He Lost His Father to Zamindars—Then Gave a Zamindar’s Son a Future
Untold Stories about Shibu Soren (second part) | From launching the Dhan Katni Andolan to mentoring a Supreme Court lawyer from a Zamindar family, his journey defied binaries. He built a political force rooted in tribal identity and inclusive leadership — even helping raise party cadre Sudivya Kumar to a minister. As tributes pour in, Jharkhand remembers a man who redefined loyalty, resistance, and leadership
Jharkhand’s Soren family has often been accused by opposition parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party, of engaging in dynasty politics. However, Shibu Soren, the founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, also promoted party cadres—and even the son of a Jamindar (landlord), against whom he had once waged a fierce battle to eradicate the Zamindari Pratha in his region.
Shibu Soren’s father, Shobran Manjhi, a teacher, was murdered by Jamindars when Soren was in Class VIII. He dropped out of school and launched a movement against the landlords. He led the Dhan Katni Andolan (Reap the Crop Movement) across the Giridih, Dhanbad, Bokaro, and Jamtara regions.
Fought Against Jamindars, But Uplifted Their Families
The Dhan Katni Andolan was a violent movement. The landlords, then still powerful, used every means to suppress the uprising by poor peasants, mostly tribals. However, the movement grew stronger under Soren’s leadership. He formed the Sanot Shanthal Samaj (SSS) in 1970 to take control of the region. The landlords’ grip crumbled.
One such landlord, Gunadhar Dan, once approached Sibu Soren in despair. He told Soren that his people had destroyed his means of livelihood and that he now struggled to raise his children. He wished to send his son away for higher education. Soren assured him of help and declared that he would adopt and support Dan’s son, Sanjiv.
A resident of Maniyadih, Tundi (Dhanbad), Sanjiv went on to complete his BSc from Ranchi University and LLB from Delhi University. He became a practising lawyer in the Supreme Court and fought nearly all the legal cases filed against Shibu Soren. Later, the JMM nominated him to the Rajya Sabha.
Uplifted Party Cadres
“When I joined the JMM and began dedicating myself to it full-time, my father grew worried about my future,” recalled Sudivya Kumar, now a minister in Hemant Soren’s cabinet. “Around that time, the Pirtand double murder case was reopened, and Guruji began visiting Giridih frequently. I was spending most of my time with him.”
“One day, he came to my house, met my father, and requested him to let me stay with him and work for the party. He promised to guide me like a father.”
Kumar later became a district president, got a party ticket, won the MLA seat twice, and is now a minister with key portfolios.
Over JMM’s five-decade journey, it is widely said that Guruji mentored and elevated several party workers, placing them in influential roles within both government and party ranks.
A Family Man
On the death of the 81-year-old leader, the Jharkhand government has declared three days of mourning. Some netizens are demanding a seven-day mourning period, arguing that Soren’s death is a monumental loss for the people of Jharkhand.
Sibu Soren is survived by his wife, Rupi Soren, three sons—Durga, Hemant, and Basant—and a daughter, Anjali. He was a lifelong vegetarian and a teetotaler.
There is now a growing demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on the Dishom Guru, who not only represented nearly every house in Indian politics but also served as Jharkhand’s chief minister three times and was a Union minister.
