Saraikela: A sense of celebration has swept across Jharkhand after the Centre conferred the Padma Bhushan on former Jharkhand Chief Minister and late tribal icon Shibu Soren. However, his sister Sukhi Tudu has asserted that his contributions merited the nation’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
Welcoming the Padma Bhushan, Sukhi Tudu said she was pleased with the government’s decision but stressed that Shibu Soren’s lifelong dedication went far beyond this honour. According to her, he truly deserved the Bharat Ratna.
Speaking to reporters, she said the family was proud of the Padma Bhushan but emphasised that Shibu Soren devoted his entire life to Jharkhand and the welfare of tribal communities, making him worthy of the highest civilian recognition.
Recalling his early years, Sukhi Tudu said she had witnessed her brother’s commitment to social service since childhood. He would tirelessly travel through forests, mobilise people, spread awareness, and lead movements against exploitation by moneylenders and the feudal system.
She described Shibu Soren not just as a political leader, but as a powerful symbol of tribal identity and the struggle for water, forests, land, and social justice. She added that people across Jharkhand have long demanded the Bharat Ratna for “Dishom Guru,” whose life exemplified sacrifice, struggle, and service.
She also noted that social service was deeply rooted in their family, as their mother was active in community work. Among the five siblings, she said, Shibu Soren devoted the maximum time and energy to societal upliftment.
With the Padma Bhushan bringing renewed national focus on his legacy, the demand for conferring the Bharat Ratna on Shibu Soren is growing stronger among his supporters.
With inputs from IANS