It can be seen as a major move by the Jharkhand government to share the legacy of a long-time tribal leader, as well as the founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Dishom Guru Shibu Soren, to include his biography in the state school curriculum. Beginning with the academic year 2026, classes on the life and works of Shibu Soren will be covered for students in Class 2 through Class 11 across the state. The action will familiarize the young learners with the hardship, sacrifices, and success of one of the most esteemed leaders of Jharkhand.
Shibu Soren, Dishom Guru, as he is also famously referred to, has a place in the hearts of the tribal and marginalized people of Jharkhand. He was the leader of the movement for a separate Jharkhand state and spent most of his life working towards tribal rights, dignity and recognition. Introducing his biography in the education system, the government is aimed at making sure that the young generation is also able to learn about their local history, besides being inspired by his unstoppable work towards the formation of the identity of the state of Jharkhand.
Based on the decision, various elements of the life of Soren will be adjusted to the age and level of understanding of students. In the case of younger classes, there will be an inclusion of simple stories about his childhood, values and attachment with tribal traditions. In the upper classes, more elaborate sections will discuss his leadership at the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, his contribution in the statehood struggle, and his political career, including his reign as Chief Minister of Jharkhand and what he had done on the national scene.
The incorporation of the life story of Shibu Soren into the curriculum is being interpreted as a historical appreciation of tribal leaders and their contribution to the present India. It will hopefully make students in Jharkhand more proud of their heritage and emphasize the need to have perseverance and social justice. The teachers feel that this will not only boost the syllabus, but also boost the cultural heritage of the students, which will allow them to have role models of their own country to emulate.
The move is a step in a wider program by the state to incorporate the story of local heroes into the general education system. With the introduction of the new curriculum in 2026, lakhs of school children in Jharkhand will have a chance to learn the incredible story of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren and know the meaning of his lifelong struggle to the tribal communities and the establishment of a separate state of Jharkhand.
