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JMM Founder
JMM founder Shibu Soren, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and founding patron of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) died at a Delhi hospital on Monday at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness. Soren was a sitting Rajya Sabha MP.
His son and current Chief Minister Heman Soren announced the Shibu Soren Death, saying, “Respected Dishoom Guru has left us all. Today, I have become empty”.
The JMM patriarch, who had been away from active politics in recent months, was admitted to a hospital in Delhi in the last week of June with a kidney-related ailment.
Known as ‘Dishoom Guru’ (Great Leader) by his supporters, Shibu Soren has been a prominent figure in Indian politics, serving as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on three separate occasions and as a Union Minister.
A towering tribal leader and one of the founding figures of the JMM, Shibu Soren led the party for nearly four decades. He took over its reins in 1987 and remained its undisputed president until April 2025.
He was at the forefront of the movement for a separate Jharkhand state and went on to serve as Chief Minister three times — in March 2005, from August 2008 to January 2009, and from December 2009 to May 2010 — though he never completed a full five-year term as his tenure marked by political turbulence. His first term in 2005 lasted only nine days due to a lack of majority support.
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.
– Ends
“Jharkhand is not just land, it is our identity. Our forests, our language, our lives—this is what we fight for.”
— Shibu Soren
đź“° Shibu Soren Death at 81: Jharkhand CM and JMM Founder Passes Away in Delhi
Shibu Soren death at the age of 81 marks the end of a historic chapter in Jharkhand’s tribal politics. The former Chief Minister and founder-patron of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) passed away on August 4, 2025, at a hospital in New Delhi after a prolonged illness. He had been under treatment since late June for kidney-related complications and was on life support in his final days.
His passing was confirmed by his son and current Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, who said,
“Respected Dishoom Guru has left us all. Today, I have become empty.”
🏥 Illness and Final Days
Shibu Soren had retreated from active politics in recent months. In June 2025, he was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi due to kidney complications. Though efforts were made by the medical team, his condition deteriorated steadily. He passed away peacefully at 8:56 AM on Monday, surrounded by family.
🏛️ Political Legacy and Leadership
Known affectionately as “Dishoom Guru”, meaning “Great Leader”, Soren was one of the most influential tribal leaders in India. He co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the early 1970s to fight for tribal rights, forest land ownership, and the demand for a separate state of Jharkhand — a vision that became reality in 2000.
He served as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister three times:
- Briefly in March 2005 (only 9 days due to lack of majority),
- From August 2008 to January 2009,
- And from December 2009 to May 2010.
His tenures were often disrupted by political instability, but his presence in Jharkhand’s politics remained unshakable for decades.
Soren also served as the Union Minister for Coal during the UPA regime and was elected to the Lok Sabha six times between 1980 and 2005. At the time of his death, he was a sitting Rajya Sabha MP.
🌱 Champion of Tribal Identity
Throughout his life, Shibu Soren remained committed to the cause of Adivasi rights, land reforms, and the protection of Jharkhand’s indigenous culture. One of his most powerful and widely remembered quotes is:
“Jharkhand is not just land, it is our identity. Our forests, our language, our lives—this is what we fight for.”
This quote continues to inspire the tribal youth of the region and reflects the essence of his decades-long struggle.
🧠JMM Leadership and Transition
Soren led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for nearly four decades, taking over as party president in 1987. In April 2025, he formally stepped down, passing the reins to his son, Hemant Soren, who continues to lead the party and serves as the state’s Chief Minister.
Even after stepping away from leadership, he remained a respected figure and advisor within the party — a symbol of stability and experience.
🕊️ Reactions to Shibu Soren’s Death
Condolences poured in from across the political spectrum:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him “a grassroots leader who dedicated his life to the upliftment of the tribal communities.”
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called his death “a great loss to the nation.”
- Tribal communities across Jharkhand held prayer meetings and candlelight vigils in his honor.
His final rites are expected to be held in Dumka, his political stronghold, with full state honors.
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Shibu Soren Death at 81: Former Jharkhand CM and JMM founder dies in Delhi after illness. Nation mourns a powerful tribal voice.
Published By: Sahil Sinha
Published On: August 4, 2025