JMM Founder and Tribal Icon Shibu Soren Passes Away at 81
By Amit Kumar
Shibu Soren, the co-founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and a towering figure in
Jharkhand’s political and tribal landscape, passed away on Monday morning, August 4, at the age of 81.
He was undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New
Delhi, where he had been on life support for over a month.
Known with reverence as ‘Dishom Guru’ or ‘Guruji’, Soren was widely respected for his lifelong
commitment to tribal rights, social justice, and the creation of the separate state of Jharkhand. His
death has left a deep void not just in Jharkhand’s political sphere but also across India’s broader
social and tribal movements.
Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village, which now falls in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district, Soren
began his political journey by co-founding the JMM in 1973 alongside A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari
Mahto. The party became the principal force advocating for tribal rights and the demand for a
separate Jharkhand state, drawing strong support from the Chotanagpur and Santhal Pargana
regions.
Soren’s political career was marked by multiple stints as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister, although he
never completed a full term. He was also elected several times to the Lok Sabha from Dumka and
served as Union Coal Minister during the United Progressive Alliance regime.
His passing was announced by his son and current Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on social
media, triggering an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu both paid tributes, acknowledging Soren’s pivotal
role in empowering tribal communities and championing the cause of the marginalized.
Leaders from various parties, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, BJP leader Babulal Marandi,
and Congress leader Rajesh Thakur, expressed grief over the loss. Many remembered Soren’s
grassroots activism, particularly his early campaigns against moneylenders and for liquor prohibition,
which earned him immense support in tribal regions.
The Jharkhand government declared a three-day state mourning from August 4 to August 6. During
this period, the national flag will fly at half-mast and all government offices will remain closed.