In Shibu Soren’s *death, Jharkhand mourns its ‘Dishom Guru’ whose long struggle for separate state bore fruit

TNR News Network
New Delhi:
Jharkhand lost one of its tallest and most iconic figures on Monday (August 4, 2025) as Shibu Soren, affectionately called ‘Dishom Guru’ by people, passed away at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife Roopi and three children, including Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

A pioneer of tribal assertion and the principal architect behind the creation of Jharkhand state, Shibu Soren’s demise marks the end of a stormy yet deeply influential era in eastern India’s political history.

The former Jharkhand Chief Minister and veteran tribal leader was undergoing treatment at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for kidney-related complications for over a month. He had been on ventilator support in a critical condition. His son Hemant Soren confirmed the news in a deeply emotional post on X (formerly Twitter): “Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all… I have become ‘shunya’ (zero) today.”

Three stints as Jharkhand Chief Minister

Born on January 11, 1944, in the small village of Nemra (now in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district), Shibu Soren’s life was one of a grassroots struggle, political turbulence and resilience. From a modest tribal upbringing to the corridors of Parliament and state power, his journey was as dramatic as it was historic.

In 1972, he founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), giving shape and direction to the long-standing demand for a separate tribal state carved out of Bihar. His movement rallied the Santhal and other tribal communities, setting off decades of mobilisation that culminated in Jharkhand’s formation in 2000.

Shibu Soren served three terms as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister — in 2005, 2008-09 and 2009-10. He was also a multi-term MP from Dumka and served as Union Coal Minister during the UPA-I government. However, his national career faced serious setbacks, notably in 2004, when an arrest warrant linked to an old case forced him to resign from the Cabinet.

Was first sitting Union Minister convicted of murder

The most controversial phase of his life came in 2006 when he was convicted for the murder of his former secretary Shashinath Jha, a case intertwined with the murky 1993 bribery scandal aimed at saving the Narasimha Rao government.

Soren was sentenced to life, becoming the first sitting Union Minister convicted of murder. However, the Delhi High Court overturned the conviction in 2007, citing lack of reliable evidence.

Despite the controversies, Soren remained undeterred in his commitment to tribal rights and regional self-respect. Known for his fiery speeches and deep connection to rural Jharkhand, he earned a near-reverential status among tribal communities. His nickname, Dishom Guru (meaning ‘leader of the land’), wasn’t just a title but a reflection of how he lived and fought.

Even after stepping back from active politics, Soren continued to be the ideological backbone of the JMM, mentoring his sons Hemant and Basant, who now carry forward his political legacy.