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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
History Headline: Shibu Soren and the moral arc of the republic
On August 4, Shibu Soren, 81, fondly called Dishom Guru (leader of the land), breathed his last. Born in 1945 in Nemra village in present-day Jharkhand's Ramgarh district, a centre for coal mining, at a young age, Soren was entrusted with the responsibility of demanding justice for the tribes in the Chotanagpur plateau. Witnessing local moneylenders murder his father and seeing an abysmal future for these tribes, he became a fighter for their cause. But that journey was easier said than done. Post-independence, the advent of state enterprises in the mining and industrial sectors transformed the central Indian hinterland, particularly the socio-economic fabric of the Chotanagpur plateau. While capital and technology came from outside, the tribals living there, who were supposed to benefit from this development, were squeezed out of their land and resources. Compensation, if it ever reached them, dried up and jobs, even when promised, rarely came their way. Anthropologist L P Vidyarthi noted in the early 1960s that these tribes were reduced to alcoholism and became absentee manual labourers in factories established on their lands. It was in these conditions that a new generation of leadership demanded justice for them. Jaipal Singh, an Oxford graduate and captain of the Indian hockey team that won its first gold at the 1928 Olympics, was the first to articulate the cause of tribal development in the 1950s. Singh believed that Jawaharlal Nehru — who had promised development for everyone — was the only friend the tribals had. However, when development came, there was very little place for the tribals in it. After Nehru and Singh, the mantle of tribal leadership fell on Kartik Oraon, Sushil Bage, N E Horo, Justin Richard, Bagun Sumbrui, A K Roy, Binod Bihari Mahto, Nirmal Mahto and others. More than anyone else, it was Soren's political struggles that kept reminding the Republic of its promise to the tribals. He placed the exploitation of the tribes at the centre of his political argument, which, he said, required a political solution. One immediate solution he proposed was political autonomy, which he felt could lead to the economic development of the locals. He believed that a state of their own — 'Jharkhand' — could bring prosperity to the tribals, not just those in Bihar, but also the sections in West Bengal, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. His enormous moral fortitude and political sagacity led to the creation of Jharkhand in 2000. During his struggle for the tribals, Soren forged a bond with two popular leaders from the coal belt, A K Roy, a Marxist labour leader and theoretician, and Binod Bihari Mahto, a lawyer who had helped thousands displaced by the Bokaro Steel Plant and other projects. For Roy and Mahto, politics was a way to fulfil their commitment to the people. This association would help Soren retain his vision's moral clarity. Then there was his baptism of fire in politics. Soren's political life began in the region's mineral and industrial hub, where the mining mafia, and both state and non-state actors, were ready to quash all resistance. But Soren resisted. His efforts against his adversaries led him to organise a team of friends who stuck together due to his moral standing. This art of team building set Soren apart from many other leaders of Jharkhand. Soren, who had completed his matriculation from Gola village, located on the Ramgarh coalfields, came to believe in the efficacy of negotiations. This gave him a reputation among the managers of mines and industries — as someone who only put up the just and legitimate demands of the locals. Soren's ability to talk to those in power with a sense of moral courage allowed him to deal with his political opponents, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, then Bihar Chief Minister, without losing credibility. Located as he was in the heart of the country's mining and industrial corridor — known for violence, thuggery and political funding — Soren demanded an honest share of the resources for his people. This won him the title of Guruji (teacher). Then came the episode when he accepted a bribe on behalf of the Narasimha Rao government. The news made it to the mainstream media but the episode failed to dent his image among his people. Because Soren's signature was not parliamentary give and take, it was his resistance to his people's exploitation. A good communicator, Soren spoke in popular local languages — Bangla, Khorta and Hindi — as they are spoken in the region. His flowing beard made his own tribe, the Santhals, as well as the Mundas, Oraons, Kharias and Hos, and even non-tribal villagers confident that he always fulfilled his promises. As his universe enlarged in the 1990s, so did his appeal among the struggling tribals in the tea gardens of Assam and Bengal. While many see the creation of Jharkhand as his greatest contribution, Soren will be remembered more for the establishment of the tribal cause at the centre of the moral compass of the republic. The writer teaches at JNU. He grew up knowing Shibu Soren and observed his movement from close quarters
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
BSL's special-grade steel boosts Navy vessels
