Thousands, from top politicians to villagers, gathered in Nemra, Ramgarh district, to bid a tearful farewell to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) co-founder and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, whose last rites were performed with full state honours on Tuesday. Soren, fondly known as Dishom Guru, passed away on Monday at AIIMS Delhi, aged 81, due to kidney-related ailments and multi-organ failure, following a prolonged illness.

As Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his elder son, lit the pyre amid tight security, mourners raised slogans of Guruji amar rahe (long live Guruji), reflecting the somber reverence for the tribal leader. The funeral drew a diverse crowd, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, who paid tributes in Delhi. Jharkhand declared a seven-day mourning period and a public holiday on Tuesday.

Soren’s legacy as a champion of tribal rights began with the JMM’s formation in 1973, advocating for Jharkhand’s statehood, achieved in 2000. He served as Chief Minister thrice (2002, 2008-09, 2009-10) and was a Union Coal Minister in 2004 and 2006. Despite controversies, including a 2004 bribery case acquittal, his role in uplifting Adivasi communities endures. JMM’s 2024 election win under Hemant reflects his lasting influence.

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The Hemant Soren government announced a memorial in Nemra and plans to rename Ranchi University after Soren. Posts on X hailed him as a “tribal titan,” though some criticized his later political alliances. His death, coinciding with Satyapal Malik’s, marks a poignant moment for Indian politics.

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