Ki Hajar Dewantara is well-known as the father of Indonesian Education.

His real name is Raden

Mas Suwardi Suryaningrat. When he was 40 years old, he changed his name into Ki Hajar
Dewantara. He was born in Yogyakarta, on May 2, 1889. Then, his birth date is commemorated
as National Education Day. He was the grandchild of Sultan Pakualam III. Because he was born
as a blue-blooded child, he could go school.

Ki hajar dewantara went to ELS school which was the primary school of Netherlands. Then, he
continued his study to STOVIA, a medical school for the native of Indonesia. But, during his
study at STOVIA, he was sick so that he couldn’t finish it. Ki Hajar Dewantara had ever worked
as a journalist in many popular printed media at that time, such as Mideen Java, Sedyotomo, De
Ekpress, Kaoem Moeda, Poesara, Oetoesan Hindia, dan Tjahaja Timoer. His writings in those
various media were very communicative and critical. Therefore, those could burn the spirit of the
society.

In 1908, he was active as a board in Boedi Oetomo organization. After that, he made his own
organization with Douwes Dekker or well-known as Dr. Danudirdja Setya Budhi and Dr Cipto
Mangoekoesoemo. They established an organization named Indische Partij on Desember 25,
1912. This was the first political nationalism organization in Indonesia to reach the
independence. This organization was declined when they wanted to register it because
Netherlands government assumed that it would raise the nationalism among the society.

By this refusal, they used Boemi Putera committee to make criticism to Netherlands government.
They wrote many criticisms to them and those were published in De Ekpress, Douwes Dekker’s
newspaper. In those writings, they stated that they wouldn’t commemorate the independence in
our country which had been taken. Because of that writing, he was sent away to Bangka Island,
as a punishment from Netherlands government.

After he was free from the punishment, he had a trip to Netherlands. Then, he built a school
named Taman Siswa. During the time he established this school, there were so many challenges
and obstacles from Netherlands government. With all of his persistent effort, he finally got the
permission to establish it.

After colonial period and Indonesia reached its Independence, he was trusted to be the minister
of culture and education. Then, he got an appreciation of the honourable Doctor from Gadjah
Mada University. Besides, he was also awarded a title as the father of national education and
national hero by President Soekarno over his effort in struggling education for Indonesia. He died
on April 26, 1959 in Yogyakarta. The picture of his face is put on the sheet of Rp 20.000. Ki Hajar
Dewantara has some jargons which are very popular and used as icon of education in Indonesia.
 Every April 21 people in indonesia commemorate the kartini day. It is
beautiful day for the woman because we celebrate the birth of great lady R.A.
Kartini. Everyone knows who Kartini is. She is our national heroine and a great
lady with the bright idea.

Kartini was born in 1879 April 21 in mayong jepara. Her father was Rama
Sosroningrat a Wedana (assistant of head of regency) in mayong. Her mother,
Ma Ngasirah was a girl from Teluk Awur village in Jepara as the daughter of a
noble family, she felt luck because she got more than the ordinary people got.
She got better education than other children. In november 12 1903 she married
adipati djoyodiningrat, the head of rembang regency. According to javanese
tradition Kartini had to follow her husband. Then she moved to rembang.
 
In September 13 1904 she gave a birth to her son. His name was Singgih.
But after giving birth to a son, her condition was getting worse and she finally
passed away on september 17 1904 on her 25 years old.

Now Kartini has gone. but her spirit and dream will always be in our heart.
Nowadays Indonesian women progress is influenced by kartini's spirit stated on
collection of letter "habis gelap terbitlah terang" or  from the dusk to the
dawn.