Categories
Veteran tribal leader and former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren passes away at 81. Son Hemant Soren mourns, saying he has ‘lost everything
Dishom Guru Shibu Soren Dies at 81: Son Hemant Says “I Lost Everything”
Jharkhand Mourns the Passing of Tribal Leader ‘Dishom Guru’
Legendary tribal icon and founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Shibu Soren, passed away on August 4, 2025, at the age of 81, while undergoing treatment for kidney-related illness at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. He had been under medical supervision since the last week of June, placed on life support due to deteriorating kidney and heart conditions.
Shibu Soren—affectionately known as “Dishom Guruji”—was a towering figure in tribal politics and a founding spirit behind the movement that led to the creation of Jharkhand state in 2000. His passing marks the end of a political era defined by grassroots struggle and tribal assertion.
A Legacy Rooted in Struggle and Service
Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village (then Bihar, now Jharkhand), Shibu Soren belonged to the Santhal Adivasi community. At age 18, he founded the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh, championing tribal land rights. In 1972, he co‑founded JMM and later led the party as its general secretary for nearly four decades.
Elected to the Lok Sabha eight times since 1980, and twice to the Rajya Sabha, he served as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister in three separate stints (March 2005, 2008–09, 2009–10) and held the Coal Ministry in the Union Cabinet thrice.
Though his political journey included legal controversies—most notably a 2006 conviction for the murder of his secretary, later overturned by the Delhi High Court—his enduring legacy is rooted in social justice and leadership for tribal empowerment.
Hemant Soren: A Son’s Loss and a Leader’s Farewell
Shibu Soren’s son, Hemant Soren, currently serving as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, shared the grief on social media, expressing his profound sorrow in terse words:
“Beloved Dishom Guruji has left us. I lost everything today.”
“आज मैं शून्य हो गया हूँ…” (“Today I have become zero…”)
Hemant further reiterated his emotional void, writing in Hindi, “आज मैं पूरी तरह ख़ाली हो गया हूँ” (“Today I feel completely empty”).
Tributes Across the Political Spectrum
Condolences poured in from national leaders, reflecting the magnitude of Shibu Soren’s impact:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a grassroots leader deeply committed to tribal welfare, poverty alleviation, and the upliftment of marginalized communities. Modi said: “I am pained by his passing… My thoughts are with his family and admirers.”
- Other leaders such as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajnath Singh, and Sanjay Raut expressed their sorrow, calling his death an “irreparable loss” for Jharkhand and national politics.
His Legacy and Political Impact
Political Journey in Numbers:
| Role | Tenure / Relevance |
|---|---|
| Founder & President, JMM | Led the party for nearly 38 years, instrumental in Jharkhand’s formation |
| Lok Sabha MP | Elected eight times, beginning 1980 |
| Chief Minister, Jharkhand | Served three terms (2005, 2008–09, 2009–10) |
| Union Coal Minister | Held office three times in the Manmohan Singh government |
His life was shaped by personal tragedies—in adolescence he lost his father in a landlord dispute—and by fervent activism for tribal justice. His rise from grassroots organizer to national politician embodies Jharkhand’s own journey.
A Void That Cannot Be Filled
Shibu Soren’s death leaves a political vacuum in Jharkhand. As founding patron of JMM, his moral authority and strategic vision defined tribal politics for decades. As Hemant Soren assumed party leadership in April 2025, the shift signified both continuity and change.
Yet, for Hemant and countless followers, the loss transcends politics. It is deeply personal. Today, Jharkhand remembers not only a leader but a father, grandfather, mentor, and symbol of tribal resistance.
In Summary
Shibu Soren’s passing on August 4, 2025, at age 81, after a prolonged illness, ends an epoch of tribal politics in Jharkhand. Founder of JMM, three-time Chief Minister, and a voice for the marginalized, his legacy is monumental. Expressing grief, his son Hemant wrote, “I lost everything today.” National figures paid tribute, but the true void remains at home—among those he touched most deeply.
READ ALSO…….Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Atom Bomb’ Remark Denied by Election Commission 2025
