HEROINES FROM INDONESIARADEN AJENG KARTINIRaden Ajeng Kartini, was a prominent Javanese and an Indonesian national heroine. Kartini was a pioneer in the area of women's rights for Indonesians. Raden Ajeng Kartini was born on 21 April 1879 in Jepara. She was a leading feminist of women emancipation in Indonesia. Her first dream was becoming like her mother, working hard for others. She went to a Dutch school but when she was 12 years old her father prohibited her from continuing her studies because of the tradition - a noble girl was not allowed to have a higher education, they had to be secluded. She wanted women to have the freedom to learn and study. She depicted the sufferings of Javanese women fettered by tradition, unable to study, secluded, and who must be prepared to participate in polygamous marriages with men they don't know. Kartini was born into an aristocratic Javanese family whenJavawas part of theDutch colonyof theDutch East Indies. Kartini's father, Sosroningrat, became RegencyChief ofJepara. Kartini's father, was originally the district chief of Mayong. Her mother, Ngasirah was the daughter of Madirono and a teacher of religion in Teluwakur. She was his first wife but not the most important one. At this time,polygamywas a common practice among the nobility. Kartini was the fifth child and second eldest daughter in a family of eleven, including half siblings. She was born into a family with a strong intellectual tradition. In my opinion heroines is a woman admired for her achievements andnoblequalities one who shows great courage. Like Kartini she was a Javanese princess who fought for the freedom of Indonesian women. She was the first woman emancipationist in Indonesia. In Kartini's perspectived, the condition of Indonesian women was in darkness, with the lack of education opportunities for women. This verse motivated Kartini to promoted access to education for the Indonesian women of her generation. Kartini realized that women deserved a chance to developed their potentials as much as men did. Furthermore, Kartini believed that education is the only way out of the shackles of ignorance and poverty. This became the start of her effort to educate the women of Indonesia and raised their social status to that of men.She sometimes discussed the issues together with a Dutch couple, the Ovinks. They were amazed with Kartini's fluency in Dutch. Kartini had a book to read from Mrs. Ovink and started to correspond with people in the Netherlands. In her letter to her pen friends, Kartini always discussed feminist matters and revealed her dream of equality between men and women in Indonesia. Kartini insisted that she continue her studies although her father was against it. Finally Kartini wrote a letter to the Education and Culture Director, Mr. Abendanon, who sent her a very promising reply. Kartini married a regent and moved to Rembang in 1903 in Central Java. She wrote a book called "Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang" (Through Darkness to Light) which consists of the collection of her letters to her friends. Kartini's only son was born on 13 September 1904. A few days later on 17 September 1904, Kartini died at the age of 25. She was buried in Bulu Village, Rembang.Kartini was very concerned because of education in Indonesia especially for women. Because of her concerns, she found a school only for women in Indonesia.Every school from kindergarten to high school level celebrates Kartini Day by having a flag ceremony and singing the Ibu Kartini song. Kindergarten and elementary schools usually have special events like poem reading competitions, drawing competitions, modeling competitions (girls wear a costume like Ibu Kartini's, with kebaya and batik cloth. In Jepara there is a Kartini Museum which contains a collection of Kartini's personal belongings, including furniture from her house, several photos, letters written by her and other documents relating to her life.Sukarno's Old Order state declared 21 April as Kartini Day to remind women that they should participate in "the hegemonic state discourse of development". On that occasion, popularly known as Hari Ibu (Mother) Kartini or Mother Kartini Day, "young girls were to wear tight, fitter jackets, batik shirts, elaborate hairstyles, and ornate jewelry to school, supposedly replicating Kartini's attire but in reality wearing an invented and more constricting ensemble than she ever did."In contrast, those who recognise the significance of R.A. Kartini argue that not only she was a feminist who elevated the status of women in Indonesia, she was also a nationalist figure, with new ideas who struggled on behalf of her people, including her in the national struggle for independence.