Farewell, John Tobing, Creator of the Resistance Song 'Darah Juang'

Sad news comes from the world of Indonesian music and activism. The creator of the song ‘Darah Juang’, Johnsony Maharsak Lumban Tobing or John Tobing, has passed away. Here are some facts about the creator of this iconic resistance song.

Died at RSA UGM

His colleague, Joko Utomo, said that John Tobing died at the Academic Hospital (RSA) UGM. Joko said that John, who was being treated at RSA UGM, was pronounced dead at 8:45 PM WIB, Wednesday (February 25).

“He was admitted to the hospital early this morning. (He was) pronounced dead at 8:45 PM at RSA UGM,” said Joko when contacted by reporters, Wednesday (February 25, 2026) night.

Laid to rest at the Arimatea RS Bethesda funeral home

John Tobing’s body was laid to rest at the Arimatea RS Bethesda funeral home in Yogyakarta.

As of Thursday (February 26), a number of flower wreaths were displayed outside the funeral home, some of which were from the Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, and the Chairman of Commission XII of the DPR RI, Willy Aditya.

In and out of the hospital before his death

John’s youngest son, Gopas Kibar Syang Proudy (18), said that his father died of a sudden heart attack. He said that his father’s health had begun to deteriorate and he had to be treated in the hospital since November 2025.

“(He was) admitted to the hospital on November 29 (2025), and returned home on January 28 (2026). Then he was admitted again in early February, on February 8, he was admitted again at Hermina, for about a week at Hermina, and then he returned home again,” said Gopas at the Bethesda Funeral Home, Thursday (February 26, 2026).

John also had to return to the hospital on Wednesday (February 25) early in the morning and was immediately admitted to the ICU due to a decline in consciousness.

“Then on Wednesday night, this week, he was admitted again because of a decline in consciousness. At first, I went to Hermina Hospital, but because it wasn’t covered by BPJS because he was last treated at Hermina, he was then taken to RSA UGM again,” he explained.

On Wednesday night, John suddenly suffered a heart attack. He died in the ICU without his family by his side.

“This was sudden. In fact, our family was at home, because he was in the hospital and in the ICU, so we couldn’t be there,” said Gopas.

“And also that night, at 8:45 PM, the family was called and told that Father had a heart attack and that he was no longer responding, and so we all immediately went to the hospital. We weren’t really prepared because it was so sudden,” he continued.

To be buried on Saturday

John died at the age of 59 years and 3 months. His body will be buried on Saturday (February 28) at the Madurejo TPU, Prambanan, Sleman.

“Today there will be a church service at 6:30 PM, and tomorrow there will be the same at 6:30 PM. And there will be the Matonggo Raja ceremony, which is a traditional ceremony to prepare for Saturday. The departure (to the cemetery) will also include a worship service,” said Gopas, yesterday.

The story behind the song Darah Juang

John Tobing was an activist for the PRD and a student of Philosophy at UGM, class of 1991, who was known for his strong opposition to the New Order regime through music. The song Darah Juang was created in 1991 through a collaboration on the lyrics with figures such as Dadang Juliantara and Budiman Sudjatmiko.

According to the article entitled “Representation of Student Resistance in the Lyrics of the Song Darah Juang and Pembebasan” by Johanes Gerung et al., John was known as a musician and activist who fought for justice.

As a student at the Faculty of Philosophy, UGM, class of 1991, he was actively involved in underground political movements. John was a member of the Democratic People’s Party (PRD). This organization was one of the groups that opposed the Soeharto regime at that time.

Even in his old age, John was remembered as a simple but highly principled person. His close relationship with his alma mater was also evident until the end of his life, when he was treated and passed away at a hospital owned by UGM.

R Toto Sugiharto in the book “Academic Traditions Accommodating Local Wisdom” tells that the spirit of this song emerged after the 1988 Student Oath, which was composed by Afnan Malay. Three years later, in 1991, John Tobing began to arrange an instrumental melody using his acoustic guitar during a discussion.

This melody was then developed into a complete song. Dadang Juliantara, a student from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UGM, helped complete the lyrics. The lyrics were then revised again with Budiman Sudjatmiko, who was then a student at the Faculty of Economics, UGM. Interestingly, this song was initially created without a specific title.

The title ‘Darah Juang’ emerged unintentionally when John Tobing was invited to a student meeting. When he was asked to sing the song, someone in the crowd suggested ‘Darah Juang’ as the title. John agreed, and since then the name has been associated with his work.

This song was first widely sung at the First Congress of the Yogyakarta Student Communication Forum (FKMY). The lyrics, which describe the suffering of the people and the spirit of dedication, made it timeless. Even after the fall of the New Order regime, UGM officially included this song in the material for the Successful Learner Training for New Students (PPSMB) as part of the introduction to student identity.

Never said give up

According to his youngest son, Gopas Kibar Syang Proudy (18), the late John was a person who never gave up.

“I really consider my father to be my idol. I only realized this because he wasn’t very prominent at home, so he was just like any other father,” said Gopas when met at the Bethesda funeral home, Yogyakarta, Thursday (February 26, 2026).

“And I was amazed to see all the friends who came, with the songs he created. And when Father was in the hospital, even at home, I also sang the songs that Father used to sing at home, and also our favorite songs,” he continued.

Gopas recalled that his father loved to tell stories. One of John’s expressions that stuck in Gopas’s mind was how much he wanted to be healthy again.

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