Who Was Shibu Soren? ‘Dishom Guru’ And JMM Patriarch Who Fought For Jharkhand’s Statehood

Last Updated:August 04, 2025, 10:29 IST

Shibu Soren, one of India’s tallest tribal leaders and a founding force behind the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, passed away on August 4, 2025

Jharkhand ex-Chief Minister and JMM founder dies at 81

Shibu Soren, one of India’s tallest tribal leaders and a founding force behind the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), passed away on August 4, 2025, in Delhi. He was 81. Popularly known as ‘Dishom Guru’, meaning ‘guru of the nation’ in Santhali, Soren’s life mirrored the evolution of Jharkhand itself: from grassroots rebellion to statehood, from insurgency to democratic politics.

Current Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his son, confirmed the news in a post on X.

“Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty…" (sic), Hemant Soren wrote on X.

What Made Shibu Soren A Tribal Icon?

Soren was not just a politician; he was the face of a movement. Revered as Dishom Guru, he spearheaded the tribal resistance to the Mahajani system, a deeply exploitative network of moneylenders who preyed on Adivasi communities. Soren’s leadership during this period earned him legendary status in the Santhal belt, where he actively opposed non-tribal encroachment and feudal landlords.

He made Dumka his political base, winning the Lok Sabha seat from the region eight times, and turning the area into a JMM stronghold.

Early Life And Entry Into Activism

Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemhra village in Hazaribagh (now in Jharkhand), Shibu Soren lost his father, Somlang Soren, a schoolteacher, to violence in the 1960s. The incident deeply shaped his worldview and set him on a path of activism.

By the late 1960s, he had already founded the Santhal Sudhar Samaj and established an ashram at Tundi block in Dhanbad to mobilise tribals and take on exploitative structures. His fight was aimed not just at landlords, but also at institutional neglect and discrimination against Adivasis.

When Did His Political Career Begin?

Soren formally entered politics in 1971, when he was appointed general secretary of the newly-formed Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Over the next five decades, his career would see multiple parliamentary victories, Union Cabinet berths, and three terms as Jharkhand’s Chief Minister.

Shibu Soren’s Political Timeline: Key Milestones

• 1980: Elected to the 7th Lok Sabha from Dumka (first term)
• 1986: Becomes JMM president
• 1989–1996: Re-elected to 9th, 10th, and 11th Lok Sabha
• 1998–2001: Served as a Rajya Sabha MP
• 2002–2004: Re-elected to the 13th and 14th Lok Sabha, appointed Union Minister for Coal and Mines in May 2004
• March 2005: Sworn in as Jharkhand CM, but resigned within 10 days due to lack of majority
• 2006: Re-inducted into the Union Cabinet, but resigned again after being convicted in a 1994 murder case
• 2007: Survives assassination attempt in Dumka while being escorted to jail
• Aug 2008 – Jan 2009: Becomes CM again; resigns after failing to get elected to Assembly
• 2009–2014: Wins 15th Lok Sabha term; appointed to key parliamentary committees
• 2010: Becomes Jharkhand CM for the third time, resigns after BJP pulls support
• 2014: Wins 16th Lok Sabha seat from Dumka
• 2019: Loses to BJP’s Sunil Soren
• 2020: Takes oath as Rajya Sabha member

What Were The Major Controversies?

Soren’s career was not without turbulence. In 2006, he was convicted in the kidnapping and murder of his personal secretary, Shashinath Jha. The case dated back to 1994, when Jha was abducted from Delhi and killed in Ranchi. Soren was forced to resign from the Union Cabinet and was jailed. However, he was later acquitted by the Delhi High Court.

He also survived a bomb attack in Dumka in June 2007, allegedly while being transported to prison.

What Was His Health Condition In Recent Years?

Soren’s health had been deteriorating over the last two years. Notable incidents include:

• Feb 2023 & Sept 2023: Hospitalised with respiratory issues; diagnosed with lower tract infection
• Feb 2025: Admitted to Medanta Hospital in Ranchi for breathing difficulties, then shifted to Delhi
• June 2025: Hospitalised at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi
• August 2, 2025: Placed on ventilator support
• August 4, 2025: Passed away in Delhi, aged 81

Political Legacy

Shibu Soren’s legacy lies in his role in the creation of Jharkhand, his mobilisation of tribal identity, and the political empowerment of historically marginalised communities.

From the forest rights movement to the fight against moneylenders, and from statehood agitation to national politics, Soren embodied the evolution of Adivasi political voice in India.

His son, Hemant Soren, continues to lead the JMM and serve as the state’s Chief Minister, inheriting both the political mantle and the expectations of a movement his father helped build from scratch.

Karishma Jain

Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar...Read More

Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar...

Read More

Location :

First Published:

August 04, 2025, 10:27 IST

News explainers Who Was Shibu Soren? ‘Dishom Guru’ And JMM Patriarch Who Fought For Jharkhand’s Statehood

Read More