John Tobing: The Creator of 'Darah Juang', a Song That Ignited the Spirit of Reform
The world of Indonesian activism and music is in mourning for the passing of one of its iconic figures. Johnsony Maharsak Lumban Tobing, or better known as John Tobing, reportedly passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 8:45 PM.
The sad news was confirmed by his colleague, Joko Utomo, as reported by detikJogja. John Tobing breathed his last at RSA UGM after being treated since early that morning.
Curious about John Tobing, the creator of the song ‘Darah Juang’? See the complete explanation below!
The main points:
John Tobing was a PRD activist and a 1991 Philosophy student at UGM, known for his persistent opposition to the New Order regime through music.
The song ‘Darah Juang’ was created in 1991 through collaboration with figures such as Dadang Juliantara and Budiman Sudjatmiko.
Even though the regime has changed, this song remains an official identity for UGM students and a song that ignites the spirit in mass actions throughout Indonesia.
Getting to Know John Tobing
John Tobing is a figure who cannot be separated from the history of student resistance during the New Order era. Based on the article entitled ‘Representation of Student Resistance in the Lyrics of the Song ’Darah Juang’ and Freedom’ by Johanes Gerung et al., John is known as a musician as well as an activist who persistently fought for justice.
As a student at the Faculty of Philosophy, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in 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 most opposed to the Soeharto regime at that time.
His character as an artist as well as an activist made him able to create works that touched the grassroots. For many activists, John was not just a songwriter, but a symbol of the spirit of struggle that never faded. In the UGM campus itself, his name is highly respected for his contribution in building a critical tradition among students.
Until his old age, John was still remembered as a simple figure but with high integrity. His closeness to his alma mater was also visible until the end of his life, where he was treated and breathed his last in the university’s hospital where he once studied.
The Story Behind the Song ‘Darah Juang’
The song ‘Darah Juang’ has become a ‘mandatory song’ in every student demonstration since the reform era until now. However, the process of creating this song has a fairly long history and involves the collaboration of many student figures in Yogyakarta.
R Toto Sugiharto in the book ‘Academic Traditions Accommodating Local Wisdom’ tells that the spirit of this song emerged after the Student Oath in 1988 which was compiled by Afnan Malay. Three years later, in 1991, John Tobing began to arrange an instrumental melody using his acoustic guitar during a discussion.
The melody was then developed into a complete song. Dadang Juliantara, a student from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at UGM, helped complete the lyrics. The lyrics were then revised again with Budiman Sudjatmiko, who at that time was a student at the Faculty of Economics at UGM. Interestingly, this song was initially created without a definite 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 from the crowd said ‘Darah Juang’ as the title. John agreed, and since then the name has been officially attached to his work.
This song was first sung widely 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 New Order regime fell, UGM officially included this song in the material for the Successful Learners Training for New Students (PPSMB) as part of the introduction to student identity.
Thus, a brief explanation of John Tobing, the creator of the song ‘Darah Juang’. Hopefully, this is useful!
FAQ John Tobing
Who is the creator of the song ‘Darah Juang’?
The song ‘Darah Juang’ was created by John Tobing, a musician as well as a student activist at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in 1991. In composing the lyrics, John collaborated with fellow student activists at that time, namely Dadang Juliantara and Budiman Sudjatmiko.
What is the meaning of the poem ‘Darah Juang’?
The meaning of the lyrics of ‘Darah Juang’ is a form of dedication and deep empathy from students towards the suffering of ordinary people. This song describes the promise of students not to just sit idly in college, but to take action to fight for the rights of oppressed people.
What is ‘Darah Juang’ about?
‘Darah Juang’ tells the story of the spirit of resistance against injustice and oppression. The lyrics emphasize the awareness of students of their identity as the voice of the people who are willing to sacrifice to realize change and liberation for the nation.
(par/alg)