Author: Ajip Rosidi
Born: 1938
Bio: Ajip Rosidi (born 1938) is an Indonesian poet and short story writer. As of 1983 he has published 326 works in 22 different magazines.
Rosidi was born on 31 January 1938 in Jatiwangi, Majalengka. As a child he read numerous translated works in both Indonesia and Sundanese. After reading a guide to writing, Rosidi began writing poems and short stories. His first short story was published in the children's section of *Indonesia Raya* when he was 12. By the age of 15, his work was being published in local magazines. He was paid between Rp 25 and Rp 125 per piece, a considerable amount of money at the time. Two years later, he released his first collection of short stories, published under the title *Tahun-tahun Kematian* (Years of Death). He subsequently dropped out of high school to focus on writing.
Rosidi served as editor of numerous magazines, including *Suluh Pelajar* from 1953 to 1955, *Prosa* in 1955, and *Majalah Sunda* from 1965 to 1967. From 1964 to 1970 he served as the director of the publishing house *Tjupumanik*, along with the publishers *Duta Rakyat* from 1965 to 1968 and *Dunia Pustaka Jaya* from 1971 to 1979. From 1966 to 1975 he served as the head of the Association of Sundanese Writers.
In 1981, he began work as a lecturer of Indonesian language and literature at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies in Osaka, Japan. While in Japan he also taught at Kyoto Sangyo University and the Asahi Cultural Center. By 1983 he had published 326 works in 22 different magazines.
Rosidi has worked to preserve Sundanese culture as well as other cultures of Indonesia, promoting the continued use of local languages and awarding the Rancage Sundanese Literary Award to works in Sundanese; he provides two other awards for works in Javanese and Balinese. Rosidi has expressed reservations regarding what he views as the commercialization of culture, citing the existence of Indonesia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism as proof that culture is being sold.
On 31 January 2008 Rosidi released his autobiography, *Hidup Tanpa Ijasah* (Living Without a Diploma). The launching ceremony was held at Padjadjaran University.
As of 2008, Rosidi resides in Pabelan, Magelang.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajip_Rosidi