Soviet Woman, 30 April 1967: 'Kartini Day' (Manai Sophiaan dan A. Belenky)

=== [PDF page 1] === 62 “AMERICAN WOMEN" (Continued from p. 13) registered membership. In fact, they have nothing of our usual understanding of an organization. The forms of their actions are very varied. They organ ize marches to Washington, collect signatures to petitions, send telegrams to and picket the White House, call meetings, demonstrations, distribute a great number of leaflets and send delegations to other countries. Once, for example, they organized the following: When a session of the NATO council was sitting in The Hague to discuss the question of creating multilateral nuclear forces, American women of the Women Strike for Peace movement organized an international meeting of women that was held at the same time not far from The Hague. Their meet ing discussed the same questions being discussed by the NATO ministers, but from quite different positions—positions of protest against every at tempt to proliferate the nuclear weapon and to arm German militarism with it. The funds for this meeting, as for all actions of the movement, were collected at meetings in all American cities. In their programme the members of the Women Strike for Peace movement included the establish ment of contacts with women in the Soviet Union rightly considering that the closer the Soviet and American people the better for the promotion of peace and international cooperation. They wel comed the Soviet women in their homes. The members of our small delegation—it consisted of five members of whom I was one—were practically “snatched up” everywhere they went. Every family wanted to entertain at least one Soviet woman. We stayed with different families, well-off and not so well-off—with the families of professors and engineers, schoolteachers and doctors, even busi nessmen and factory owners. They were mostly well-off families because the Women Strike for Peace movement is a movement of American wom en who belong to the capitalist class, or rep resentatives, as they call themselves, of the “upper middle class.” Living among these women provided Tatyana Tess with the material for her book. In it she gives us an opportunity to catch a glimpse of how this section of American women live. On the surface, they live quiet, comfortable lives, with their husbands in good positions, smooth-run ning households of well-to-do people and welleducated children with good prospects. But under neath there is no inner peace in this "mad, mad, mad world,” where mankind and civilization are threatened on all sides by new wars, nuclear catastrophe, fascist -madness and racism. Being well-off ensures them a leisurely life and scope for H iT T C c AM epM KQ HKM their intellect; inner energy needs an outlet. And one can only rejoice that many American women found this outlet in the struggle for peace, for friendship and cooperation with other peoples, and against fascism and racism, and for mutual under standing among people of different nations and different outlooks. Tatyana Tess's book was published by the Chil dren’s Publishing House. Its form—lively and na tural—makes it good reading for young people. But it will also be good reading for politically mature and thinking adults, because it shows certain aspects of the lives of American profes sional people which are little known to us and have only lately become apparent because of the dangerous direction in which the American politi cians are heading. The inner world of people, especially those of a different nation, is a closed book. It is no easy task to delve into it. Perhaps the author has not succeeded in penetrating it deeply enough, perhaps she erred here and there, but Tatyana Tess’s obser vations and the Story she tells are steeped with good will and a sincere wish to understand the life and psychology of those who displayed good will towards and interest in the life of our country and our people. One chapter stands out particularly. It is con nected with a visit to the Mark Twain Museum in Hartford. This is in the house where Mark Twain spent seventeen years of his life and wrote some of his best books. The visit to this museum which retains the spirit of Mark Twain served as a start ing point for Tatyana Tess in her analysis of the writer. She makes it extraordinarily perceptive. Her story shows how the America of today is a con tinuation of the America of the end of the nine teenth century. Certain roots of today’s conflicts— personal, general, public and social—lie there, in the past. And the rebellious, sceptical spirit of Mark Twain, his profound mind and high social consciousness sound as a prologue to the progres sive movements of modern