Shibu Soren, JMM co-founder and three-time Jharkhand Chief Minister, dies at 81
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha co-founder Shibu Soren died at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, on 4 August 2025, aged 81.
Summary
Shibu Soren, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and co-founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), died at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, on the morning of 4 August 2025 after a prolonged kidney-related illness; he was 81. Popularly known as 'Dishom Guru', Soren co-founded the JMM in 1973 with A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahto at Dhanbad, served as Jharkhand's Chief Minister three times and as Union Coal Minister at different points between 2004 and 2006, and was elected to the Lok Sabha several times from Dumka. Soren led the JMM for nearly four decades before becoming its founding patron in April 2025, when his son Hemant Soren, the current Chief Minister, succeeded him as party president. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the hospital to pay homage, and the Jharkhand government declared three days of state mourning.
Key facts
- Died
- 4 Aug 2025, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi
- Age
- 81 (born 11 Jan 1944, Nemra)
- Known as
- Dishom Guru
- JMM
- Co-founded 1973 with A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahto, Dhanbad
- Offices
- Jharkhand CM three times; Union Coal Minister (2004–06); Lok Sabha MP from Dumka; Rajya Sabha 2020
- Mourning
- Three-day state mourning in Jharkhand
- Son
- Hemant Soren, Jharkhand CM and JMM president
Practice MCQs 3 questions
In which year was the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha co-founded by Shibu Soren, who died in August 2025?
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Correct answer: A — 1973
Shibu Soren co-founded the JMM in 1973 with A.K. Roy and Binod Bihari Mahto at a public gathering in Dhanbad.
Consider the following statements about Shibu Soren (died August 2025): 1. He served as Union Coal Minister in the UPA government. 2. He was Chief Minister of Jharkhand three times. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. Soren served as Union Coal Minister at different points between 2004 and 2006 and was Chief Minister of Jharkhand three times.
By what popular title was Shibu Soren, the JMM leader who died on 4 August 2025, known?
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Correct answer: D — Dishom Guru
Shibu Soren was fondly called 'Dishom Guru', meaning leader of the land.