Shibu Soren cremated with state honours; Rahul, Kharge, Tejashwi attend funeral

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Shibu Soren was cremated with full state honours on Tuesday at his ancestral village, Nemra, in Ramgarh district. A towering figure in Jharkhand’s tribal and political history, Soren’s passing marked the end of an era — one defined by resistance, reform, and regional identity.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav were among the key national figures who flew in to pay their last respects to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder, popularly known as Dishom Guru.

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Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, visibly moved, lit the funeral pyre in the presence of thousands. The last rites were conducted with traditional tribal customs and rituals. “I bid farewell to my father not just as a son, but as a disciple to a guiding light,” the CM said, as chants of “Guruji amar rahein” echoed through the village.

Earlier, Soren’s mortal remains were brought from Ranchi’s Morabadi residence to Nemra, where they were kept for public viewing. A sea of mourners, cutting across party lines and social divisions, thronged the village for one final glimpse. Shops remained shut. Chulhas did not light. The entire village mourned in silence.

The funeral procession drew massive crowds. From senior political leaders to villagers from remote corners of the state, all joined in a solemn show of unity and sorrow. Slogans of gratitude and homage rose from the crowd. Many wept quietly, recalling how the man from Nemra had shaped the idea of Jharkhand.

“The land has lost its conscience. He was more than a politician—he was our pathfinder,” said an elderly mourner from Chaibasa.

Soren passed away on Monday at the age of 81. He is survived by his wife and children, including Hemant Soren, who currently leads the state government. A three-day state mourning was declared, and the national flag is being flown at half-mast in Jharkhand.