspiration to many through her letters. Although she died at the age of 25, she is a national heroine of Indonesia.

An excerpt of a letter written on September 4, 1901…

“There are hours when the tortured human heart, torn with doubt, cries,”My God, what is my duty?” – seeing two duties which directly oppose and antagonize each other. Yet how can two things that are diametrically opposed be called by the same name?

“Stay,” says a voice behind me, “Surrender your own wishes and longings to the will of him (her father) who is dear to you, and to whom you are dear; the struggle has been good, for it has served to strengthen and ennoble your own spirit. Stay!” And, then again, I hear another voice ever loud and clear which says: “Go, work for the realization of your ideals; work for the future; work for the good of thousands who are bent beneath the yoke of unjust laws, who have a false conception of good and evil. Go suffer and fight. Your work will be for all time!”

Which is the higher duty, the first or the last?

My heart almost broke once, when, as we stood opposed to each other, Father clasped me in his arms, and in a voice trembling with emotion said, “Must it be so, child? Is there no other way? Must it be?” And we stayed there, heart pressed to heart, looking into each other’s eyes. That was a heavy time, as heavy as a time can well be on this earth.”

Kartini must have been a beautiful person. Like so many Indonesians of today.