Shibu Soren cremation | A massive crowd of mourners, including national leaders, party workers, and villagers, gathered in Nemra village of Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district on Tuesday to pay their last respects to former Chief Minister and JMM co-founder Shibu Soren. Fondly known as ‘Dishom Guru’, Soren was cremated with full state honours amid heightened security arrangements.
The 81-year-old leader passed away on Monday in Delhi, where he was undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments. As Chief Minister Hemant Soren lit the funeral pyre, the air resonated with chants of “Guruji amar rahe”, echoing the sentiment of loss across the state. The coffin, wrapped in the Tricolour and the JMM flag, was laid on a flower-adorned charpoy at his ancestral home, following traditional tribal customs.
Soren’s wife, Roopi Soren, sat in a wheelchair, overcome with grief, while his sons Hemant and Basant, and daughter-in-law Kalpana Soren stood in silence. Kalpana was seen comforting her two sons as the family received condolences from people across the region.
Political Leaders, Citizens Join Final Journey Amid Tight Security
The mortal remains were flown from Delhi to Ranchi by special aircraft, accompanied by Hemant Soren, Basant Soren, and Kalpana Soren. From the Ranchi airport, the body was transported in a flower-decked open carriage to his Morabadi residence, before being taken to Nemra. Along the way, citizens lined the roads to offer their tributes.
Shibu Soren’s sons, Basant (in blue) and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren (in white) at the funeral of the Dishom guru. (Theorist photo)
ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge attend Shibu Soren’s last rites in Nemra
At the Ranchi assembly, Governor Santosh Gangwar, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato, Union ministers Jual Oram, Annapurna Devi and Sanjay Seth, and senior state leaders paid their respects. Legislators, senior bureaucrats, and JMM workers also gathered at the venue.
Several national political figures including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi reached Nemra by road due to bad weather conditions. AAP MP Sanjay Singh, TMC MP Shatabdi Roy, and Purnea MP Pappu Yadav also attended the funeral. Former Union Minister Arjun Munda and AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto arrived on motorcycles, navigating massive traffic snarls.
The late leader, affectionately known as ‘Dishom Guru’, was 81 and passed away on Monday. (Theorist photo)
Shops and establishments in Ranchi remained shut during the first half of the day. The state government declared a three-day mourning till August 6, while most schools remained closed and held special prayer meetings for peace to the departed soul. The Jharkhand Assembly was adjourned sine die and Rajya Sabha proceedings were suspended on Monday as a mark of respect.
