Shibu Soren, the influential founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), known affectionately as “Dishom Guru” (Guru of the Nation in Santhali), has passed away. He had been receiving treatment for a kidney-related illness since late June, with his condition deteriorating significantly in recent days. Placed on ventilator support on August 2nd, Soren was a prominent figure in Jharkhand’s political and tribal landscape, devoting his life to the upliftment of Adivasi communities. His activism began with the Santhal Sudhar Samaj and an ashram in Tundi, Dhanbad, where he organized tribals against exploitative practices by moneylenders and landlords, triggering a movement for Jharkhand’s indigenous people. Though his leadership brought progress to tribal communities, Soren’s career was also marked by controversies. He was born on January 11, 1944, in Nemhra village, Hazaribagh (now in Jharkhand), into a Santhal tribal family. His father’s murder in the 1960s fueled Soren’s lifelong commitment to tribal rights. In 1972, he co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which played a pivotal role in the movement to create a separate state from Bihar. Soren served as Chief Minister of Jharkhand for three terms and held cabinet positions, but his political journey was also marked by setbacks and legal challenges.
