Editor’s Note
The Jharkhand Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution to recommend the late former Chief Minister Shibu Soren for the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. The proposal will now be forwarded to the central government for consideration.
The Jharkhand Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution demanding the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, for former Chief Minister, the late Dishom Guru Shibu Soren. This decision will be communicated to the central government.
During the proceedings of the monsoon session, Minister Deepak Birua tabled the proposal in the House. He described Dishom Guru as the ‘Jananayak’ (people’s leader) of the Jharkhand movement, stating that he dedicated his entire life to protecting the rights, dignity, and self-respect of tribals, indigenous people, farmers, and the oppressed classes, and to the struggle for a separate state.
Minister Birua added that Soren passed away on August 4, 2025, during the previous monsoon session.
However, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi suggested adding two more names to the proposal. While stating his party’s full support for the resolution brought by the government, he proposed an addition.
Following the unanimous passage of the proposal requesting the Bharat Ratna for Shibu Soren, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister suggested that the passed resolution should mention that the role of the tribal community in the freedom struggle cannot be forgotten. He noted that even 78 years after independence, not a single tribal person has been awarded the Bharat Ratna.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren was also present in the House during this proposal. Congress Legislative Party leader Pradeep Yadav also presented a suggestion, proposing that statues of Shibu Soren, along with martyrs Sido-Kanhu and Babasaheb Ambedkar, should be installed on the Legislative Assembly campus.
