Since signing the Cultural Manifesto, which is outlawed by President Sukarno, he was sent off for further study at the University of Kentucky and Florida. He was later fired as a civil servant in 1964.

Taufiq become OUR Daily columnist in the year 1966-1970. Then, Taufiq with , P.K. Oyong, Zaini, and founded the Yayasan Indonesia Arief Budiman, who then gave birth to the literary magazine Horison (1966). Until now he led the magazine.

Taufiq was one of the founders of the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ), Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), and the Jakarta Arts Institute of Education (LPKJ) (1968). In all three institutions were Taufiq got different tasks, namely Executive Secretary DKJ, Pj. Director of TEAM, and Rector LPKJ (1968-1978). After stopping of the task, Taufiq worked in private companies, as External Relations Manager of PT Unilever Indonesia (1978-1990).

In 1993 Taufiq was invited to be an author guest at the Council of Language and Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.As a poet, Taufiq has read his poetry at various places, either overseas or domestically. In every historic event in Indonesia Taufiq always appear by reading his poems, such as the fall of the Soeharto regime, Trisakti events, and the Bali bombing incident.

In cooperation with the musician since 1974, especially with the Association of Music Bimbo (Hardjakusumah brothers), Tim Christensen, Ian Antono, and Ucok Harahap, Taufiq has produced as many as 75 songs.

He has been representing Indonesia to read poems and literary festivals in 24 cities in Asia, America, Australia, Europe, and Africa since 1970. His poetry has been translated into Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese, English, French, German, Russian, and Chinese.
Dilakukannnya community activities which, among others, take charge of the library PII, Pekalongan (1954-56), with SN PII Ratmana concurrently secretary of the Branch Pekalongan, Chairman of the Institute of Natural Art Minangkabau (1984-86), Founder of AFS Intercultural Foundation Board of Trustees (1985) and is now its chairman, and worked with the American Field Service scholarship agencies, the United States held an exchange student. In 1974-1976 he was elected as a member of the Board of Trustees Board of Trustees of AFS International, New York.

He also helped NGOs WWW (Antimadat Movement, chairman Sofyan Ali). In antinarkoba campaign he wrote poetry and lyrics of the song  "Narkoba War Drums" and  "Hymn to Youth Out of NerakaÂ" and composed Ian Antono). In these activities, along with four other community leaders, Taufiq an award from President Megawati (2002).
Taufiq is now a member of the Advisory Body Language, Language Center and consultant Balai Pustaka, in addition to active as a senior editor of Horizon magazine.

Blessings received:
Gift of Art from the Government of Indonesia (1970)2. Visit the Cultural Award from the Australian Government (1977)3.South East Asia (SEA) Write Award from the Kingdom of Thailand (1994)4. Literature Writing from the Center for Languages (1994)5. Poets archipelago of Johor State,Malaysia (1999)6. Doctor honoris causa from the State University of Yogyakarta (2003)

Taufiq Ismail Yatim Esiyati married in 1971 and blessed with a son, Bram Ismail.