Shibu Soren conferred Padma Bhushan posthumously, wife receives honour from Prez Murmu

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu posthumously conferred the prestigious Padma Bhushan upon Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday evening.

His wife, Rupi Soren, received the award from the President in the presence of several top dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. President Murmu stepped down from the dais to present the medal to Rupi Soren, who attended the ceremony in a wheelchair.

The Legacy of ‘Dishom Guru’

The nation remembers Shibu Soren as a towering titan in Jharkhand’s political and social history. He dedicated his entire life to championing tribal identity, fighting for local rights over jal (water), jungle (forest), and zameen (land), and leading the historic demand for a separate Jharkhand state. His lifelong grassroots struggles earned him the reverent titles of ‘Dishom Guru’ (Leader of the Country) and ‘Guruji’.

Born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village of Ramgarh district (then part of Bihar), the activism of his father, Sobaran Soren, deeply shaped young Shibu’s life. After exploitative moneylenders killed his father, Shibu Soren embarked on a lifelong crusade against oppression.

From Grassroots Rebel to State Founder

Soren’s activism spanned decades and fundamentally altered the region’s socio-political landscape:

• The 1970s Crusades: He launched aggressive movements across the Santhal Pargana and North Chotanagpur regions against usury, illegal land grabbing, and the systemic oppression of tribal communities.
• The ‘Dhan Katni’ Movement: He led thousands of tribal farmers to successfully reclaim their snatched agricultural lands.
• Night Schools of Tundi: He initiated night schools in the Tundi region to promote education, social awareness, and self-reliance. It was here that local communities lovingly gave him the moniker ‘Guruji’.

In 1972, Soren co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to turn the unorganized tribal angst into an organized statehood movement. For nearly three decades, he spearheaded this relentless political battle, which culminated in the creation of Jharkhand on November 15, 2000—the crowning achievement of his long political career.

A Lasting Impact on Indian Politics

Soren subsequently served three terms as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He also represented the Dumka constituency multiple times in the Lok Sabha and served a stint as the Union Coal Minister.

Known for his distinct and quiet political style, Soren always preferred direct, grassroots engagement over grand, scripted speeches. Through intimate village meetings and powerful public gatherings, he built an unshakeable, decades-long emotional bond with the tribal communities of Central India.