Shibu Soren, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), passed away on Monday morning at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness. His son and current Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, confirmed the news on social media, writing emotionally, &ldquo;Today, I have become empty&hellip;&rdquo;
Popularly revered as "Guruji" or "Dishom Guru" in Jharkhand, Soren was a towering figure in tribal politics and a key architect of the Jharkhand statehood movement. He died at Delhi&rsquo;s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related complications and post-stroke care. He had been on life support for the past month under the supervision of Dr. A.K. Bhalla and a multi-specialist team. Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village (then Bihar, now Jharkhand), Soren belonged to the Santhal tribal community. His political activism began early; at the age of 18, he founded the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh to advocate for tribal rights and land reforms.
In 1972, alongside A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato, he co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, a party that would spearhead the demand for a separate Jharkhand state. Soren eventually became its General Secretary and one of the movement&rsquo;s most recognized faces.
Over his decades-long political career, Shibu Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served two terms in the Rajya Sabha. His contributions culminated in the formation of Jharkhand in 2000. He also served three brief terms as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand between 2005 and 2010.
His passing marks the end of an era for the tribal community and for Jharkhand&rsquo;s regional political landscape. Tributes have poured in from political leaders across the spectrum, acknowledging his lifelong fight for the rights and identity of tribal populations.
A state funeral is expected to be announced soon, with political and tribal leaders from across India likely to attend.

JMM Founder Shibu Soren Passes Away at 81 in Delhi

Jharkhand icon and tribal leader Shibu Soren dies after prolonged illness

JMM Founder Shibu Soren Passes Away at 81 in Delhi

Jharkhand icon and tribal leader Shibu Soren dies after prolonged illness

August 4, 2025 | 10:26 IST