Guruh Soekarnoputra Passes Away, PDIP Flies Flags at Half-Mast for a Week
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- Guruh Soekarnoputra, adik Megawati Soekarnoputri dan putra bungsu Soekarno, meninggal dunia pada usia 73 tahun setelah dirawat di RS Siloam Semanggi.
- PDIP menginstruksikan seluruh struktur partai dari pusat hingga anak ranting mengibarkan bendera partai setengah tiang selama tujuh hari sebagai penghormatan.
- Kepergian seniman sekaligus politikus yang mewakili Jawa Timur di DPR selama lima periode itu menandai berakhirnya salah satu penghubung terakhir generasi langsung keluarga Soekarno di panggung publik.
Muhammad Guruh Irianto Soekarnoputra, the youngest son of Indonesia's first president Soekarno, died on Saturday (26/9) at Siloam Semanggi Hospital in Jakarta after undergoing treatment for an illness he had suffered in recent times. The man affectionately known as Guruh was 73 years old. The news prompted an official instruction from PDI Perjuangan to fly the party flag at half-mast across all levels of the organization, from the central board to the sub-branch level, for the next seven days.
The order was conveyed by PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto in a written statement. According to him, flying the flag at half-mast is the party's final tribute to the deceased, who was the younger brother of party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri. "In this regard, all ranks of the DPP, DPD, DPC, PAC, Ranting, down to Anak Ranting are to fly the PDI Perjuangan flag at half-mast for seven days," Hasto said in his official statement.
News of Guruh's death was also confirmed by PDIP politician Cyril Raoul Hakim. "Correct," he said briefly when contacted for confirmation. Hasto added that the deceased passed away after intensive treatment at the hospital. He also conveyed prayers and condolences on behalf of the party.
Beyond his reputation as a politician, Guruh left a strong mark on the arts. From a young age he pursued dance and music, founding the Swara Mahardika arts group and GSP Production. His name is also tied to the bands Guruh Gipsy and Gank Pegangsaan, formed with Keenan Nasution, Abadi Soesman, and the late Chrisye. Several songs he composed, such as "Kala Sang Surya Tenggelam", "Melati Suci", "Zamrud Khatulistiwa", and "Galih dan Ratna", are part of the canon of Indonesian popular music.
In education, Guruh studied archaeology at the University of Amsterdam until 1974 before earning a bachelor's degree in public administration from STIAMI in 2008 and a master's in management in 2010. He married Guseynova Sabina Padmavati of Uzbekistan in 2002, but the couple divorced in 2009. His political career began when he joined PDI in 1982, then continued with PDIP from 1999 until the end of his life.
"The late Mr. Mohammad Guruh Irianto Soekarnoputra bin Sukarno has passed away to the mercy of Allah at the age of 73," said Hasto Kristiyanto.
Guruh's passing closes a long chapter of the Soekarno family on the stage of power. As Megawati's younger brother, he was one of the few direct descendants of the proclamator still active in practical politics. Over five terms in Senayan, he consistently represented the East Java electoral district, though he rarely stood out in legislative debates. His role was more that of a symbol of historical continuity and a guardian of Bung Karno's cultural legacy.
For the Indonesian public, Guruh evokes a time when politics and art were closely intertwined. His works are still played on various stages, from official events to nostalgia concerts. Meanwhile, the week-long half-mast instruction marks the party's official mourning for a man who had been its political home for more than two decades. The move also shows PDIP's solidarity in upholding the tradition of honoring central figures of its founder's family.
Looking ahead, the question is who will carry on the cultural and historical role Guruh leaves behind, especially in preserving Soekarno's legacy amid a shifting political landscape. Will PDIP's new generation be able to fill this symbolic void, or will that legacy drift further from the stage of power?
