Jharkhand tribal icon Shibu Soren dies at 81 after decades of political influence
His death was announced on Monday by his son, Hemant Soren, the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand
Shibu Soren, a towering figure in Indian tribal politics and three-time Chief Minister of Jharkhand, has died at the age of 81. He passed away in Delhi while undergoing treatment for a kidney-related illness, weeks after suffering a stroke.
His death was announced on Monday by his son, Hemant Soren, the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
Soren, popularly known as "Dishom Guru" meaning "great leader" in the Santhali language was a co-founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the party instrumental in the creation of Jharkhand state in 2000.
Born in 1944 in what Bihar was then, Soren launched the JMM in 1973 to champion the rights of tribal communities in the region and push for statehood.
Despite becoming Chief Minister three times, Soren never completed a full term due to persistent political instability. His national political journey included serving as India’s Coal Minister in 2004 under the Congress-led government.
However, his career was marred by legal troubles, including convictions in two murder cases one involving his personal secretary Shashinath Jha in 1994. He was eventually acquitted in 2018.
In a tribute on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Soren as a "grassroot leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people." Other prominent leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, Sanjay Raut, and Lalu Prasad Yadav, also mourned his passing, recognizing him as a relentless advocate for tribal rights and social justice.
Soren’s death marks the end of an era in Jharkhand’s political landscape, where he remained a powerful and symbolic figure for decades. His legacy continues through the leadership of his son Hemant, as tributes pour in from across India’s political spectrum.
