Guruh Soekarnoputra, Son of Indonesia's First President, Dies at 73

Guruh Soekarnoputra, the son of Indonesia's first president Soekarno, died on September 26, 2026, at the age of 73, according to the PDIP party. The youngest brother of PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri passed away in Jakarta at 04:16 WIB (Western Indonesia Time) at MRCCC Siloam Hospitals Semanggi. The news was announced by PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto, who remembered Guruh as an artist, a Marhaenist, and a dedicated party fighter.

Throughout his life, Guruh was a creative force in dance and music, founding several arts groups and organizations, including Swara Mahardika, GSP Production, and the music group Guruh Gipsy. Many of his compositions, such as Kala Sang Surya Tenggelam, Melati Suci, and Galih dan Ratna, became integral parts of Indonesia's musical heritage.

Politically, Guruh joined the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDP) in 1982 and served as a member of the House of Representatives for five terms from 1999 to 2024. In 2025, he was a contender for PDIP's chairmanship during the party's congress in Bali, but his sister Megawati Soekarnoputri retained the position. On September 27, 2026, PDIP requested all party levels to display the party flag at half-mast for seven days as a mark of respect.