Shibu Soren's journey — from Nemra village to the corridors of Parliament, through agitations, arrests, elections and controversies — reads like a modern epic of resilience. His passing closes a remarkable chapter in India's democratic story, but the values he championed remain deeply ingrained in Jharkhand's collective memory.

Crowds that thronged the corridors of Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on August 4, 2025, spoke of more than a political leader's passing. They were a testament to the stature of Shibu Soren, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch affectionately called "Dishom Guru," the leader of the land.

- TDG NETWORK

Weeks of treatment for various complications and a failing health ended for the 81-year-old veteran at 08:56 a.m. on August 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately travelled to the hospital and consoled Soren's family, calling him a grassroots leader "particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden."

President Droupadi Murmu, India's first tribal president, described his passing as a "big loss in the fight for social justice." The Jharkhand government declared three days of official mourning; flags were lowered across the state assembly as cries of "Shibu Soren mar rahe" echoed through the legislature. For many Jharkhandis, it felt as if a protective banyan tree had fallen.

Life and Awakening