A day after the passing of Shibu Soren, legendary tribal leader and co-founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), his son and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote an emotional tribute, promising to carry forward his father’s mission of justice, equality, and tribal rights.
Shibu Soren, also called Dishom Guru, died at the age of 81 in Delhi’s Ganga Ram Hospital following a lengthy illness. A titan of tribal politics, the former three-time chief minister left a lasting legacy of grassroots activism, land rights advocacy, and tribal empowerment.
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“A Pillar of Jharkhand’s Soul Has Departed”
In a heartfelt post on X, Hemant Soren expressed the depth of his grief, describing his father not just as a parent but as a guiding force and protector of the oppressed.
“I am going through the toughest days of my life. Not only has the shadow of a father been taken from me, but a pillar of Jharkhand’s soul has departed. I didn’t just call him ‘Baba.’ He was my guide, the root of my thoughts, and that forest-like shade that protected thousands and lakhs of Jharkhandis from the scorching sun and injustice,” wrote Hemant.
मैं अपने जीवन के सबसे कठिन दिनों से गुज़र रहा हूँ।
मेरे सिर से सिर्फ पिता का साया नहीं गया,
झारखंड की आत्मा का स्तंभ चला गया।मैं उन्हें सिर्फ ‘बाबा’ नहीं कहता था
वे मेरे पथप्रदर्शक थे, मेरे विचारों की जड़ें थे,
और उस जंगल जैसी छाया थे
जिसने हजारों-लाखों झारखंडियों को
धूप और…— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) August 5, 2025
The heartfelt message brought to light Hemant’s tragedy as well as the hole in Jharkhand’s political and social structure.
“From Hunger to Hope”: Soren Recalls Humble Beginnings
Hemant described Shibu Soren’s remarkable journey from poverty-stricken birth in Nemra village to becoming India’s most powerful tribal voice. He spoke of how the injustice faced by his father during childhood shaped him into a lifelong fighter for tribal rights.
आदरणीय बाबा दिशोम गुरुजी अनंत यात्रा की ओर..
वीर दिशोम गुरु शिबू सोरेन अमर रहें! pic.twitter.com/i6CuFwPc07
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) August 5, 2025
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“My Baba’s beginnings were very humble. Born in that small house in Nemra village, where there was poverty, there was hunger, but there was courage. In his childhood, he lost his father. The exploitation of the landlords gave him a fire that made him a fighter for his entire life,” Hemant added.
“I Will Keep Your Promise, Baba”
In a stirring vow, Hemant pledged to step into his father’s shoes and continue the battle for the oppressed and marginalised in Jharkhand.
“The dream you saw is now my promise. I will not let Jharkhand bow down; I will not let your name fade away. Your struggle will not remain incomplete. Baba, now you rest. You have fulfilled your duty. Now we must walk in your footsteps. Jharkhand will remain indebted to you. I, your son, will keep your promise,” he concluded.
A Legacy Etched in Tribal Struggles
Although Shibu Soren’s death signifies the end of an era, his legacy endures because of his son’s promises. Born out of tribal conflict, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha now looks to Hemant Soren to spearhead the next phase of the campaign for dignity and justice.
The political focus now shifts to whether the younger Soren can turn this poignant moment into a reinvigorated fight for his father’s values while the state grieves. There is little doubt that Jharkhand’s political path will continue to be guided by the legacy of the “Dishom Guru.”
