Shibu Soren, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and founding patron of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), died at a hospital in New Delhi on Monday (August 4) at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness. Soren was a sitting Rajya Sabha MP.
He had been under treatment at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for over a month and his condition had been critical for the past few days.
His son and current Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced the death, saying, “Respected Dishoom Guru has left us all. Today, I have become empty.”
The JMM patriarch was admitted to a Delhi hospital in the last week of June with a kidney-related ailment.
His condition deteriorated recently after he suffered a stroke and had been on life support for the past month.
Shibu Soren, known as ‘Dishoom Guru’ (Great Leader) by his supporters, was a prominent figure in Indian politics, serving as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on three separate occasions and as a Union Minister.
He served as Union Cabinet Minister for Coal in three separate stints between 2004 and 2006. A six-time Lok Sabha MP, he represented the House in the period from 1980 to 2005. He was also elected to the Rajya Sabha three times.
Belonging to the Santhal community, Shibu Soren was born in the Ramgarh district, which was then part of Bihar.
He tied up with Leftist trade union leader AK Roy and Kurmi Mahato leader Binod Bihari Mahato to form the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in 1972. Over the years, Soren emerged as a key figure in the statehood movement, which ultimately led to the formation of Jharkhand in 2000.
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PM Narendra Modi remembered Soren for his ‘unwavering dedication to the people’ and described him as a leader deeply committed to empowering the downtrodden.
“Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti,” the PM tweeted.
