Hemant Soren's mother dies at 80, Jharkhand CM says 'Maa was my greatest shelter' | All About Rupi Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s mother Rupi Soren breathed her last at a private hospital on Wednesday evening. She was 80 years old. The official X account of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha released a statement paying tribute to her, calling her a symbol of “struggle, sacrifice and patience”.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder Shibu Soren’s wife has been hospitalized since September 18 with respiratory problems. However, her health deteriorated and she was put on ventilator support in the morning.

“CM Hemant Soren’s mother Rupi Soren, who was admitted here, died around 8.30 pm. She was admitted to the hospital on September 18 with respiratory problems,” Hill View Hospital and Research Center Director Dr Nitesh Priya told PTI.

‘Maa was my greatest refuge’

Hemant Soren wrote an emotional tribute to his mother on social media, calling her his “biggest shelter”.

“After Baba left, Maa was my greatest refuge. Today even this shelter has merged into the lap of nature. Maa…,” he wrote.

Rupi Soren’s last rites will be held at Nemra in neighboring Ramgarh district on Thursday.

Tributes poured in for Rupi Soren from across the political fraternity.

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Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar condoled her death saying, “My deepest condolences to the Chief Minister and his entire family in this hour of grief. May God give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense grief. Om Shanti!”

BJP leader and former CM Champai Soren, who was a close associate of Shibu Soren, condoled Rupi Soren’s death.

“The sad news of the passing away of Smt. Rupi Soren ji, wife of late Shibu Soren ji, has left my heart aching. Many events and memories of the Jharkhand movement flash before my eyes. May the Marang Buru (supreme tribal deity) rest the departed soul and give strength to the family,” Champai Soren said in a post on social media.

Minister of State for Defense Sanjay Seth said, “May Marang Buru give place to a pious soul in his abode and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this grief. May the Lord grant her salvation.”

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“I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s mother. In this hour of grief, we offer our condolences to the bereaved,” Babulal Marandi, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, said in a social media post.

“May the Lord grant a place at His holy feet to the departed soul and give the bereaved family strength to bear this immense grief,” Marandi said.

BJP leader and former CM Raghubar Das also condoled her death and said it was a personal loss for him.

“I am deeply saddened and shocked by the news of the demise of Smt. Rupi Soren ji, revered mother of Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren ji and wife of late Guru Shibu Soren ji,” Das said in a social media post.

“Rupi aunty’s passing is a personal loss for me. The affection she showed me as a son will always remind me of her. She was the true epitome of motherly love. May the Lord grant her eternal release,” he added.

The Jharkhand unit of the Congress has expressed deep grief over the death of the Chief Minister’s mother.

“The news of the demise of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren ji’s mother is extremely sad and heartbreaking,” the party said in a statement.

Former Congress President Rajesh Thakur said, “The news of the demise of Smt. Rupi Soren ji, the mother who gave birth to the famous Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren ji is extremely heartbreaking.”

“May God grant her a place at his sacred feet and give strength to her son Shri @HemantSorenJMM ji, Shri @BasantSorenMLA ji, daughter-in-law Smt. @JMMKalpanaSoren ji, along with the entire bereaved family and well-wishers to bear this grief,” he added.

Who was Rupi Soren?

Rupi Soren entered electoral politics in 1999 when she contested for the Dumka Lok Sabha seat which was then part of undivided Bihar. She was defeated by BJP leader Babulal Marandi by a margin of less than 5,000 votes.

After that election, Soren abstained from electoral politics and concentrated on caring for her husband until his death in August last year.

Earlier this year, she represented her late husband at the Padma Bhushan awards ceremony where he was posthumously awarded at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In an emotional gesture during the ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu stepped down from the stage to personally present the award to Soren, who attended the event in a wheelchair.

Soren was also present at the swearing-in ceremony of her husband’s son as Chief Minister.

(With inputs from news agency PTI)