Hours after the death of veteran tribal leader and the ruling JMM’s founder and Lok Sabha MP, Shibu Soren in private hospital in New Delhi, the state party leadership and family members have reportedly approved the proposal of to cremate him in his ancestor oral village Nemra in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand.

Right now move was afoot to receive the body at the airport in Ranchi.

The state government led by Chief Minidter Hemant Soren has condoled his death and decided to keep its offices closed as a mark of respect for his passing away for three days beginning Monday( August 4,2025).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on the passing of Sri Soren, and described him as a “grassroots leader” who dedicated himself to public service with unwavering commitment to the people.

Top leaders of the country including the Congress party top brass including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have expressed their condolences.

Founding patron of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Shibu Soren’s passing was announced by his son, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, on Monday.

Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Shri Shibu Soren Ji was a grassroots leader who rose through the ranks of public life with unwavering dedication to the people. He was particularly passionate about empowering tribal communities, the poor and downtrodden.”

“Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. Spoke to Jharkhand CM Shri Hemant Soren Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti,” he added.

Shibu Soren died at a Delhi hospital at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness.

“Respected Guru Dishom has left us all. Today, I have become empty…” wrote Hemant Soren on his X handle in Hindi.

The hospital, in its statement, said, “He died after a prolonged illness. He was suffering from a kidney ailment and had also suffered a stroke, a month and a half ago. He was on the life support system for the last month.”

He had been admitted to the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in the national Capital for over a month due to a kidney-related issue. He was under the treatment of Dr A.K. Bhalla, Chairman, Nephrology and a team from Neurology and ICU at the hospital.

Popularly addressed as “Guruji” or “Dishom Guru” in his home state, Soren served thrice as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand in 2005, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010. His tenures were, however, often short due to political challenges.

He was born on January 11, 1944, in Nemra village, then part of Bihar (now in Jharkhand). Shubu Soren belonged to the Santal (Santhal) tribal group.

Shibu Soren formed the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh, an organisation focused on tribal liberation and land rights, when he was 18 years old.

In 1972, he cofounded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha with A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahato, advocating for a separate Jharkhand state and tribal upliftment and later became the General Secretary of the JMM.

He played a pivotal role in the separate state movement, contributing to the eventual formation of Jharkhand in 2000.

Over a four-decade career in politics, Soren was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times and served as a Rajya Sabha member for two terms, the second ongoing.

Soren was born in Nemra village of Ramgarh district, in what was, at the time, Bihar state, India. He belongs to Santal tribe.[2] He completed his schooling in the same district. During his schooling his father was murdered by thugs employed by money lenders.