Taufiq Ismail life and biography

Taufiq Ismail is an Indonesian author who has figured prominently in Indonesian literature of the post-Sukarno period. He is considered one of the pioneers of the "Generation of '66". He completed his education at the University of Indonesia. Before becoming active as a writer, he taught at the Institut Pertanian Bogor. In 1963, he signed the "Cultural Manifesto"; a document that opposed linking art to politics. This cost him his teaching position at the Institut.

Childhood before school passed in Pekalongan. He first entered public school in Solo. Subsequently, he moved to Semarang, Salatiga, and graduated from grammar school in Yogyakarta. He entered junior high school in Bukittinggi, high school in Bogor, and returned to Pekalongan. In 1956-1957 he won the American Field Service scholarship to participate in the Interntional School Whitefish Bay High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, the first generation of Indonesian .

He continued his education at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, University of Indonesia (now Bogor), and graduated in tahun1963. In the years 1971-1972 and 1991-1992 he followed the International Writing Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States. He also studied at the Faculty of Languange and Literature, American University in Cairo, Egypt, in 1993. Since the Gulf War, Taufiq back to Indonesia before the completion of study the language.

Taufiq Ismail during the student is active in various activities. Noted, he had become Chairman of the Student Senate UI Husbandry (1960-1961) and Vice Chairman of Student Council (1960-1962).He has taught as a language teacher at SMA Regina Pacis, Bogor (1963-1965), Introduction to Animal Science teacher at Pesantren Darul Fallah, Ciampea (1962), and assistant professor of Management Faculty of Animal Husbandry, University of Indonesia, Bogor and Bogor (1961-1964) . Since signing the Cultural Manifesto, which is outlawed by President Sukarno, he was sent off for further study at the University of Kentucky and Florida. He was later fired as a civil servant in 1964.

Taufiq become OUR Daily columnist in the year 1966-1970. Then, Taufiq with , P.K. Oyong, Zaini, and founded the Yayasan Indonesia Arief Budiman, who then gave birth to the literary magazine Horison (1966). Until now he led the magazine.

Taufiq was one of the founders of the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ), Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), and the Jakarta Arts Institute of Education (LPKJ) (1968). In all three institutions were Taufiq got different tasks, namely Executive Secretary DKJ, Pj. Director of TEAM, and Rector LPKJ (1968-1978). After stopping of the task, Taufiq worked in private companies, as External Relations Manager of PT Unilever Indonesia (1978-1990).

In 1993 Taufiq was invited to be an author guest at the Council of Language and Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.As a poet, Taufiq has read his poetry at various places, either overseas or domestically. In every historic event in Indonesia Taufiq always appear by reading his poems, such as the fall of the Soeharto regime, Trisakti events, and the Bali bombing incident.

In cooperation with the musician since 1974, especially with the Association of Music Bimbo (Hardjakusumah brothers), Tim Christensen, Ian Antono, and Ucok Harahap, Taufiq has produced as many as 75 songs.

He has been representing Indonesia to read poems and literary festivals in 24 cities in Asia, America, Australia, Europe, and Africa since 1970. His poetry has been translated into Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese, English, French, German, Russian, and Chinese.
Dilakukannnya community activities which, among others, take charge of the library PII, Pekalongan (1954-56), with SN PII Ratmana concurrently secretary of the Branch Pekalongan, Chairman of the Institute of Natural Art Minangkabau (1984-86), Founder of AFS Intercultural Foundation Board of Trustees (1985) and is now its chairman, and worked with the American Field Service scholarship agencies, the United States held an exchange student. In 1974-1976 he was elected as a member of the Board of Trustees Board of Trustees of AFS International, New York.

He also helped NGOs WWW (Antimadat Movement, chairman Sofyan Ali). In antinarkoba campaign he wrote poetry and lyrics of the song  "Narkoba War Drums" and  "Hymn to Youth Out of NerakaÂ" and composed Ian Antono). In these activities, along with four other community leaders, Taufiq an award from President Megawati (2002).
Taufiq is now a member of the Advisory Body Language, Language Center and consultant Balai Pustaka, in addition to active as a senior editor of Horizon magazine.

Blessings received:
Gift of Art from the Government of Indonesia (1970)2. Visit the Cultural Award from the Australian Government (1977)3.South East Asia (SEA) Write Award from the Kingdom of Thailand (1994)4. Literature Writing from the Center for Languages (1994)5. Poets archipelago of Johor State,Malaysia (1999)6. Doctor honoris causa from the State University of Yogyakarta (2003)

Taufiq Ismail Yatim Esiyati married in 1971 and blessed with a son, Bram Ismail.

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