Tan Sri Dato' Professor Dr. Ismail b. Hussein was born in Kampung Simpang Empat, Sungai Limau Dalam, Yan, Kedah on 30 January, 1932. He is an intellectual and a significant personality in Malay literature and culture who always strife towards glorifying the Malay literature and culture. In fact, he is well-known in the world of literature at international level.

Tan Sri Dato' Professor Dr. Ismail Hussein had his early education at the Sungai Limau Dalam Malay School and after the World War Two, he continued his studies at the St. Michael School before being transferred to the Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Setar. In 1955, he was admitted into the University of Malaya, majoring in Malay Studies and was conferred a First Class Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959. He was the first Malay to receive that degree from the University of Malaya. In 1961, he obtained his Master of Arts and Doctorandus degree from Leiden University, the Netherlands.

Career

• Lecturer, University of Malaya (1960)
• Professor of Malay Literature, University Malaya (1971)
• Deputy Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, University of Malaya
• Head, Department of Malay Studies, University of Malaya (1978-1984)
• Director, Institute of Language, Literature and Malay Culture (1987)
• President of Gapena (Union of National Writers Association, Malaysia)
• Deputy-Chairman, Board of Managers, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
• Executive Chairman, International Malay Secretariat Foundation

Involvements in Social and Professional Organisations

• Panel Member, National Literature Award
• Member, National Advisory Council for Culture
• Member, Committee for the Coordination and Implementation of the National Language.
• Member, Advisory Committee, Malay Manuscripts Centre, National Library of Malaysia and Writers Foundation

Among his writings are Kepimpinan dan Kebudayaan (1984), Cita-cita dan Perjuangan (1987), Segugus Pandangan dan Harapan (1988), Antara Politik dan Sastera (1989), Indeks Akhbar (1989), Statements on Malay Language and Literature (1989), Tamadun Melayu (1989), Jejak Langkah Ismail Hussein (1993), Pengajian Melayu di Dunia Melayu (1994), Dunia Melayu dan Dunia Indochina (1995) dan Bahasa Melayu di Dunia Melayu (1999). He continues to be the source of reference in the academic field as well as a respected activist for the nation's writers.

Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Ismail Hussein was conferred the Dato' Setia DiRaja Kedah (D.S.D.K.) by HRH. The Sultan of Kedah in 1980 which carries the title Dato'. In 1994, he received the Honourary Doctorate Honoris Causa from the University of Indonesia and the academic accolade 'Pendeta (Scholar) at the Malay World Symposium in Sri Lanka in 1985. Then in 1993, he was conferred the Darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota (P.S.M.) which carries the title Tan Sri by His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. In 1997, he was conferred Professor Emeritus by the University of Malaya. He was also bestowed with the medal 'Hukum Ngon Adat Mengadat' from the Lembaga Adat dan Kebudayaan Acheh in 1995 and Tokoh Budaya from the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism in 2002. In October 2002 he was bestowed with the medal Seri Wira Cendikia Mulia Kedah Darul Aman by his Royal Highness the Sultan of Kedah.

Although he has retired from being an academician, he is still active in GAPENA. The success of GAPENA in glorifying the language, literature, culture and the Malay race portrays his personal struggles and hopes with his group at international level. The love for Malay arts, literature and culture had been in him since he was small, and this enhances his stature in the thinking and feelings of the Malays who regard him as Father of Malay Literature