Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s mother, Rupi Soren, died on Wednesday while undergoing treatment for brain- and heart-related illnesses at Hill View Hospital in Ranchi. She had been facing health problems for some time and was admitted to the hospital after her condition deteriorated. She was later placed on a ventilator as her condition became critical.
Hemant Soren, several ministers of the Jharkhand government and others had been visiting the hospital since Wednesday afternoon. Her death has left the Soren family and their supporters in mourning.
Rupi Soren’s last rites will be performed on Thursday at Nemra in Ramgarh district. Preparations for the cremation are underway at Nemra, a place associated with the Soren family.
According to the information available, Rupi Soren had earlier been admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad for treatment. She returned to Jharkhand after undergoing treatment there, following which her health condition deteriorated suddenly.
Doctors examined her at home before she was admitted to Hill View Hospital in Ranchi after her breathing difficulties increased and she required better medical care. A team of doctors was monitoring her condition continuously at the hospital. After her condition became critical, she was placed on a ventilator.
Rupi Soren’s husband, Shibu Soren, died on August 4 last year. He was among the prominent leaders of the Jharkhand movement and was associated with the campaign for a separate Jharkhand state.
His supporters and political associates often referred to him as ‘Dishom Guru’ and ‘Guruji’.
Rupi Soren remained with him during his long political and social struggle. She witnessed the major phases of Shibu Soren’s political journey and the family’s experiences during that period.
About three months ago, Rupi Soren appeared in public during a special investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where she received the Padma Bhushan awarded posthumously to her late husband, Shibu Soren.
Shibu Soren was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian honour, for his contribution to the Jharkhand movement and public life.
Rupi Soren, who was in a wheelchair, received the award from President Droupadi Murmu. The ceremony brought attention to Shibu Soren’s decades-long political and social journey and the role of his family during that period.
During the Jharkhand movement, Shibu Soren was active for a long period in the state’s tribal and rural areas as part of his political and social struggle. His activities across forests, hills and villages made him a prominent figure in Jharkhand politics.
Rupi Soren witnessed this period alongside her family. The family went through several phases during Shibu Soren’s political journey.
Hemant Soren later carried forward his father’s political legacy and became a prominent leader in Jharkhand politics before becoming the state’s Chief Minister.
Political leaders and other public representatives in Jharkhand expressed condolences following Rupi Soren’s death.
Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy expressed his condolences on social media platform X. He said that Rupi Soren had lived a successful life and left behind memories for her family and those who cared for her. He also prayed for peace for the departed soul and strength for the family to endure the difficult period.
Former Chief Minister Champai Soren also expressed grief over Rupi Soren’s death. Referring to her as the wife of the late Shibu Soren, he recalled old events and memories from the period of the Jharkhand movement.
Champai Soren said he was distressed by the news of Rupi Soren’s death and prayed for peace for the departed soul and strength for her family to bear the loss.
Rupi Soren’s last rites will be performed on Thursday at Nemra in Ramgarh. Preparations are being made by the family and at the local level for the cremation.
Nemra has been associated with the Soren family’s political and social journey and has also had significance in the context of Shibu Soren’s political life and the Jharkhand movement.
Family members, political associates, supporters and local residents are expected to reach Nemra to pay their last respects.