America. I think that Tatyana Tess’s book is successful. It is well written, interesting and useful. In O t h e r I s s ues You w ill find the follow ing special articles in the foreign language editions of our magazine: nikov's story about how Korean doctors are training in the Botkin Hospital in Moscow. The Hungarian edition gives a story by Imre Siger about a Soviet boy, Ivan Savich, whom fate threw into Hungary during the war. Readers in the German Democratic Republic w rite of the inter national significance of the G reat O ctober Socialist Revolution in the German edition. The Spanish edition features an article by artist O. Vishnyakov on the exhibition of Chilean painters which had successful showings in Moscow and Leningrad. "W hen It Rains in Paris It Is Foggy in Belgium” is the title of Henri Laurent's satire published in the French edition. V. M akhotin’s article "Jawaharlal Nehru on the O ctober Revolu tion and Socialism” appears in the Hindi edition. One of the oldest Japanese journalists, R. Nakahira, describes his meeting with Lenin in the Japanese edition. An article in the Chinese edition tells how Soviet specialists assist the developing countries. The Korean edition has Candidate of M edical Sciences T. Kozhev Editor-In-Chief MARIA OVSYANNIKOVA Editorial Board: O. USHAKOVA A. GRYAZNOV, M. GUBAREV, (Editor, English edition), L. BOGOMOLOVA, GALIYEVA, GRYZUNOVA, A. KHMELNITSKAYA, Z. SMIRNOVA and M. YANCHUK (Assistant Editor-In-Chief) Art Editors M. GUBAREV. V. MEDVEDEV, V. KOZLOV Technical Editor F. MINTZ Printed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics JK y p n aji <<ConeTCKaH HceHinHHa» JXb 4 Ha aHrjmttCKOM H3bine. IIonnHcaHO k n e n. 24/III 1967 r tpopM aT SyM. 7 0 x 1 0 8 7 8. lie n. n. 5. Y en. n. ji. 7. TH pani 45 117 3K3. Il3fl. J^o 608. 3 a n a 3 Ni> 920 OpAeHa JleHHHa TunorpacpH H ra3eT bi «IIpaB fla» H M e n n B. H. JleH H ua. MocKsa-, A-47, yjiHqa «IIpaB nbi», 24. 22, Editorial office: Kuznetsky Most, Moscow In reprinting materials from "Soviet Woman" magazine, please acknowledge the source === [PDF page 2] === By Mme Manai SOPHIAAN W ife of the Indonesian Ambassador to the Soviet Union is w ifh great pleasure that I com ply w ith the request of the editors of "S oviet W om an" magazine to w rite about Kartini Day, which all In donesian women celebrate as an im portant holiday. This w ill be the th ird year that I have celebrated it in M oscow w ith my Soviet friends and w ith all the w orld's women. In ord er to understand what this leader of Indo nesian mothers, Kartini did, we must know something of the times in which she lived. In those days im pe rialism and the colonialist rule were on the cendent. Indonesian resources were taken to enrich the colonialists. Thousands of m illions of rupees, from The author o f this article, Alexander Belenky, senior scientist of the USSR Academy of Sciences’ Institute of the Peoples of Asia, has spent many years studying the history of the national libera tion movement of Indonesia. Recently he delivered his monograph "National Awakening in Indonesia" for his Doctor’s degree. By A. B E L E N K Y ach year on A p ril 21 the Indonesian pe op le and their friends the w o rld over observe the birthday of Raden A djen g Kartini (1879-1904), rig h tly regarded as one of Indonesia's national heroines. A passionate champion of equality for women, Kartini was also a distinguished educator and pa triot whose ideas exerted little libera tion movement influence that arose on the national shortly after her death. So much d id Kartini accomplish in the course of her short life that she has won a lasting place in Indonesian history. The fame of this gifted and dedicated woman extended beyond the boundaries of her native land. The volum e of her letters Ligh t" w ent through "Through several Darkness into editions English, French, Arabic and other languages. True, many W est European writers have sought to minimize her contribution, to reduce it solely to the struggle for the em ancipation and enlightenm ent of === [PDF page 3] === caoutchouc, coffee, quinine, tea, etc., poured in an and, finally, that she paved the way for an im por day but she was also proud of the high cultural endless stream tant national movement. level reached by her own people. into their pockets. The Indonesian pe op le pro vid ed a cheap labour Subsequently, her ideals were realized, especially force, which could easily be m obilized under the in the sphere o f liquida ting ignorance and freeing existing feudal system. women from the Herself the daughter of a feudal saw how the Indonesian down Kartini that time. Kartini schools were founded for Indone oppressed sian girls. A t the beginning teaching