Jharkhand leader and India MP Shibu Soren dies at 81

New Delhi: Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum on Monday as former Jharkhand Chief Minister and founding patron of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Shibu Soren, died at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness.

The news of Soren’s demise was confirmed by his son, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Fondly known as “Guruji” or “Dishom Guru” in his home state, Shibu Soren played a pivotal role in the tribal rights movement and was instrumental in the creation of Jharkhand as a separate state.

He served as Chief Minister of Jharkhand three times - first in 2005, again in 2008-2009, and once more in 2009-2010 - although his terms were often short-lived due to political turbulence.

In June, Shibu Soren was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, battling kidney ailments and the aftermath of a stroke. Despite being placed on life support, his condition deteriorated.

Born in the quiet village of Nemra in Ramgarh district - then part of undivided Bihar - Shibu Soren emerged from the soil of struggle. A member of the Santhal tribe, his early life was marked by tragedy: his father was murdered by thugs allegedly hired by moneylenders, a formative event that would shape his lifelong crusade against exploitation.

By the age of 18, Soren had already begun organising resistance, founding the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh. In 1972, alongside A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato, he co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a political movement that would become synonymous with tribal assertion and land rights.

As general secretary, Soren led agitations to reclaim alienated tribal lands, often dispensing what he called “people’s justice” through informal courts.

His activism, however, was not without controversy. In 1975, he was implicated in a violent campaign against non-tribals in Chirudih, resulting in multiple deaths. Though acquitted in 2008, related charges from earlier incidents remain unresolved.

Soren’s political journey began with a defeat in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections, but he rebounded in 1980, winning from Dumka. Over the next four decades, he would serve multiple terms in the Lok Sabha (1980-1984, 1989-1998, 2002-2019) and stints in the Rajya Sabha, including the current one. His tenure was punctuated by both influence and infamy.

As Union Coal Minister under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the UPA regime, he was forced to resign in 2004 due to the revival of the Chirudih case. After a brief period underground and a month in judicial custody, he returned to the Cabinet later that year, a move seen as part of a strategic Congress-JMM alliance ahead of Jharkhand’s Assembly elections.

In 2006, Soren’s political career suffered a severe blow when he was convicted in the 1994 abduction and murder of his personal secretary, Shashi Nath Jha.

The CBI alleged that Jha’s knowledge of illicit political dealings, including a controversial vote-saving arrangement during the Narasimha Rao government, was the motive behind the crime. Though the conviction cast a long shadow, Soren remained a formidable figure in Jharkhand politics.

For nearly four decades, he helmed the JMM, shaping it into a dominant regional force and becoming its spiritual and political patriarch -- reverently known as Dishom Guruji.

Soren’s personal life was rooted in the same soil he fought for. He was married to Roopi Kisku and had four children: Durga, Hemant, Basant, and Anjali.

Durga Soren served as MLA from Jama (1995-2005) before his untimely death. Hemant Soren, his political heir, currently serves as Chief Minister of Jharkhand, having held the post previously from 2013 to 2014. Basant Soren, the youngest son, is an MLA from Dumka and leads the JMM’s youth wing.

Leaders from all parties paid homage to the veteran leader and remembered his lifelong dedication to the empowerment of tribal communities and marginalised groups.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his grief on X, writing, “The news of the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Shibu Soren ji is extremely saddening. He struggled for decades for the rights and empowerment of the tribal community in Jharkhand.”

“With his simple personality and humble nature, he connected with the masses. May God grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet and provide strength to the grieving Soren family and his admirers and supporters to bear this sorrow,” HM Shah added.

Union Minister J.P. Nadda also expressed sadness over the passing of Shibu Soren and said, “He always struggled for the rights of tribal brothers and sisters and the deprived. Shibu Soren Ji was very popular among the common people for his simple and approachable personality. I express my deep condolences to the grief-stricken family.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shared his tribute on X, stating, “The former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and one of the country’s senior-most leaders, Shri Shibu Soren ji, was counted among the towering leaders of Jharkhand who struggled throughout their lives for the rights and empowerment of the weaker sections of society, especially the tribal community.”

“He always remained connected to the land and the people. I had a long acquaintance with him. His passing has caused me great sorrow. My condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti!” Singh added.

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge praised Soren’s lifelong struggle for a separate Jharkhand state and the rights of its people over their natural resources.

“His commitment to preserving tribal culture and fighting for water, forest, and land will never be forgotten,” Kharge noted.

He added that he had spoken to Hemant Soren to express his “deep condolences” and prayed that God grant strength to the grieving family.

- with inputs from IANS