Taufik Ikram Jamil

Lahir di Telukbelitung, Kabupaten Bengkalis, Riau, pada 19 September 1963. Lulus dari program studi Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Riau (PSBSI FKIP Unri) tahun 1987. Ia cerpenis, penyair dan jurnalis di Pekanbaru, kemudian di Kompas sejak 1988. Pendiri Yayasan Membaca (1991) yang bermetamorfosis menjadi Yayasan Pustaka Riau (1999). Tahun 2002, ia berhenti menjadi wartawan di harian Kompas untuk mencurahkan pikiran dan ide-ide kreatif demi kemajuan seni dan mendirikan dan mengetuai Akademi Kesenian Melayu Riau (AKMR) di Pekanbaru, satu-satunya akademi kesenian di Sumatera. Tahun 2002–2007 ia terpilih sebagai ketua Umum Dewan Kesenian Riau (DKR). Banyak karyanya berlatar sejarah Melayu. Kumpulan puisi sulungnya adalah Tersebab Haku Melayu (1994), lalu Negeri Bayang-bayang (1996). Ia juga menulis beberapa kumpulan cerpen, roman dan satu buku sejarah, Dari Percikan Kisah, Membentuk Propinsi Riau (2001). 'Menjadi Ratu' memenangi cerpen terbaik Horison 1997. Kumpulan cerpennya, Sandiwara Hang Tuah (1996) mendapat hadiah dari Yayasan Sagang untuk kategori karya budaya terbaik 1997. Membaca Hang Jebat (1999) mendapat hadiah dari Departemen Pendidikan Nasional untuk kategori sastra terbaik. Ia terpilih sebagai seniman terbaik dari Yayasan Sagang pada 2003. Taufik Ikram Jamil pernah diundang di International Poetry Festival, Majelis Sastra Asia Tenggara dan diundang menjadi pembicara di berbagai acara sastra.

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Taufik Ikram Jamil was born in Telukbelitung, Riau, on 19 September 1963. He graduated from the University of Riau with a degree in Indonesian Language and Literature in 1987. He began his writing career as an independent short story writer, poet, and journalist in Pekanbaru in Sumatra but then joined Kompas daily newspaper in 1988. He established Yayasan Membaca (Reading Foundation) in 1991 that later metamorphosed into Yayasan Pustaka Riau (Riau Literature Foundation, 1999). In 2002, he stopped being a reporter for Kompas to pour his creative ideas into the arts by establishing and heading the Riau Malay Arts Academy (Akademi Kesenian Melayu Riau or AKMR) in Pekanbaru, the only arts academy in Sumatra. In 2002-2007 he served as head of the Riau Arts Council. Much of his work draws on Melayu history. His first poetry collection was Tersebab Haku Melayu (1994), followed by Negeri Bayang-bayang (Country of Shadows, 1996). He has also written short stories, novels, and a history of Riau. His story 'Menjadi Ratu' (Becoming Queen) won best short story from Horison literary journal in 1997. His collection of short stories, Sandiwara Hang Tuah (Hang Tuah’s Drama, 1996) received a prize from the Sagang Foundation in the category 'best cultural work' in 1997. Membaca Hang Jebat (Reading Hang Jebat, 1999) won an award from the National Department of Education for best literature, and he was selected as best artist by the Sagang Foundation in 2003. He was been invited to the International Poetry Festival, Majelis Sastra Asia Tenggara and has been a speaker at various literary events.