Bokaro: The Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), a unit of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has supplied special-grade steel for Navy vessels, INS Ajay and INS Nistar, to boost India's defence indigenisation efforts. INS Ajay, the final vessel in the series of eight anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts (ASW-SWC), was recently launched by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. INS Nistar, designed for submarine rescue and deep-sea operations, has been commissioned by the Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. as India's first indigenous diving support vessel. The chief of communications with the BSL, Manikant Dhan, said, "SAIL-Bokaro has consistently been at the forefront of meeting the Indian Navy's steel requirements." "Our DMR 249A special-grade steel plates, known for strength and high durability critical for operational efficiency and survivability of naval ships, have been used in several warships and frigates," he added. BSL had provided special steel for warships like INS Vikrant, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Nilgiri, and INS Surat. The use of this indigenously produced steel not only enhances the structural integrity and stealth capabilities of INS Ajay but also supports the demanding underwater functions of INS Nistar, which will perform submarine rescue, deep-sea diving, and continuous surveillance missions. Every tonne of steel delivered contributes to strengthening India's naval infrastructure and advancing self-reliance in defence manufacturing, said an official.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BSL holds campaign for expansion
Bokaro: A mega signature campaign will soon be launched across Bokaro to press for the early implementation of the long-delayed Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) expansion plan and the up gradation of Bokaro General Hospital into a super-speciality facility. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It will be held jointly by a group of social and socio-political outfits including the local trade outfits. At a press conference held at Bokaro Circuit House, a youth leader Kumar Amit said, "This campaign aims to reflect the collective voice of Bokaro's people, demanding the long-promised BSL expansion and health infrastructure development." He added that it will be rolled out in next few days. The proposed 2.5 million tonne expansion under the National Steel Policy was to increase BSL's capacity from 5 to 7.5 million tonnes. Union steel minister H D Kumaraswamy had earlier announced an investment of over Rs 20,000 crore.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Meet to resolve land hurdles for industrial corridor project in Bokaro
Bokaro: After years of delay, the Bokaro leg of the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC) project may finally see a revival soon as the officials from Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) and the district administration on Friday met to resolve land pricing disputes related to the project. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With proposal deadlines set, DC Ajay Nath Jha assured that the project will usher in development and much-needed jobs for locals. He said, "A joint high-level meeting between district officials and BSL was conducted. The meeting focused on resolving pricing disputes related to land acquisition. Officials agreed to take collaborative steps to break the deadlock, hinting that the project may soon resume progress." The meeting, held at Circuit House, centred on land pricing in Bhatua Mauja for the proposed Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) under AKIC and was chaired by Anjaneyulu Dodde, director of land acquisition and records. "A major point of discussion was ensuring transparency and fairness in land valuation. Officials evaluated pricing based on local market rates, previous sale data, and govt benchmarks to maintain equity in acquisition," said DC Jha. Anjaneyulu directed BSL to submit a proposal within a week for 740 acres of land categorised under agriculture, industry, and commercial use.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Spiritual fervour adds to festive spirit in Bokaro
1 2 Bokaro: Amid spiritual fervour and traditional gaiety, the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra was taken out with great devotion here on Friday. The ceremonial chariot procession began at the Jagannath Temple in Sector 4 and concluded at the Ram Temple in Sector 1 with thousands of devotees participating in the procession. Undeterred by rain, men, women, children and elderly devotees turned out in large numbers to pull the chariot, chanting "Haribol" and "Jai Jagannath". The spiritual atmosphere also resonated with the sound of conch shells, cymbals and devotional music. Before the procession began, the traditional ritual of 'Chhera-Pahara' was performed by B K Tiwari, the director-in-charge of Bokaro Steel Plant, who swept the chariot platform as a symbol of humility. "Despite the rain, pulling the chariot felt like a blessing. This is not just a festival... it's a divine connection with Lord Jagannath," said Nitesh Kasyap, a city resident. Social organisations and puja committees set up stalls offering sherbet and refreshments to the devotees along the route. City Centre residents presented 'Chhappan Bhog (56 food offerings)' to the Lord and served sharbat to participants. "It was a deeply spiritual experience. Offering Chhappan Bhog to the Lord and serving water to devotees filled me with inner peace," said Naresh Agarwal, a devotee who distributed prasad at the City Centre.
