Biography r.a Kartini

                 BIOGRAPHY RADEN AJENG KARTINI 

      . "I have been longing to make the acquaintance of a "modern girl" that proud, independent girl who has all my sympathy! She who, happy and self-reliant, lightly and alertly steps her way through life, full of enthusiasm and warm feelings; working not only for her own well-being and happiness, but for the greater good of humanity as a whole."
      -Raden Ajeng Kartini-
       Raden Ajeng Kartini is a Javanese noblewoman and is best know as a Pioneer in the area of women's rights for native Indonesians.
     Raden Ajeng Kartini was born an April 21, 1879, in Mayong, Indonesia. In 1903, she opened the first Indonesian primary school for native girls that did not discriminate based on social standing. She corresponded with Dutch Colonial officials to further the cause of Japanese women's emancipation up until her death, on September 17, 1904, in Regency, Java. In 1911, her letters were published.
Early Years 
     Raden Ajeng Kartini was born to a noble family on April 21, 1879, in the village of  Mayong, Java, Indonesi. Kartini's mother, Ngasirah, was the daughter of a religious scholar. Her father, Sosroningrat, was a Javanese aristocrat working for the Dutch Colonial government. They afforded Kartini the opportunity to go a Dutch school, at the age of  6. The school opened her eyes to Westerern ideals. During this time, Kartini also took sewing lessons from another regen't wife, Mrs.Marie Ovink-Soer. Ovink-Soer imparted her feminist views to Kartini, and was therefore instrumental in planting the seed for Kartini's later activism.
     When Kartini reached adolescence, Javanese tradition dictated that she leave her Dutch school for the sheltered existence deemed apporpriate to a young female noble.
Feminist
     Struggling to adapt to isolation, Kartini wrote letters to Ovink-Soer and her Dutch schholmates, protesting the gender inequality of Javanese traditions Such as forced marriages at a young age, which denied women the freedom to Persue an education.
     Ironically, in her eagerness to escape her isolation, Kartini was quick to accept a marriage proposal arranged by her father. On November 8, 1903, she wed the regent of Rembang, Raden Adipati joyodiningrat. Joyodiningrat was 26 years oldher than Kartini, and already had three wives and tweleve children. Kartini had recently been offerd a scholarship to study abroad, and the marriage dashed her hopes of accepting it. According to Javanese tradition, at 24 she was too old to marry well.
     Intent on spreading her feminist messege, with her new husband's approval, Kartini soon set about plannig to start her own school for Javanese grils. With help from the Dutch government, in 1903 she opened the first Indonesian primary school for native girls that did not discriminate on the basis of their social status. The school was set up inside her father's home, and taught girls a progressive, Westerern-based curicullum. To Kartini, the ideal education for a young women encouraged empowerment and enlightenment. She also promoted their lifelong pursuit of education. To that end, Kartini regularly corresponded with feminist, Stella Zeehandelaar as well as numerous Dutch officials with the authority to further the cause of Javanese women's emancipation from oppersive laws and traditions. Her letters also Expressed her Javanese nationalist sentiments.