BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – One of figures from Tanah Pasundan (lit. Sunda) who brought another interesting dimension of education is Dewi Sartika.
Dewi Sartika was familiarly known for her strong determination in fighting for education for women. She shifted the paradigm that women also have the right to learn and be independent.
Sakola Kautamaan Istri was the actual evidence of her awareness towards education, as well as the sign of the rise of education in West Java. Her fiery spirit in developing education and empowering women’s rights should actually spark our enthusiasm to create a more empowered Indonesia.
The date of 4 December 2021, coinciding with Dewi Sartika’s day of birth, should become a moment to recall her work and contribution, as one of women’s pioneers for education, especially in Tatar Sunda.
As the form of appreciation of her role and service for educational development, values and concept attached by Dewi Sartika, such as cageur, bageur, and pinter has been continuously implementing in various educational institutions under the supervision of Paguyuban Pasundan.
Before Covid-19 pandemic hit Indonesia, every 4 December, Paguyuban Pasundan, represented by Division of Women’s Empowerment and Public Health (Bidang Pemberdayaan Perempuan and Kesehatan Masyarakt) even always holds the commemoration ceremony of Dewi Sartika’s day of birth.
Paguyuban Pasundan also fully support the event when the life-story of Dewi Sartika is going to be portrayed in a film. Quoted from cakrawala.co, according to General Chairman of PB Paguyuban Pasundan, Prof. Dr. H. M. Didi Turmudzi, M.Si, the making film of Dewi Sartika will give more heroic values for Pasundan (Sundanese) figure in a NKRI’s struggle history.
The proof of love and honour of Paguyuban Pasundan for Dewi Sartika has been once submitted to the Mayor of Bandung 2013-2018, Ridwan Kamil, stating that the day of birth of Dewi Sartika to be commemorated as Dewi Sartika Hero Day.
For Paguyuban Pasundan, Dewi Sartika was the educational hero deserved to be inspiration. Especially, in Sundanese culture, women are in a position of dignity. This illustrates how women must achieve the highest respect, as depicted in the fiery struggle of Dewi Sartika.
Young generation should also spread the spirit and benefits, like Dewi Sartika, who was tireless to raise the dignity of the nation.
“We want to pass on the values of Dewi Sartika’s struggle to the younger generation. The spirit spread by Dewi Sartika is expected to flow and instill in the hearts of Indonesian students and younger generations. If heterogeneity (NKRI and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika) is not maintained properly, the future faced by the younger generation will be much more difficult,” Prof. Didi concluded. (Reta)*
