UGM Student Regiment Unit celebrated Kartini’s Day on Saturday (21/4) at the courtyard of Balairung UGM. A ceremony was done to celebrate the event and this was the first time ever done by the unit. It was aimed at awakening the young generation to remember Kartini as one of national heroines that fought for Indonesian women’s emancipation.
Commander of the student unit, Mudo Dwi Imam Utomo, said the ceremony involved hundreds of students and women’s groups from around Yogyakarta. “There are around 250 people getting involved in it,” said Mudo.
Afterwards, said Mudo, participants were asked to sign a petition against hoax spread. “We asked them to sign the petition and further attend Woman’s Actions with Their Passion seminar on 28 April,” he said.
Mudo said the participants were expected to look up to Kartini and her roles. “The role of women is not just being in the kitchen and doing household chores, but also state affairs. Please develop your own passion,” he said.
Chairperson of UGM Women’s Association, Nur Indrianti Panut Mulyono, said in her speech that to give meaning to the Kartini’s Day did not just to wear a traditional outfit. “What we expect is to follow her examples, her spirit and wish to advance together, particularly women, in our own walks of life,” she said.
She added women could not evade their duties as a woman, but their potential was actually much greater so they might stand equal to men nowadays