was conducted and kept in ignorance and turned into a cheap la in fam ily circles and among the feudal strata, spread bour force. The fate o f mothers was still worse, ing further later to other strata of the society. pe op le lord, chains that held them were for besides colonial subjection, they were also un der that of th e ir men. These were the conditions herself ardent feminist. Still, she under which Kartini rose against the feudal system, lieved that we should not come out against the men, against capitalism but should cooperate w ith the better informed and movement by establishing contacts through corres more progressive of them in the figh t against con pondence w ith progressive circles in Holland. Her servatism. and imperialism. She started letters revealing her love for the pe op le and sharp protest against the Dutch rulers were published in a book entitled "Through Darkness into Light." A further analysis of these letters shows that Kar tin i was not only the founder of the Indonesian women's movement, but a great patriot, with a deep love for her people, a fighter against colonialism the fig h t against poverty and ignorance; making the initial steps in a movement for na tional independence; cultivating pre vailin g tim e passed conditions. her a love for the people, the ir culture and national characteristics. Kartini was tru ly a fighter, a leader and a source of inspiration. W e continue and foster Kartini's activities against colonialism, Kartini was a figh ter who too k careful stock of all the the fig h t against capitalism, imperialism, colonial ism and feudalism; liberating mothers from their chains; In a letter to Dutch women socialists Kartini re vealed Briefly, Kartini devoted her energies to; capitalism, imperialism and feudalism; we continually struggle for freedom, w o rld peace and friendship. views became more and Let us sow love, friendship and peace In the more progressive. She managed to overcome her hearts of our peoples. The Soviet Union is a coun im petuosity and de velop a genuinely revolutionary try that plays an im portant role in this struggle. firmness. M ay the women of Indonesia and the Soviet Union Kartini adm ired the W estern civiliza tion of her cooperate to further these aimsl women w ithin the colonial context, and to ignore her The day of Kartini's birth is observed in this country. prom inent aristocrat could have displayed such a m il im pact on the movement. The The Soviet W omen's Committee and the USSR-Indoitant and genuinely dem ocratic spirit, such a pro first to propo und this view was the prom inent co nesia Society arrange memorial meetings on that day found love for ordinary pe op le and readiness to lonial official J. Abendanon in his forew ord to the for the Soviet public. Papers are read and articles sacrifice everything for the sake of their happiness Dutch e d itio n of Kartini's letters and in an article published on her life and work. This w rite r read a and liberty. he w rote about her for the Encyclopaedia van Nepaper on Kartini at a commemoration meeting held Kartini derlandsch-lndie. A sim ilar interpretation was given in Moscow's Friendship House three years ago. Indonesian national by other Netherlands historians, and more recently In their w ritings associate the Indonesian history, "N ational Soviet figures prom inently Awakening in Indonesia" monograph (1965), In my bo oklet "K a rtini, Daughter of Indonesia," published in by J. Cuisinier in the introduction to the French ed i scholars the 1966, I have endeavoured to revive the image of this tion o f Kartini's letters and in a special article on the awakening of the national consciousness and stress Indonesian pa triot and enlightener and to show the subject. the an ti-colonialist broad range of her interests and knowledge. A fter the Second W o rld W ar and the establishment name trend o f her Kartini ideas. A w ith special section is devoted to her in a recently published of the Republic of Indonesia, W estern researchers be book by the Soviet p h ilo lo g ist V. Sikorsky. The au gan to take a more objective view of Kartini's role. thor does not confine himself to th e. lite rary and This educational applies prim arily the m onograph aspects Kartini's activity; also Bouman and to the works o f V. W ertheim, another notes her influence on the Indonesian national move Dutch historian and sociologist. Both scholars cor ment. A ll Soviet w ritings on the subject are per rectly regard Kartini as the forerunner of the Indone meated w ith a warm sympathy for this distinguished sian national daughter movement. The part she played the Indonesian p e op le and for the awakening the national consciousness of her com