Shibu Soren left a void in the consciousness of tribal India

The death of Shibu Soren, the leader of the Jharkhand movement and the founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, at the age of 81, is the end of an era not only of Jharkhand politics, but of the entire tribal discourse and the democratic consciousness of India. On Monday morning, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, while sharing the information about his father's death, wrote, "Today I have become a void." This was not just the emotional expression of a son, but also the mourning song of the tribal consciousness, whose soul was guided by Dishom Guru for decades.

Shibu Soren's life is a saga of starting from a remote village in Hazaribagh (now Jharkhand) in Bihar and reaching the center of Indian democracy. He was born in 1944 at a time when the tribal society was caught in the triangle of social, economic and cultural exploitation. His father Sobaran Soren was murdered for raising his voice against the moneylender system. This was the moment that made Shibu Soren a pioneer of tribal resistance by heating him in the fire of the mass movement.

Shibu Soren led the paddy harvesting movement against the moneylender system, in which he gave a clear message that only the farmers who grow paddy will harvest the paddy, not the moneylenders. This movement was not only a question of economic justice, but it was also a proclamation of tribal self-respect and self-reliance. In the 1970s, this movement spread throughout South Bihar and Shibu Soren went from village to village and organized the tribals.

In the year 1973, along with Vinod Bihari Mahto and AK Rai, he founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. JJM was not an ordinary political organization, but it was a fighting front to protect the self-respect of the tribals, their resources and cultural identity. This organization gave the idea of a separate state of Jharkhand the form of a strong social movement. The idea of Jharkhand as a cultural, geographical and economic unit by combining 26 districts of undivided Bihar was the result of his efforts.

Shibu Soren not only fought for the creation of the state, but also gave it a stance, a stance that challenged the system instead of bowing down to it. The crowds that thronged his rallies and the enthusiasm among the tribal youth proved that he was not just a leader, but had become synonymous with a mass movement. Shibu Soren was given the title of 'Dishom Guru' by the tribal society. Dishom means 'country' and Guru means 'guide'. Thus, Dishom Guru is one who gives social, cultural and political direction to his community. Shibu Soren used to run night schools, so that the tribals who work hard all day could study at night. He used to campaign against alcohol and extravagance and believed that only education can take the tribal society on the path of progress.

His first speech in Parliament was against alcohol, this is a proof of the depth of his thinking and social reformer approach. He wanted to see the tribal society self-reliant, educated and self-respecting. This is the reason why he became immortal in the consciousness of the tribal society not only as a political leader but also as a social guide. Even after losing the Lok Sabha elections for the first time in 1977, Shibu Soren did not give up. From 1980 to 2019, he was elected MP from Dumka eight times and MLA twice. He was also a member of the Rajya Sabha twice. His parliamentary life was full of ups and downs. He was made the Coal Minister three times in the Central Government, but unfortunately, he could not complete his term all three times.

Soon after becoming a Union Minister in 2004, an arrest warrant was issued in an old case of Jamtara and he had to resign. In 2006, he had to leave the post again after being convicted in the murder case of personal secretary Shashinath Jha, although later the Delhi High Court acquitted him. At the state level too, his journey to the post of Chief Minister was full of obstacles. He became the Chief Minister of Jharkhand thrice, but all three times he had to leave the post due to losing the majority or legislative elections. In 2009, a government was formed with the support of BJP but it fell soon. It is ironic that the leader who fought for the state of Jharkhand could not provide stable governance there himself. There was no dearth of criticism in Shibu Soren's political life. He was accused of dynasty politics, corruption and administrative inefficiency many times. Especially, questions were raised about dynasty politics and centralization of power within Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. The process of handing over the party leadership to his son Hemant Soren was also criticized many times.

 

Despite this, it would not be wrong to say that these criticisms do not reduce his historical contribution. Shibu Soren's legacy cannot be measured only by power or positions; the social consciousness he awakened is still alive in the soul of Jharkhand.

Overall, the demise of Shibu Soren is not just the end of a politician, but the end of an era of the soul of Jharkhand. He was the leader of that generation, who considered politics as a medium of social change, and who learned leadership by being tempered in the heat of movements. Today, when the languages of Indian politics are changing, Shibu Soren's legacy reminds us that the true meaning of power is to understand the suffering of the people, speak in their language and fight for them.

Jharkhand is a state today, but it is not defined by political boundaries alone, it is built from the souls of pioneers like Shibu Soren. The departure of Dishom Guru has left a void in the consciousness of tribal India, which will not be easy to fill. Perhaps, Hemant Soren's saying "I have become a void" is not just a personal pain, but it is the feeling of every citizen of Jharkhand who once looked towards Dishom Guru for direction.

 

Early Political Involvement

• 1970s: Emerged as a leader of the Jharkhand movement, advocating for a separate tribal state.
• Founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in 1972, focused on tribal rights and statehood for Jharkhand.
• Known for mobilizing Santhal tribal communities against land alienation by outsiders (referred to as "dikus").

 

Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha)

• Elected 8 times to the Lok Sabha from Dumka (Jharkhand) constituency:
• First elected in 1980
• Re-elected in 1989, 1991, 1996, 2002 (bypoll), 2004, 2009, and 2019
• Lost the seat several times in between due to political shifts but remained a key tribal leader.

 

Union Minister Roles

• Held various Union Cabinet portfolios in UPA governments:
• Minister of Coal in 2004 and briefly again in 2006
• His tenure was marked by controversy, including allegations related to coal block allocations and corruption.

 

Chief Minister of Jharkhand

Shibu Soren served as Chief Minister of Jharkhand three times, though none of the tenures were long or stable:

1.   First Term:

o   Tenure: March 2 – March 12, 2005 (Only 10 days)

o   Had to resign after failing to prove majority.

2.   Second Term:

o   Tenure: August 27, 2008 – January 18, 2009

o   Resigned after JMM withdrew support from the UPA alliance in the state.

3.   Third Term:

o   Tenure: December 30, 2009 – May 31, 2010

o   Resigned after losing majority due to alliance issues.

 

Controversies and Legal Issues

• Chirudih Massacre Case (1975): Accused in the murder of 11 people during a tribal uprising; later acquitted.
• Shashi Nath Jha Murder Case: Accused and arrested in 2004; later acquitted by Delhi High Court in 2007 due to lack of evidence.

 

Role in Jharkhand Statehood

• Key leader in the decades-long movement for the creation of Jharkhand, which became a state in 2000.
• Seen as the face of tribal empowerment in the region.
• Remains an influential figure in Jharkhand politics, even though his son Hemant Soren has taken over active leadership of the JMM.

Family and Legacy

• Son: Hemant Soren – former and current Chief Minister of Jharkhand, and working president of JMM.
• Continues to be a respected patriarch within the party and tribal politics, though he has largely retired from active politics due to age and health.