since 1936, isnaeni had been active in the indonesian youth in jogjakarta. on the same year, he was chosen as the chairman of the students' union of the taman siswa branch in mataram, jogjakarta. his further activity led him to become one of the precursors to the establishment of the . he was elected as the chairman of the indonesian democratic youth twice, in its first and second congress on october 1947 and february 1948. during his term, he established the national youth front, comprising the indonesian democratic youth, islamic youth movement of indonesia, christian youth, catholic youth, and the young communist force, rivaling the bkpri, a similar organization which has been dominated by the socialist youth of indonesia. he resigned from the post in 1954 due to his activity in the indonesian national party and his post as the head of information office in the indonesian embassy in peking.