Indonesian national liberation movement generally. patriots is recognized also by the American scholar For a number o f years I have been studying the G. McTurnan Kahin and some British authors. major contribution pendence and have acquired the greatest admiration outlook and to a correct appraisal of the historical and respect for the pioneers and heroes o f the na significance of her activities has latterly been made tional veteran historians. the the Indonesian study of history of the Indonesian people's struggle for inde Kartini's Indonesian movement— W ahidin Sudirohusodo, Tjipto Hadjar Dewantara, Mangunkusumo and Ki Hadjar Dewantara. But in my liberation movement, researches I have been particularly inspired by the points out in his memoirs that Kartinf*s ideas "w ere life and w ork of Kartini, The more one learns about already invested w ith the national s p irit." A similar her, the more one marvels at how this remarkable view Indonesian young g irl, w ith little formal schooling, who lived writers, who have demonstrated that Kartini was an in a small tow n w ith ou t libraries or bookshops, was ardent p a trio t and an uncom prom ising critic of the able to acquire such a vast store of know ledge in so held other contem porary colonial order. many branches o f Indonesian and W estern learning, In the Soviet Union interest in Kartini, as indeed culture and politics, and eventually to become an in Indonesian history generally, is steadily grow ing. enlightener of her people; how this daughter of a apm uH HHJJ0HE3HH 15 === [PDF page 4] === omen of many countries are acquainted with the address, Soviet Women's Commit tee, 23 Pushkin Street, Moscow. The daily mail brings letters and postcards, books and magazines posted in Rome, Oslo, Montreal, Rio de Janeiro, Bamako, Delhi, Tokyo... Indonesian women also send us greetings. Here is a card with a picture of dancing girls from the Island of Bali. It is from the women’s society Asih Budi, whose members assist children suffering from poliomyelitis. Three years ago a Soviet women’s delegation, on a visit to Indonesia, called on this society, learned of their work and, ever since, friendly relations between the Soviet Women’s Committee and the Asih Budi Society have been maintained. Mrs. Soerjomiharyo, chairman of the Society’s education section, writes to the Committee describing the important work Society members, educationists and other specialists are doing by looking after the sick children, giving them an edu cation and trades. Our Committee has showcases where souvenirs and presents from abroad are displayed. One of the souvenirs in it which we treasure is a small batique bag bearing the signa tures of all the children cared for by the society. Recently the Committee received a postcard with the message: “Happy New Year to all Soviet women. Wishing them all good health and hap piness. N. Soerjomiharyo and the children from the Asih Budi Society.” Here is another postcard, this time from Ban dung, from Mrs. Sakti Alamsjah, chairman of the organization of journalists’ wives. Herself a jour OUR INDONESIAN FRIENDS WRITE By Nina V O R O N I N A nalist, Mrs. Alamsjah often writes about her own work on the radio, and about special broadcasts for women and children her section on the radio prepares, as well as the reaction of their listeners. We received a message wishing a happy New Year to Soviet women from Mrs. Salamah Adipura, forewoman of one of the workshops at the “Bhinneka Kina Farma," a pharmaceutical factory in Bandung. It was Salamah Adipura who took the delegation of Soviet women, visiting Indonesia at the invitation of Kowani, around the factory. She also told them about Indonesian women workers there and the problems confronting them. When the Soviet women returned home they told about their visit to Indonesia and the Indonesian women they had met at factories, women’s organ izations and at Gedung Wanita (House of Women). These meetings left a deep imprint in their hearts. Two years ago the Committee received its first letter from Tulungagung on the island of Djatim. It came from Miss Sjamsuri, a member of the Club of Teachers of Senior Schools. She got the Com mittee’s address from the magazine “Soviet Wom an,” which one of her friends brought to Dja karta. A. Sjamsuri writes that her colleagues in the Club want to know more about the history of the Soviet Union, its culture and the life of the people. Books and magazines and photo-albums, which answered many of these questions, were sent to distant Tulungagung. Since then letters have arrived regularly from Djatim, and one of the first New Year greetings the Committee received came from our Indonesian friends of Tulungagung.