President, prime minister mourn Shibu Soren’s death

By Jose Kavi

New Delhi, Aug 4, 2025: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 4 led the nation to mourn the death of Shibu Soren, founding patron of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and one of India’s towering tribal leaders. He was 81.

The former chief minister of the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand died early in the day at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital where he was undergoing treatment for a kidney-related issue since late June. His condition deteriorated recently after he suffered a stroke and had been on life support.

Soren was a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament.

President Murmu condoled Soren’s death on social media platform X, saying that his contributions as the Jharkhand chief minister and a federal minister and member of parliament will be remembered.

“The demise of Shri Shibu Soren Ji is a big loss in the space of social justice. He championed the cause of tribal identity and formation of the state of Jharkhand. Besides his work at the grassroots, he also contributed as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, as a Union Minister and as a Member of Parliament. His emphasis on the welfare of the people, especially the tribal communities, will always be remembered,” the president said.

Prime Minister Modi condoled Soren’s death in a post on X. “Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden,” he said.

The prime minister also spoke Hemant Soren, Shibu Soren’s son and current Jharkhand chief minister, and expressed his condolences. “Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti,” he added.

Hemant Soren said after his father’s death he felt empty.

The Monsoon Session of the Jharkhand Assembly was adjourned sine die, following Soren’s death. Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato said Soren’s death “is not only an irreparable loss to Jharkhand but to the nation. He was known for his fight for the poor.” The state legislators raised slogans such as ‘Shibu Soren Amar Rahe’ (Long live Shibu Soren) as soon as the house assembled.

The Jharkhand government has decided to observe three days of state mourning from August 4. All government offices would remain closed August 4 and 5.

Among other mourners were Tamil Nadu Chief Mister M K Stalin, who described Soren as one of independent India’s most influential tribal leaders. “Shibu Soren’s life was defined by relentless resistance against exploitation and an unshakeable commitment to social justice. As one of the key architects of Jharkhand’s statehood movement, he transformed decades of Adivasi assertion into a political force that gave birth to a new state,” he added.

Soren was born on January 11, 1944, into a Santal tribal family in Nemra village in present-day Jharkhand. He lost his father as a schoolboy, killed by goons hired by moneylenders. The incident cemented his early political activism, and he rose to prominence as a staunch advocate of tribal rights, championing land rights for tribals and opposing exploitative practices by landlords.

He was at the forefront of the movement for a separate Jharkhand state. He led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for the past 38 years and is recognized as the party’s founding patron. He had served as the Jharkhand chief minister of on three separate occasions and as a federal minister.

At the age of 18, he founded the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh. In 1972, he joined hands with Bengali Marxist trade unionist A K Roy and Kurmi-Mahato leader Binod Bihari Mahato to form the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. The party’s primary objective was to secure a separate state for the tribal population — a dream that was ultimately fulfilled in 2000 with the creation of Jharkhand.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called Soren a leader who “always remained connected to the land and the people.”

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condoled the death, saying, “This is very sad news for all of us. We express our condolences to the family. Our prayers are with them.”

Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar chief minister, hailed Sore as a great leader of Dalits and tribals with whom he had had good relations. “I feel sad. May his soul rest in peace… It is a great loss for politics,” he added.