R.A Kartini studied in the ELS School (Europese Lagere School). She studied Dutch language there, so that she could speak Dutch language very well. When she was 12 years old, she had to quit studying because she had to do “pingit” at that time, a rule of Javanese custom that forbid woman to go outside before marriage. Finally, on 12th November 1983 she was married to Raden Adipati Joyodiningrat. After getting married, R.A Kartini never stopped learning. She continued to study in her own house by reading a lot of European books and magazines. When she was reading them, she found a great difference between European women’s life with Indonesian women. European women live in freedom and they have the same equivalent position with men. While, Indonesia women lived under man’s power.

Based on that fact, she had an idea to change Indonesian women’s life. She along with her friends opened the first school for women in Indonesia in 1912 in Semarang. They taught Indonesian women how to read and write, so that they could come out of ignorance.

In addition to teaching, she also wrote letters to her friends in the Netherlands. One of them is Rosa Abendanon which strongly supported Kartini’s idea. She also often wrote to the Dutch women’s magazine De Hollandsche Lelie several times. Thanks to her efforts, many women schools were built in other areas such as in Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Malang, Madiun, and Cirebon. Moreover, there was also Kartini Foundation, founded by Van Deventer’s family who is a political figures, opened Kartini’s School.

On 13th September 1904, RA Kartini died after giving birth to her son named RM Soesalit. She was 25 years old at that time. Although she had passed away, her spirit and brilliant ideas remain alive and inspire Indonesian women to continue the struggle to make her dream comes true. Even her spirit made a Dutch figure, Mr.JH Abendanon, compiled and published her letters sent to her friends in Europe entitle “Duisternis DOOR TOT Licht”, which means “Through Darkness to Light”. For her contribution, she was awarded as Indonesian national hero because of her ideas which improve Indonesian women level, on May 2, 1964.

The trip was really marred his life of struggle and devotion for the sake of his people. He finished elementary school in the ELS (Elementary Netherlands) Then had continued to STOVIA (Bumiputera medical school), but it was not until the end due to illness. Then he worked as a journalist at several newspapers, among others Sedyotomo, Midden Java, De Express, Oetoesan Indies, Kaoem Moeda, Tjahaja Timoer and Poesara. At the time, he was classified as powerful writer. His writings are very communicative, sharp and patriotic so as to evoke the spirit of anti-colonial to readers.

Besides tenacious as a the young journalist, he is also active in social and political organizations. In 1908, he was active in the propaganda section Boedi Oetomo to socialize and arouse public awareness of Indonesia at that time about the importance of unity in the nation.

Then, along Douwes Dekker (Dr. Danudirdja Setyabudhi) and Dr. Cipto Mangoenkoesoemo, he founded the Indische Partij (the first political party that wing nationalism Indonesia) on December 25, 1912 which aims at achieving an independent Indonesia.

They are trying to register this organization to obtain legal status in the Dutch colonial government. But the Dutch government through the Governor General Idenburg trying to preclude the presence of this party by denying it registration on March 11, 1913. The reason for refusal was because the organization is considered to be able to evoke a sense of nationalism and unity to move against the Dutch colonial government.

Then, after the rejection of the registration of the legal entity status Indische Partij he was joined in forming Bumipoetra Committee in November 1913. The committee as well as a rival committee of the Hundred Years Independence Celebration Committee of the Dutch. Boemipoetera committee that the critique of the Dutch government which intends to celebrate one hundred years of its free the Netherlands from French colonialism to withdraw money from the people of colonies to finance the celebration party.

Pursuant to the celebration, he also criticized the article entitled Als Ik through Nederlander eens Was (If I’m A Dutch) and Een maar voor Allen Allen Ook voor Een (One for All, All for One but Also). If I An article published in the Dutch newspaper de Expres owned dr. Douwes Dekker, among others, reads:

“If I were a Dutchman, I will not organize parties freedom in our own country who had robbed her independence. Parallel to that way of thinking, is not only unfair, but also inappropriate to send the inlander give donations to fund the celebration.

Mind to organize a celebration in itself is insulting them and now we scratch his pocket anyway. Come forward and unseen insult it! If I’m a Dutchman. What offends me and fellow countrymen especially the fact that the nation is required to participate inlander finance a job that he himself was no interest at all “.

Due to the essay, the Dutch government through the Governor General Idenburg sentenced without trial, in the form of punishment internering (waste law) is a sentence by pointing to a shelter that allowed for a person to reside. He was sentenced to imprisonment on the island of Bangka.

Douwes Dekker and Cipto Mangoenkoesoemo compatriots feel unfairly treated. They also publish a pitched defending Soewardi. But the Dutch believed writing was inciting the people to revolt in hostile and colonial GOI. As a result, they are also exposed to penalties internering. Douwes Dekker dumped in Kupang and Cipto Mangoenkoesoemo exiled to the island of Banda.

But they want exiled to the Netherlands because there they can learn to do a lot of things from the remote areas. Finally they are allowed into the Netherlands since August 1913 as part of the execution.

The opportunity was used to explore the issue of education and teaching, so Raden Mas Soewardi Soeryaningrat managed to obtain a Certificate Europeesche.

Then he returned to his homeland in 1918. In the homeland she devoted attention in the field of education as part of the means of struggle for freedom.

After returning from exile, together with his compatriots, he also established a national institution patterned, Nationaal Onderwijs Instituut Taman siswa (National Education Taman siswa) on July 3, 1922. The College emphasizes a sense of national education to students so that they love the people and the land water and struggling to gain independence.

Not a few hurdles faced in fostering Taman Siswa. Dutch government seeks to impede it by issuing a Wild School Ordinance on October 1, 1932. But with persistence to fight for their rights, so the ordinance was later lifted.

In the midst of seriousness devote attention in education in Taman Siswa, he also remained diligent in writing. But his theme switching of political nuance to the educational and cultural vision of nationality. His writing hundreds of pieces. Through the writings that he successfully laid the foundations of national education for the Indonesian nation.

Meanwhile, in the days of the Japanese occupation, activity in the fields of politics and education continues. The Japanese government time to form the People Power Center (Son) in 1943, Ki Hajar sat as one of the leaders in addition to Ir. Sukarno, Drs. Muhammad Hatta and K.H. Mas Mansur.

After days of kemedekaan, Ki Hajar Dewantara served as Minister of Education and Culture of the first. Name Ki Hadjar Dewantara not only immortalized as a character and Hero of education (father of National Education) the date of birth May 2 was made a National Education, but also defined as National Movement hero by decree President RI 305 1959, dated November 28, 1959. Other awards received is the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Gajah Mada in 1957. Two years after receiving the title of Doctor Honoris Causa, he died on April 28, 1959 at Yogyakarta and was buried there. Then by the successor college Student Park, established Dewantara Kirti Griya Museum,

Yogyakarta, to preserve the values ​​of the spirit of struggle Ki Hadjar Dewantara. In this museum there are objects or works of Ki Hadjar as Tamansiswa founder and his work in the life of the nation. Museum collections in the form of papers or concept and important treatises as well as data correspondence Ki Hadjar lifetime as a journalist, educator, cultural and as an artist has been recorded on microfilm and laminated on the help the National Archives.