NEW DELHI, Aug 4: The iconic tribal leader and a former chief minister of Jharkhand Shibu Soren, the co-founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, passed away on Monday at the Sir Gangaram hospital in Delhi after prolonged illness. His son and the incumbent Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren announced his death on x.
Soren had been admitted in the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for over a month due to a kidney-related issue. The 81-year-old leader had been the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for the past 38 years and is recognised as the party’s founding patron.
In an emotional tribute to his father Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren described the JMM founder as a protective shade for the tribals and the state and emphasised that his legacy will continue to live on. Hemant Soren broke down as party workers raised slogans hailing his father. Talking to reporters, the chief minister described his father as a “great man.” “He was like a protective shade for Jharkhand and the tribals. That shade has left us today. We will always remember him,” he said, adding that Shibu Soren’s legacy would live on.
Seventy-year-old Bam Shankar, a close associate of Shibu Soren, recalled the leader’s deep connection with steel city Bokaro. Shankar reminisced about quarter No. 14 in Sector 1-C, Bokaro Steel City, where Soren lived for years with his family.
“Soren was born in Nemra village in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district but his political office was based at his Bokaro-based residence. He resided in this quarter with wife Roopi, late son Durga, sons Hemant and Basant, and daughter Anjali,” Bam Shankar said. Shankar, who still resides in the quarter, said Soren’s contribution for Jharkhand cannot be forgotten.
The coffin carrying his body reached state capital Ranchi in the evening with thousands of people waiting outside the airport and lining the streets to pay their final respects to the iconic leader, affectionately known as Dishom Guru. Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his legislator wife Kalpana Soren accompanied the body, which was flown in on a special aircraft from Delhi.
As soon as the mortal remains reached Birsa Munda Airport here, JMM workers and leaders who were gathered there in large numbers started raising slogans like ‘Dishom Guru Amar Rahe (long live the leader of the people).
Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla paid his respects to Soren remembering his impact on advancing the tribal communities and his home state. “The passing of Rajya Sabha MP, former Jharkhand Chief Minister, and former Union Minister Shibu Soren is deeply saddening. He had a profound impact on advancing the tribal society and the Jharkhand state, as well as in public life. I express my heartfelt condolences to the grieving Hemant Soren and his family,” Mr Birla posted on X. “I pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family and supporters,” he added.
The Congress on Monday condoled the passing away of Shibu Soren with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge saying he fought all his life for a separate Jharkhand state as well as for the rights of its people to water, forest and land. Kharge spoke with Soren’s son and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and conveyed condolences to him and his family. The Congress also postponed a scheduled press conference by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in view of Shibu Soren’s demise.
In a post on X, Kharge said, “I am saddened by the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister, former Union Minister and founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren Ji. He fought all his life for a separate Jharkhand state and for the rights of its people to water, forest, land and for the protection of tribal culture.” “I spoke to his son and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and expressed my deepest condolences to his family and supporters. May God give them strength in this hour of grief,” the Congress chief said.
All government schools in Jharkhand will remain closed on Tuesday in honour of former chief minister Shibu Soren, an official said. Several private schools in Ranchi also declared a holiday on Tuesday. “Classes in all government schools will be suspended on August 5 as part of the state mourning,” School Education and Literacy Department Secretary Uma Shankar Singh said. The state government declared three-day state mourning in honour of Soren. The government has also cancelled all its scheduled programmes during the period, according to an official statement.
(Manas Dasgupta)
