The Jharkhand government has announced a three-day state mourning from August 4 to August 6 in memory of former Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren, who passed away on Monday at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness.
“In honour of the late Honourable former Chief Minister-cum-Rajya Sabha MP, the State Government has decided to observe three days of state mourning,” a government notification read.
During this period:
- The national flag will be flown at half-mast on all state buildings.
- No official state functions will be held.
- All state government offices will remain closed.
Shibu Soren, also known as “Dishom Guru”, was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, where he had been on life support for over a month. He was suffering from kidney-related complications and had suffered a stroke one and a half months ago.
Soren’s demise has triggered an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum, with leaders acknowledging his lifelong dedication to the tribal cause and the Jharkhand statehood movement.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah remembered Soren as a towering figure who worked tirelessly for tribal rights and empowerment.
“The news of the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Shibu Soren ji is extremely saddening. He struggled for decades for the rights and empowerment of the tribal community in Jharkhand,” Shah posted on X.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed similar sentiments, saying Soren was instrumental in the formation of Jharkhand and the fight for water, forest, and land rights.
“He dedicated his life to the struggle for a separate Jharkhand state and the rights of its people… as well as the preservation of tribal culture,” Kharge said.
Shibu Soren was a three-time Chief Minister of Jharkhand (2005, 2008–2009, and 2009–2010) and led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for nearly four decades. Alongside A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato, he spearheaded the movement that ultimately led to the formation of Jharkhand as a separate state in 2000.
Over his four-decade political career, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served two terms in the Rajya Sabha, earning widespread respect as a key tribal voice in Indian politics.
