JMM Founder and Former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren Passes Away at 81

New Delhi: Shibu Soren, the towering figure of Jharkhand politics and founding father of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), passed away on Monday morning at the age of 81. He was undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications and had been on life support for the past month.

His son, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, announced the news on social media with an emotional message: “Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty…” he wrote in Hindi on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Soren breathed his last at 8:56 a.m. at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi. A statement from the hospital confirmed that he had been suffering from a prolonged illness, including a stroke and renal failure. He was being treated under the supervision of Dr. A.K. Bhalla, Chairman of Nephrology, along with a team from Neurology and ICU.

Affectionately known as “Guruji” or “Dishom Guru” in Jharkhand, Shibu Soren played a central role in the movement for a separate state for tribal communities. He served as Chief Minister of Jharkhand on three occasions—briefly in 2005, 2008–09, and 2009–10—though political instability often cut his terms short.

Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village (then in Bihar, now in Jharkhand), Soren belonged to the Santhal tribal community. At just 18, he founded the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh to promote tribal rights and land reform. His activism laid the groundwork for his future political journey.

In 1972, he co-founded the JMM along with A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato. The party became synonymous with the fight for tribal justice and regional autonomy, eventually contributing to the formation of Jharkhand in 2000.

Over his decades-long political career, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served two terms in the Rajya Sabha—the second of which was ongoing at the time of his death.

His passing marks the end of a defining chapter in Jharkhand’s political and tribal history. Tributes have poured in from leaders across party lines, remembering him as a tireless crusader for the rights of indigenous people and a symbol of grassroots leadership.