(1960) was born and raised in Jakarta. His family history - with Arab, Pakistani and Betawi ancestors - reflects the cosmopolitan character of the city of his birth. He studied Russian and American Studies at the Universitas Indonesia in Jakarta. At the moment he teaches at the department of Russian at the Universitas Indonesia. His poetic genius was established with his volume of poems Dari Batavia sampai Jakarta, 1619-1999 for which he received the prize for the best Indonesian volume of poetry 1998-2000’. Other publications are Manusia, Mitos, dan Mitologi (1998), Pintu, Etalase, Batavia Centrum (collected poetry, 1998), and Konflik Nilai dalam Sejarah Perkembangan Sastra Rusia.

(1962) is a researcher at the Dutch Institute for War Documentation (NIOD) and teaches the history of ethnic relationships in Batavia and Colombo in the time of the VOC (Dutch East India Company). He has published on Indonesia and Southeast Asia in early modern and modern history. Among his books are De geschiedenis van Indische Nederlanders (The history of the East-Indian Dutch) (2006), Being "Dutch" in the Indies. A history of creolisation and empire, 1500-1920 (2007), The World of Jan Brandes (2004), De oude Indische wereld (The Old East Indies' World) (2003) and Beelden van de Japanse bezetting van Indonesië (Images of the Japanese Occupation of Indonesia (1999).