Shibu Soren, the founding father of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and a stalwart of tribal rights, passed away on Monday at the age of 81.
His son and current Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren confirmed the news via a heartfelt post on social media, writing in Hindi, “Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty.”
आदरणीय दिशोम गुरुजी हम सभी को छोड़कर चले गए हैं।
आज मैं शून्य हो गया हूँ…
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) August 4, 2025
Soren had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi.
The hospital declared him dead at 8:56 AM, citing prolonged illness. He had been on life support for the past month following a stroke.
A Towering Tribal Voice
Popularly known as ‘Guruji’ or ‘Dishom Guru’ in Jharkhand, Shibu Soren was a revered leader of the Santhal tribal community.
He was born on 11 January 1944 in Nemra village, then part of Bihar, now in Jharkhand.
Soren began advocating for tribal rights from a young age and founded the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh at 18 to champion tribal land and identity.
In 1972, he co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with AK Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato, laying the foundation of what would later become a mass movement for the formation of a separate state for Jharkhand.
His efforts eventually contributed to Jharkhand becoming a separate state in 2000.
Political Journey
Shibu Soren’s political journey spanned over four decades. He served as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister three times—in 2005, 2008–09, and 2009–10.
Despite short tenures due to political instability, he remained a consistent figure in state politics. He was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served two terms in the Rajya Sabha, the latest being ongoing.
His contributions were not limited to the tribal cause but extended to education, land reforms, and social welfare for marginalised communities.
Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, opposition leaders, and state heads acknowledged Soren’s deep-rooted influence on tribal and regional politics.
Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 4, 2025
Political observers consider Shibu Soren’s demise a significant loss not only for Jharkhand but for India’s tribal leadership.
His political legacy continues through his son, Hemant Soren, and the ongoing influence of the JMM in state politics.
As the state observes mourning, preparations are underway for Soren’s last rites.
Jharkhand will remember him not just as a political leader, but as a symbol of tribal identity and resistance—a man who turned a grassroots movement into a statehood reality.
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