Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supremo and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, widely revered as Dishom Guruji, passed away on Monday at the age of 81, his son and current Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren confirmed.
“Respected Dishom Guruji has left us all. Today, I feel completely empty,” Hemant wrote in an emotional post on X.
Shibu Soren had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi for over a month and was on ventilator support.
Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village of Ramgarh district (then Bihar), Soren was a towering figure in tribal politics. He played a pivotal role in the creation of Jharkhand and led the JMM for nearly four decades.
Apart from serving multiple terms as Chief Minister, Soren represented the Dumka Lok Sabha seat between 1980–84, 1989–98, and 2002–2019, and also held the position of Union Coal Minister.
Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a “grassroots leader” committed to uplifting tribal communities and the marginalised, adding, “Pained by his passing… Spoke to Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences.”
President Droupadi Murmu said his demise marked a major loss in the struggle for social justice, lauding his efforts toward tribal identity and the formation of Jharkhand.
Shibu Soren leaves behind a legacy rooted in tribal empowerment, statehood advocacy, and political resilience.