Ranchi- On August 5, 2025, Jharkhand mourns the loss of Shibu Soren, a towering figure in the state’s history and a relentless champion of Adivasi rights and identity. Known affectionately as "Dishom Guru," Soren’s passing marks the end of an era for Jharkhand’s struggle for autonomy, justice, and dignity. While many know him as the founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and a three-time Chief Minister, several lesser-known or "forgotten" stories highlight his courage, humility, and deep connection with the people, cementing his status as a hero of Jharkhand’s rise.

Long before he entered formal politics, Shibu Soren was a teacher at heart, driven by a mission to educate and empower Adivasi youth. In the 1960s, he organized secret night schools deep in the forests of Parasnath for tribal children who couldn’t afford formal education. These classes weren’t just about literacy; Soren taught village economics, the importance of self-reliance, and the need to resist exploitative practices like moneylending and alcoholism. Risking his safety in dense, remote areas under constant surveillance by authorities, he fostered a sense of pride and awareness among Adivasis. This grassroots effort earned him the affectionate nickname "Guruji," as he became a mentor to entire communities.

The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, a prominent voice for people’s rights in the region, has released a heartfelt tribute reflecting on his legacy, contributions, and the indelible mark he left on the Adivasi movement and Jharkhand’s identity. Here is the note in full:

Shibu Soren is no longer with us. He has become a part of history. He remains alive as an intangible essence of memory, resolve, and inspiration. Shibu Soren was a towering personality in the tradition of people’s leaders who spearheaded the struggle for Adivasi identity, autonomy, and dignity. He emerged as a living symbol of resistance against the colonial exploitation of Jharkhand. The forces that plundered Jharkhand and conspired to maintain their political and administrative dominance over it left no stone unturned in their attempts to defame and marginalize him. Yet, the more they tried, the stronger his influence grew among the people of Jharkhand. The widespread public support for the current Jharkhand government is a direct result of the Jharkhandi values and sentiments nurtured by him. It is due to the deep trust and affection that the people of Jharkhand had for him.

Soren’s Tradition of Eating Last at JMM Gatherings

Shibu Soren played a monumental role in sustaining, advancing, and, even if in a limited or incomplete form, realizing the dream of a separate Jharkhand state. After Jaipal Singh Munda got entangled in the Congress party’s web and N.E. Horo’s Jharkhand Party began to wane, there was a vacuum in Jharkhand. There was a lack of a strong, organized Jharkhandi force. The people of Jharkhand, tormented by various forms of exploitation and oppression, were restless. In such times, deeply affected by the murder of his father by moneylenders, Shibu Soren launched a movement against usurers. The campaign to harvest crops from fields held hostage by moneylenders spread like wildfire. Through this "Dhankatni" (crop-cutting) movement, hundreds of Adivasi villages were truly liberated from the slavery and destitution imposed by moneylenders. This agricultural struggle, combined with the struggles of colliery workers and legal battles for rehabilitation, gave rise to a new Jharkhandi political force that spread far and wide.

Shibu Soren’s personality had many inspiring facets. He possessed extraordinary courage. On the anniversary of the Gua massacre, when Gua was turned into a police and CRPF camp and no one was allowed entry, he still reached Gua. He paid tribute to the martyrs and returned after issuing a warning to the police forces. Whenever there was a large gathering of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), he would sit and eat in almost the last row after most others had eaten. Later, after establishing himself, he ensured support reached the families of his martyred comrades and struggling associates to the best of his ability. He was free from feelings of enmity or vengeance. Even during the peak of his influence, he never thought of seeking revenge against the family of his father’s murderers. During the domicile movement, when an atmosphere of hostility prevailed, he expressed his sorrow over it. He once remarked that for becoming a soldier, physical agility and skill are more important than academic knowledge—a rare, grounded perspective that few could articulate. Physical labor and easy camaraderie were integral to his nature.

Even after independence, instead of forming a separate state for the Adivasi-majority region, it was fragmented and divided among Bihar, Bengal, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh for resource exploitation. Outsider traders and moneylenders looted Adivasi lands, exploited them like bonded laborers, and subjected women to physical and sexual abuse. Adivasis lived a life akin to slavery. To liberate Adivasis from this exploitation, Shibu Soren initiated the Dhankatni movement. He established schools for education. In Dhanbad, Jamtara, and other areas, people under his leadership harvested crops planted by moneylenders on their lands and declared those lands free. This movement spread to other regions, taking the form of a massive people’s movement. Hundreds of villages saw their lands liberated. The cases piled up in police stations could do nothing against the people’s movement.

Through this movement, Shibu Soren succeeded in bringing the atrocities against Adivasis to the world’s attention. Support for the demand for a separate Jharkhand as a just cause grew stronger. The aspects of equal rights for Adivasis, the right to decision-making, the right to live with dignity, and the right to basic necessities came to the forefront more powerfully. This was the greatest achievement of Shibu Soren’s movement.

Shibu Soren was a patient leader. He was an ordinary man, but his courage, determination, and outrage against injustice set him apart. He respected every individual. He fought against injustice but harbored no envy or enmity toward any person. He had a calm demeanor and never humiliated anyone. Yet, he was clear and resolute about his and his people’s rights. He ate simple food and stayed away from intoxicants.

Shibu Soren understood that participating in electoral politics was necessary for the development of his people. However, after entering politics, he realized the gap between the people’s dreams and government policies. This pained him. Seeing the government’s policies and the condition of the people, he often felt helpless. He expressed regret for not being able to fully realize his people’s dreams. Yet, he took pride in the fact that by fighting for a separate Jharkhand, he had created a distinct identity for the Adivasi community—one that could never be reduced to “Vananchal” or any other political label.

Alongside this, he established the recognition of fundamental rights such as Adivasi rights over water, forest, and land, the right to live with dignity, the right to make decisions about their future, and the rights of Gram Sabhas. The struggle for complete self-rule and decisive rights over water, forest, land, and resources must continue. This is the task that Veer Shibu Soren, Dishom Guru, has entrusted to the present generation. The battle is far from over.

The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha remembers Shibu Soren’s struggle and draws inspiration from it. We also learn from his pain. We pay our respects to Dishom Guru Shibu Soren. We will continue to fight for a true Jharkhandi democracy—a democracy where people’s movements and people’s power are so strong that the government is compelled to work in the interest of the people.