Shibu Soren, founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. (file photo)
Digital Desk, Dhanbad. hibu Soren First Birth Anniversary After Death: Today is the 82nd birth anniversary of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren, founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), pioneer of Jharkhand movement and former Chief Minister of the state. Shibu Soren, born on January 11, 1944, may no longer be among us, but his struggle, his politics and his dream are still alive in the soul of Jharkhand. This is his first birth anniversary after his demise on August 4, 2025, which is being celebrated with reverence and remembrance across the state. Tributes will be paid to Dishom Guru in the presence of the Chief Minister and his son Hemant Soren in the main program organized in the capital Ranchi. Apart from this, JMM leaders, workers and supporters in all the districts of the state including Dhanbad are remembering their beloved leader. Memorial meetings, tribute programs and public dialogues are being organized from party offices to villages.
Politics emerged from the ground of struggle
Shibu Soren was born in Nemra village of Ramgarh district of Jharkhand. His father Sobran Manjhi was a teacher and was vocal for the rights of tribals. In those times, moneylenders used to grab the land of tribals by trapping them in debt. Sobran Manjhi opposed this, for which he had to pay the price with his life. When this incident happened, Shibu Soren was just 13 years old. The brutal murder of his father decided the direction of his life. It was from here that his struggle against injustice began.
Dhankatni movement and the title of 'Dishom Guru'
After the murder of his father, Shibu Soren started the Dhankatni movement against the moneylenders. Under this movement, the tribals used to harvest their rightful crops from the fields of the moneylenders and take them away. The circle of tribal youth armed with bows and arrows became the identity of this movement. In a famous incident, when the police reached the village to arrest them, Shibu Soren himself showed the way to the police and as soon as they reached the village, the women surrounded the police. This movement made him the undisputed leader of the tribal society. It was during this period that he received the title of 'Dishom Guru' - that is, Guru of the country.
Central pillars of Jharkhand state movement
In the fight to make Jharkhand a separate state, Shibu Soren joined hands with Binod Bihari Mahato and Comrade A.K. Established Jharkhand Mukti Morcha together with Rai. In parliamentary politics, he entered the Lok Sabha for the first time from Dumka in 1980 and after that represented Dumka eight times. He was also a minister in the Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh governments at the Centre.
Became Chief Minister, but did not get full tenure
Shibu Soren's political life was also full of ironies. Despite a fractured mandate, he became the Chief Minister in 2005, but could not prove majority. He became the Chief Minister in 2008 and 2009 also, but sometimes due to legislative and sometimes political circumstances, he had to leave the chair. It is a historical irony that the leader who laid the foundation of Jharkhand state never got the opportunity to become the Chief Minister for a full term.
Today, his son Hemant Soren, who is currently the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, is carrying forward his legacy. Dishom Guru may not be among us physically, but his struggle, his voice and his dream are still guiding the politics and society of Jharkhand.