In the last few years, the question of how we remember the past has become increasingly relevant. Take, for instance, the movements that call for statues of problematic historical figures to be taken down. The renaming of streets and removal of statues are global phenomena that show that we are thinking differently about some historical figures. From debates over colonial history to reimagining national narratives, how we remember our “heroes” speaks volumes about our values and ideas in the present.
In this episode, Dasja takes a closer look at Kartini’s legacy. She has become a symbol of empowerment and resilience in Indonesia, but not everyone feels so positive about her. What is the relevance of her story in shaping our collective memory? What can this history mean for today or even the future?
Guest Experts:
- Dr. Farabi Fakih – Scholar specialising in the political history of Indonesia at the Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta.
- Dr. Vineet Thakur – Scholar of International Relations at the University of Leiden.
Bibliography and Additional Resources
Are you interested in reading more about the topics that were discussed in this episode? I would recommend reading the following:
- The various ways in which Kartini was remembered:
- Bijl, Paul, and Grace V.S. Chin. 2020. Appropriating Kartini: Colonial, National and Transnational Memories of an Indonesian Icon. 1 online resource (x, 198 pages) vols. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing. https://muse.jhu.edu/book/73252.
- Postcolonial memory in the Netherlands, Indonesia and beyond:
- Oostindie, Gert. 2012. Postcolonial Netherlands : Sixty-Five Years of Forgetting, Commemorating, Silencing. Edited by Michael Bommes, Vanja Stenius, and Lena Tsipouri. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9789048514021.
- Kusno, Abidin. 2014. Behind the Postcolonial: Architecture, Urban Space and Political Cultures in Indonesia. London: Routledge. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10858567.
- Nicolaidis, Kalypso, Berny Sèbe, Gabrielle Maas, and Kalypso Nicolaïdis, eds. 2015. Echoes of Empire: Memory, Identity and Colonial Legacies. London: I.B. Tauris. http://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1992209.
Music and Sound Credit
Ashot-Danielyan-Composer. 2023. “Serious Dark Sorrow”. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://pixabay.com/nl/music/omgeving-serious-dark-sorrow-157909/.
Beeksander. 2022. “Stars”. Accessed May 17, 2024. https://pixabay.com/nl/music/pulsen-stars-125990/.
Lexin_Music. 2022a. “Cinematic Time Lapse.” Accessed May 16, 2024. https://pixabay.com/nl/music/hoofdtitel-cinematic-time-lapse-115672/.
Pixabay. 2022b. “train station sequence, street vendors yelling, whistles, horn, trains starts Jakarta INDONESIA 940316”. Accessed May 17, 2024. https://pixabay.com/nl/sound-effects/train-station-sequence-street-vendors-yelling-whistles-horn-trains-starts-jakarta-indonesia-940316-18741/.
Pixabay. 2022d. “Writing with Fountain Pen Nib”. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://pixabay.com/nl/sound-effects/writing-with-fountain-pen-nib-70563/.
William_King. 2023a. “Documentary Ambient Guitar”. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://pixabay.com/nl/music/akoestische-groep-documentary-ambient-guitar-145480/.
William_King. 2024a. “February Night”. Accessed May 17, 2024. https://pixabay.com/nl/music/akoestische-groep-february-night-193416/.
William_King. 2024b. “Separation”. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://pixabay.com/nl/music/solo-gitaar-separation-185196/.
William_King. 2023b. “Stalemate (Relaxing Acoustic Nylon Guitar)”. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://pixabay.com/nl/music/akoestische-groep-stalemate-relaxing-acoustic-nylon-guitar-149916/.
Call Me Kartini - the podcast 
Leave a comment