The final journey of veteran tribal leader and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren will conclude today as his last rites are scheduled to be performed at 2 p.m. in his native village Nemra, near Barka Nala in Bokaro district. The 81-year-old former Chief Minister, popularly known as “Dishom Guru” among tribal communities, passed away on Monday morning in New Delhi following a prolonged battle with kidney-related ailments.
Soren had been admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for over a month, undergoing treatment under a team of specialists led by Dr. A.K. Bhalla, Chairman of Nephrology. He remained under intensive medical care involving nephrology, neurology, and critical care experts until he was declared dead at 8:56 a.m. on August 4. His deteriorating health had kept him away from active political life in recent months.
The funeral in Nemra village is expected to witness a large turnout of supporters, tribal leaders, party workers, and common citizens paying their final respects to one of India’s tallest tribal voices. Senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, have confirmed their presence at the funeral, signifying the national significance of Soren’s political legacy. Soren’s son Basant Soren is scheduled to perform the last rites and light the funeral pyre.
The Jharkhand government has announced a three-day state mourning from August 4 to August 6. During this period, all official programs and celebratory events have been cancelled. As a mark of respect, national flags are flying at half-mast across government buildings in the state, and entertainment functions stand suspended.
Soren’s demise has evoked an outpouring of condolences across political lines. President Droupadi Murmu visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to pay her last respects and personally consoled members of the Soren family, including Hemant Soren, the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand and Shibu Soren’s son. Leaders from across the political spectrum have paid tribute to Soren’s decades-long contributions to tribal rights, land reforms, and the statehood movement that led to the creation of Jharkhand in 2000.
A three-time Chief Minister and former Union Minister, Shibu Soren remained a pivotal figure in India’s tribal politics for over five decades. His journey from grassroots activism to the Parliament reflected his deep-rooted connection with tribal communities and their longstanding struggles for land, dignity, and political recognition. He was instrumental in shaping Jharkhand’s political identity and remained a revered figure in the region’s socio-political landscape.
Even as political differences persisted through the years, Soren’s efforts toward tribal upliftment were acknowledged across party lines. He led mass movements against exploitation of tribal lands and was seen as a symbol of assertion for indigenous communities in the mineral-rich but socioeconomically marginalised belt of eastern India.
The final rites in Nemra mark the closing of a chapter in India’s regional and tribal political history. Soren’s departure is not just a personal loss to his family and party but also a collective void felt by thousands who saw in him a leader who gave voice to the voiceless. As Jharkhand mourns and leaders descend on Nemra village to offer their final tributes, the memory of Shibu Soren will endure in the legacy of the state he helped create and the people he devoted his life to.
