The state of Jharkhand has ordered a three-day state mourning on August 4-6, 2025, as a befitting send-off to one of its founding fathers and most respected leaders ever, former Chief Minister Shibu Soren. His death left a deep sense of loss and vacuum in the political and cultural landscape of Jharkhand, almost a sad parting departure of the veteran tribal leader lovingly referred to as Guruji when he died at the age of 81. When news of his death reached every corner, there was an outpouring of grief in the state, and tributes poured in from all over the country with references to his key role in shaping Jharkhand and his lifetime dedication to the rights of the tribes and social justice.
The state of Jharkhand declared the period of mourning as an honour; during this period, the national flag will also be raised at half-mast on all government properties within the state. All the official functions as well as the general entertainment shows have been cancelled, and this is an indication of the serious mood that has taken control in the region. Offices at the government level were closed down on the 4th and 5th of August, and several other institutions, both private and government, such as schools and colleges, closed voluntarily. Some districts have scheduled special prayers and candlelight vigils, and gatherings to commemorate in honour of the leader.
Chief Minister of Jharkhand for three terms, Shibu Soren (founding father of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha {JMM}) was the towering personality of the movement that saw the creation of the state in 2000. Soren was born in a tribal village in the Dumka district and, during the 1970s, came to the forefront of politics in his strong political voice, defending the rights of Adivasis and other marginalized groups. Having served as a politician, he did not leave behind any wavering commitment to the issues regarding indigenous people, the rights of the land, and social justice. He is also the Union Minister for Coal in the central government, which further strengthened his position as a national leader.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren, son of Shibu Soren, said he was deeply saddened by the death of his father, and a lot needs to be said about Jharkhand. He asked people of the state to embody the values and ideas that Guruji promoted during his life in his statement. He even declared that Soren would be given a state burial with all the state honours during his last rites, which will be conducted in his ancestral village in Nemra.
The state mourning has not only put government machinery out of action but has made people join hands irrespective of political and community lines. The leaders of all parties, tribal organizations, student unions, and civil societies offered condolences and tributes to the leader whose legacy was used to form the identity of the present-day Jharkhand. Banners, posters and floral tributes have become in memory of the man, the Ranchi, Dumka, and Dhanbad streets saw who fought to save the soul of Jharkhand.
In the wake of the demise of the founding figure of Jharkhand, people intend to remember him as a life that was full of sacrifice, service, and struggle. The three days of official mourning are a tribute of the state to a visionary leader whose contributions are not soon to fade from the pages of the history of the state or the memories of the subjects.
