Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Her Excellency[1] Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Indonesia Ambassador to Japan | |
| Assumed office 19 December 2025 | |
| President | Prabowo Subianto |
| Preceded by | Heri Akhmadi |
| Indonesia Ambassador to Argentina | |
| In office 10 August 2010 – 15 October 2014 | |
| President | Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono |
| Preceded by | Sunten Manurung |
| Succeeded by | Jonny Sinaga |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 1, 1950 Huta Namora of Silaen District, Toba Regency, Indonesia |
| Party | New Indonesia Party of Struggle |
| Spouse | Dr Sjahrir |
| Children | Pandu Patria Sjahrir Gita Rusminda Sjahrir |
| Alma mater | University of Indonesia (bachelor), Boston University (Master and Doctoral)[2] |
| Profession | Anthropologist, diplomat, lecturer |
Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir (born Kartini Boru Pandjaitan, February 1, 1950) is an Indonesian anthropologist and diplomat who has served as Indonesian ambassador to Japan since December 2025.[3] She also served as the Indonesian ambassador to Argentina, accredited to Paraguay and Uruguay from 2010 to 2014.[2][4] She also served as the Indonesian representative to the advisory board of ASEAN-IPR as well as a former chairwoman of Asosiasi Antropologi Indonesia (Association of Indonesian Anthropology), abbreviated as AAI.[4][5]
Early life
Kartini was born in a small hamlet of the Simargala Huta Namora, Silaen District of Toba Regency, North Sumatra, not far from Lake Toba. Her parents, Bonar Panjaitan and Farida Naiborhu were a conservative Toba Batak.[6] They had five children, including Kartini the eldest amongst three daughters,[6] the eldest son Luhut Binsar Panjaitan (the Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs of Indonesia), as well as three other siblings.
In 1950s, Panjaitan and Naiborhu moved to Pekanbaru, a capital of neighboring province of Riau because Panjaitan was given a job to work for PT. Caltex Pacific Indonesia now Chevron Corporation. They resided in Padang Bulan, Senapelan District. There Kartini was sent to study at the SMP 1 Pekanbaru, before admitted to St. Ursula Catholic School in Jakarta.
While at university, she was one of the love interests of activist Soe Hok Gie. Gie referred to her with the alias Sunarti in his book Catatan Harian Seorang Demonstran.[7]
Marriage
On December 8, 1979, Kartini was married to Dr Sjahrir, one of central figures behind Malari incident. As Kartini is a Christian and her husband was a Muslim, they performed their marriage in front of pendeta (Christian priest) as well as a penghulu (Muslim chieftain).[8] They have two children, Pandu Patria Sjahrir and Gita Rusminda Sjahrir.[9]
Education
She is an alumnus of famous Catholic boarding school (Indonesian: sekolah asrama) in Central Jakarta, St. Ursula Catholic School.[6] In 1976 she was graduated from University of Indonesia in 1976. During her study, Kartini joined and became a member of Mapala UI (her name is listed as Kartini Panjaitan Syahrir[10]), one of University of Indonesia's most popular student organization that focused on adventure, mountaineering, and expedition. In 1975, a year before she graduated, Kartini was chosen as the organization's chairwoman.[11]
She received a master's and doctoral degree from the graduate school of Boston University, respectively in 1981 and 1990.[12]
