Kartini and Maintaining Unity

Foto 3 Ta

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

People read excerpts from R.A. Kartini’s in her book titled After Darkness Comes the Light on Sunday (4/21/2019), Kartini Day, at Dukuh Atas Park in Kebon Melati, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. MRT Jakarta organized the event, themed “Spirit of Kartini”.

Every year we commemorate Kartini’s birthday. Amid the rapid changes of today, we need to find the relevance of her thoughts.

Kartini was not an ordinary woman. The special position she holds is not because she was the daughter of a regent, but because her thoughts and ideas preceded the times. In fact, to this day, 140 years after her birth, what this Javanese woman fought for (equality for women in the family and society) remains relevant.

Before the idea of Indonesia was born, Kartini had thought about the concept of the nation. Australia’s Deakin University historian Joost Cote, in his article, “Raden Ajeng Kartini and Cultural Nationalism in Java”, said Kartini had an awareness about nationalism even though at that time it was in the context of Java. Kartini in her letters even questioned Dutch colonialism and its impact on Indonesia.

Indonesia gained independence 74 years ago and we still have to continue to caring for the sense of Indonesia-ness out collection imagination of the nation continues to be relevant amid the changes of time.

Our society, and also the global community, are experiencing social and economic disruption. Digital technology has amplified these disruptions and the work to care for Indonesia-ness is becoming increasingly important.

We have just finished organizing a big event, the complicated general election where we simultaneously elected the president, vice president as well as members of the legislative councils from the national level (DPR) to the regency/province level (DPRD) and members of the

Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

The presidential election is the one that attracted the most public interest. We must admit that there was real polarization between the supporters of the two presidential candidates. Polarization, if left unchecked, has the potential to disrupt our social and economic cohesion.

At the same time, we see women making their voices heard by channeling their aspirations through independent campaign activities.

Now that the voting process has been completed and the nation awaits the official vote count by the General Election Commission (KPU), we all want the community to reunite. Whoever the election winner, we hope he is able to embrace and listen to the aspirations of all members of the community. We need the power and minds of all people so we can face the challenge of developing Indonesia.

Learning from Kartini, who thought and acted for her community more than for her personal interests, it shows that women have the capacity to care for national unity. Such capacity is born from the experience of women who are pregnant, give birth and care for life. Kartini’s thoughts and ideas remain relevant and should inspire us to prioritize our common interests as a nation.