One of the most admired tribal icons and noted political leaders of the country, Shibu Soren, was cremated with state honours at his native village, Nemra, in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand on Tuesday.
After he breathed his last on August 4 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, following a prolonged illness, Soren’s mortal remains were brought to Ranchi, where thousands of people paid tribute to him.
At Nemra village, the former Rajya Sabha MP’s younger son, Basant Soren, lit the funeral pyre in the presence of family members and thousands of mourners. The public gave him an emotional send-off at the site.
Earlier, on August 4, Shibu Soren's body was brought to his official residence in Ranchi from the airport. Hundreds of people, cutting across party lines, paid tribute to him on August 4 and 5.
On the morning of 5 August, his body was taken to the Jharkhand Assembly, where Union Ministers, MPs, MLAs and a large number of people offered their respects.
As his mortal remains were being taken to his native village, people waited patiently from Ranchi to Nemra for a final glimpse. Residents gathered on both sides of the road since morning to bid him farewell.
A huge crowd assembled in Nemra to pay their last respects to Guruji — as he was popularly known. Upon arrival, traditional rituals were performed before the final rites.
The slogan “Shibu Soren Amar Rahe” (Long live Shibu Soren) echoed throughout the village. His admirers stood firm even in the rain, many with folded hands in silent respect.
The country’s top leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, travelled by road from Ranchi Airport to Nemra.
Union Ministers Jual Oram and Annapurna Devi, TMC MP Derek O'Brien, MP Pappu Yadav, as well as Arjun Munda, Sudesh Mahato, DGP Anurag Gupta, Jharkhand ministers, MLAs and several other dignitaries also attended the funeral ceremony.
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