Bangun was born in the village of Batu Karang (modern day Karo Regency, North Sumatra), Dutch East Indies, in 1852.^[1] He was nicknamed Garamata (Red Eyes). As a youth, he wandered from urung (village) to urung in order to maintain the norms, customs and cultures of Karo.^[2]

In 1905, Bangun fought the Dutch in Southeast Aceh and Dairi with guerrilla tactics. However, the Dutch that used oportuniteit beginsel, forced him out of hiding and exiled him to Riung.^[3] He was released in 1909, although still under Dutch control.^[4] From 1919 to 1926, helped by two of his sons, he led the rebellion in Tanah Karo. They were exiled to Cipinang, whilst he continued his struggle against the Dutch.^[5]

Bangun died on 22 October 1942 in Batu Karang.^[5]

He was given the title Gelar Pahlawan Nasional Indonesia (National Hero of Indonesia) on 9 November 2005 by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.^[6]

• Sudarmanto, J.B. (2007). Jejak-Jejak Pahlawan: Perekat Kesatuan Bangsa Indonesia (in Indonesian). Grasindo. ISBN 978-979-759-716-0.
• Ajisaka, Arya (2008). Mengenal Pahlawan Indonesia (in Indonesian) (Revised ed.). Kawan Pustaka. ISBN 978-979-757-278-5.