Shibu Soren, JMM Founder and Former Jharkhand CM, Dies at 81.
Shibu Soren, veteran tribal leader, Rajya Sabha MP, and one of the most influential architects of the Jharkhand statehood movement, passed away on Sunday at the age of 81. The former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Union Minister had been undergoing treatment at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for over a month and had been in critical condition in recent days.
His son and current Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, confirmed the news on social media. “Beloved Dishom Guruji has left us. I lost everything today,” he wrote in an emotional tribute.
The hospital said Mr. Soren was admitted on June 19 under the care of senior nephrologist Dr. A.K. Bhalla. “Despite the best efforts of our multidisciplinary team, Mr. Shibu Soren passed away peacefully on August 4 with his family at his bedside. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Jharkhand,” the hospital said in a statement.
Born in Ramgarh (then part of Bihar) and belonging to the Santhal community, Soren emerged as a powerful voice for tribal rights. He co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in 1972, alongside A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato, and played a leading role in the agitation for a separate Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar in 2000.
Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times from Dumka, a seat that became synonymous with his political journey. He also served two terms in the Rajya Sabha, the latest ongoing at the time of his death.
Though he held the Chief Minister’s office three times, none of his terms lasted more than a few months—reflecting the turbulent coalition politics of the state. He also served as Union Coal Minister during the UPA years but resigned multiple times due to legal setbacks, including a 2006 conviction in the Shashinath Jha murder case—a verdict later overturned by the Delhi High Court.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, describing Soren as a “grassroots leader” who dedicated his life to the upliftment of tribal communities and the poor. “Pained by his passing away… My thoughts are with his family and admirers,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X, adding that he had spoken with Hemant Soren to express his condolences.
Shibu Soren is survived by his wife Roopi, sons Hemant and Basant, and daughter Anjali. His elder son Durga Soren passed away in 2009. Hemant currently serves as Jharkhand Chief Minister and recently took over as JMM president; Basant is a sitting MLA.
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