State University of New York Press, Albany, NY, U.S.A., 1970. including notes on the Indonesian versions, notes on the English versions and a bibliography. photographic frontis. a few unobtrusive marginal notes. Anwar died aged 26. Some feel he is Indonesia's greatest literary figure and his poems appear here in both Indonesian and in English translation. very scarce. 'Once, during the Japanese occupation of World War Two, the police arrested and tortured Anwar who was suspected of knowing things. Although not actively involved in resistance he did have some information and after a brief time hanging by his arms he told the Japanese everything he knew.' "I couldn't help it," he explained-- "it hurt too much.".He was also involved in the revolts against the Dutch.

Chairil Anwar (born Medan, North Sumatra 26 July 1922 - died Jakarta 28 April 1949) was an Indonesian poet and member of the "1945 generation" of writers.

Chairil was educated at Dutch schools, but dropped out at the age of 19. He moved to Jakarta with his mother after his parents divorced and began to read western literature, which influenced his own writing and distinguished him from the previous generation of traditional writers. His poems were circulated on cheap paper during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia and were not published until 1945.[2][3]

It was apparently the death of his grandmother that inspired Chairil to write poetry <, and death became a theme of many of his poems. His collected poems were published as Deru Campur Debu [Roar Mixed with Dust] in 1949. By then his health was suffering as a result of his lifestyle and he died at CBZ Hospital (now Cipto Mangunkusomo Hospital) on 28 April 1949. This day is celebrated as literature day in Indonesia