The Jharkhand government mourned the loss of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who passed away at 81 on Monday at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi after a prolonged illness. The state declared a three-day mourning period from August 4 to 6, with all government offices closed on August 4 and 5 and the national flag flown at half-mast across Jharkhand.

President Murmu described Soren’s death as a “big loss in the space of social justice,” highlighting his pivotal role in championing tribal identity and securing Jharkhand’s statehood. “His emphasis on the welfare of the people, especially tribal communities, will always be remembered,” she said in a post on X, extending condolences to Soren’s son, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and his family. Soren’s legacy includes three terms as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister, five Lok Sabha terms, and service as Union Minister for Coal.

The Jharkhand government canceled all scheduled programs during the mourning period. Soren, born in 1944 in Nemra village, leaves behind a towering legacy as a grassroots leader who fought for the marginalized, shaping Jharkhand’s political and social fabric.

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