'Dishom Guru' Shibu Soren Passes Away Aged 81

Aug 4, 2025 - Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren passed away this morning (August 4) at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi following a prolonged illness. Popularly known as “Dishom Guru” or “Guruji”, Soren was 81.

The founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was suffering from kidney-related ailment and was on life support since the last one month after suffering a stroke.

He is survived by wife Rupi Soren, two sons Hemant and Basant and one daughter Anjali. Hemant is the current Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Soren was a prominent tribal leader whose political career spanned over 40 years. He was CM of Jharkhand three times although his tenure in office each time remained incomplete owing to political instability in the State. His CM terms were briefly from March 2 to 11, 2005; from August 27, 2008 to January 12, 2009; and from December 30, 2009 to May 31, 2010. 

Son Hemant confirmed the death in a message on ‘X’ saying, “Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty.”

President Droupadi Murmu condoled the JMM leader's death in a post on X sayig, “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 the formation of the state of Jharkhand.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, paid homage to the deceased leader saying he was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, and the poor and downtrodden.

Jharkhand government has declared a three-day State mourning.