The dawn is breaking (short story by Sulami, 1961)

=== [PDF page 1] === TAG st eee 1959 Lae) [ia ts INDONESIA EPUBUC a Tot’ IN THE NATIONAL COLOURS Rare today are the letters coming from Asia and Africa bearing the seals of the colonial powers or the effigies of European kings or queens. Instead, the stz mMps which carry the names and symbols of the Asian and African states, with new inscriptions in their national languages, the price indicated in the national currency to all parts of the world are a vivid and affirmation of the irresistable spectacular progress of national independence in these two continents. We thought it would be interesting to present our readers with a small selection. Many, of course, are dedicated to the struggle for liberation and in iependence, such as those from Ghana and Liberia (14, 15) which commemorate African Liberation Day”, from Iraq (9), from the People’s Republic of China (2), from Indonesia (6), from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (7), from Guinea (18-23) and from Nigeria (21). The stamps are also a miniature exhibition of the work of national construction to which these free peoples are devoting themselves. They sing the praises of their public works: Burmese Union (5), India (12), Sudan (20); vast projects such as the Aswan Dam (19); social changes such as the agrarian reform: Iraq (4); the ardent desire for education and culture: India (1), Morocco (17), Somalia (22). Often the women are honoured: As a mother, People’s Republic of Mongolia (24), the worker, People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (13) and the peasant, Ceylon (3); United Arab Republic (16). They are frequently associated with the desire for peace and friendship between peoples, so that all efforts can be concentrated on national construction: Democratic Republic of Vietnam (10), People’s Republic of China (11). Stamps are sometimes dedicated to women as a whole, such as the one issued by the Democratic Re public of Vietnam commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of International Women’s Day (8) Whatever their theme, they reflect a little of the great force of the people who have taken their destiny in their own hands. We hope that stamp collections will soon be able to boast of similar stamps from all the countries of Asia and Africa. In this story sent to us by our Indonesian correspondent, Sulami, the militant Sarinah explains to her companions that it depends on them whether or not the century old dream to possess the land is realised. It is early in the morning, the most beautiful time of the day. Sarinah is on her way to the town. She has to walk the 20 km, there is no car, no carriage, or other means of transport. To the left and right of her are the green rice fields. Then the river with its clean water coming down from the hills. The white clouds are motionless in the blue sk waiting for the sunrise Others are walking from the villages to the town. Women and men like Sarinah, passing the hills, mountains, forests and river Suddenly a woman from the same village as Sarinah asks her where she is going. “I am going to the Town.” “You have something important to do there?” “Of course, I have a meeting.” “What kind of a meeting?” “A meeting of the peasants to discuss our next step in the land reform programme.” “Sarinah, I am not sure about it. What will it mean for us. Really I don’t know...” “Wait until I come back from the town and then we will hold a meeting We will invite all the women. Do you agree Fatimah?” “Of course, why not, it would be stupid for anybody to refuse.” The village in which the two women live is far from the town. There is no school, hospital, cinema, theatre, radio, electricity. Nothing except the vast rich soil, abundant with green vegetables and yellow rices. But the poor peasants who till this soil do not own it. Once illiterate like many other peasant women, through her own diligence Sarinah can now read the newspapers, etc. She is in the leadership of the peasants’ organisation and also in the women’s movement There is scarcely a village meeting without Sarinah. All the women respect her even the men, and also the head of the village. It is a few days later and the promised meeting is in full swing. Sarinah is speaking: “Dear friends, we the peasant women are happy to attend this meeting. We understand that it is being held to help us to own the land we work, and not those who exploit it. We accept the Agrarian Act which gives women the full right to The dawn is breaking by SULAMI own land and also to become the head of the family for the first time in history, We women have a great task to perform in helping to carry out the land reform program. We will do it in every possible wa with all our heart. We will help our women to understand and to work to make our struggle successful Some hours later, in the still of the night, Many women are crowding into Sarinah’s house. They are full of questions concerning the new Agrarian Act and the land reform programme arinah,” Fatimah bursts out, “is it true that women like me have a right to possess land?” “How can that be?” others ask sternly. “And if it is true,” broke in an old woman, “what about Mr. Abbas who has hundreds of acres of land? Does he want to give his land to us? Impossible! How can it be? Do you think it is possible, Sarinah? The landlord is not a simple child. Of course he will keep his land. He inherited it. He has the right to it. It is impossible to think that ” Slowly Fatimah said, “It can’t be true, it’s like a dream, how can we do it?” And then Sarinah answered them. “My friends, don’t worry about it so. Whether it’s true or not, whether it becomes a reality or not depends on us, on our struggle Of course the landlords will not voluntarily give up their land. We know they are against our struggle, so we must organize our people, our peasant women, all those who understand that the land must only be distributed to those who work it, that this is necessary for the economy of our country and to bring progress and wellbeing to the people. 70% of our people are peasants, it will mean a new life for them.” For a long time it was silent. Fatimah was the first to break it. “Sarinah I feel it is like the sunrise, that the dawn is breaking for the emancipation of the peasant women. We must do every thing possible for it. We have a great task to carry out. Please ask our leadership to tell our organisation to send people to the villages to educate the peasants. “You are right” answered Sarinah, “I will do all you want I will go to the town to ask for advice in out struggle and I know the leadership will come here too Do you know that our organisation is now a member of the land reform committee?” “Ah Sarinah, how nice it is, but I want to know a little more about the landlord,” the old woman said. “When the land reform begins, then the landlord should give his land to the poor peasants like us?” “Yes.” “Then, the landlord will receive payment for this land from our government, or not?” “Of course he will.” “How much?” “I don’t know yet, but the government and parliament will discuss and decide it.” “So that means” broke in another woman, “that we will not have to p: the landlord?” “The landlord, no” said Sz rinah smiling, “we must pay the government.” “We must pay immediately?” “No We will pay after two or three harvests. “How kind,” said the old woman, and then laughing, “but what about the landlords?” “That is not our problem. They still have the maximum land, they have money, they have everything. But they must work for their land and not exploit other people.” Not to be denied, the old woman said, “there is one more thing I want to know What happens to the poor people who have less land than the minimum?” “Our government will help them to get some more. They will also get some money from the co-operative’s bank, after the first harvest they will pay back some of their credit. I think it is our duty to help our peasants.” The people throughout the entire country are now very busy carrying out the land reform programme. Even though it is not yet enough, it is a good beginning and women are welcoming it with smiling faces. There are many women like Sarinah now, and the movement of the peasant women is growing every day. They believe that their struggle will result in great successes for a better life for the people, for the emancipation of women, particularly the peasant women.