JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com—Mohammad Guruh Irianto Soekarnoputra, a prominent Indonesian artist, songwriter and former lawmaker, was the youngest son of founding president Soekarno. He died in Jakarta on Saturday, September 26. He was 73.

Guruh died at 4:16 a.m. at MRCCC Siloam Hospitals Semanggi after receiving intensive medical care. This is according to an announcement from Sukarno’s family. The family has not disclosed the specific cause of death.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. Mohammad Guruh Irianto Soekarnoputra bin Soekarno has returned to God at the age of 73,” the family said.

His body was taken to the family home on Jalan Sriwijaya Raya No. 26 in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. The family asked the public to pray for him and forgive any mistakes he made during his lifetime.

“We ask everyone to open the door of forgiveness as widely as possible for all his mistakes and shortcomings,” the family said.

The family planned to bury Guruh at Karet Bivak Public Cemetery in Central Jakarta, beside the grave of his mother, Fatmawati. Additionally, Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno represented the family during the farewell ceremony.

Born in Jakarta on January 13, 1953, Guruh was the youngest of five children born to Soekarno and Fatmawati.

His siblings included Megawati Soekarnoputri, who served as Indonesia’s fifth president. She later chaired the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Guruh was interested in dance and music from an early age before becoming a renowned figure in Indonesian performing arts.

He founded Swara Mahardhika and later Gencar Semarak Perkasa Production. These organizations were known for combining Indonesian dance traditions with contemporary stage performances.

He also played a central creative role in the landmark Guruh Gipsy project. Its 1977 album brought Indonesian traditional instruments and Balinese musical elements into progressive rock. The album involved musicians such as Chrisye, Keenan Nasution and Abadi Soesman.

His songwriting catalogue included “Kala Sang Surya Tenggelam,” “Zamrud Khatulistiwa” and “Kembalikan Baliku.” Through those works, Guruh consistently placed Indonesian identity and cultural diversity at the center of popular music.

Guruh also maintained a long parliamentary career. An official DPR profile records that he first served in the House from 1992 to 1997. He later returned for several terms after the Reform era and represented East Java VI during the 2019–2024 period.

PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto said the party would fly its flags at half-mast for seven days.

“The PDI-P family has truly lost Mas Guruh Soekarnoputra,” Hasto said. “We remember him as a great artist, a Marhaenist and a party fighter.”

Guruh’s public life connected two fields that rarely moved together so consistently: cultural preservation and national politics. His recordings, stage productions and advocacy for Indonesian arts will remain central to how the country remembers him.