RANCHI, Jan. 26 -- On the eve of Republic Day 2026, the Government of India announced that Shibu Soren, the veteran tribal leader and former chief minister of Jharkhand, will be posthumously conferred with the Padma Bhushan for his distinguished service in the field of Public Affairs. Soren, affectionately known as "Guruji" or "Dishoom Guru," passed away at the age of 81 on August 4, 2025, after a prolonged battle with kidney-related ailments. His recognition in the 2026 Padma list honours a lifetime dedicated to tribal rights and the sociopolitical identity of Jharkhand. Born on January 11, 1944, in the Ramgarh district, Shibu Soren emerged as a central figure in the Santhal community. His early activism focused on liberating tribals from the exploitation of money-lenders and fighting social evils like alcoholism through his organization, the Santhal Navyuvak Sangh. In 1972, he co-founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which became the primary vehicle for the movement to create a separate state for the tribal-dominated regions of Bihar. His relentless advocacy and grassroots mobilization were instrumental in the eventual formation of Jharkhand in November 2000. He served three terms as the state's Chief Minister (2005, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010), though some tenures were brief due to shifting political alliances. He served as the Union Minister for Coal in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. He was elected to the Lok Sabha eight times from the Dumka constituency and was a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha at the time of his death. Despite a career shadowed by various legal battles, including a high-profile murder trial from which he was eventually acquitted, Soren remained an unparalleled icon for Jharkhand's marginalized communities. In August 2025, following his death, the Jharkhand Assembly unanimously passed a resolution recommending him for the Bharat Ratna. The conferment of the Padma Bhushan in 2026 solidifies his legacy as a "grassroots leader" who shaped the destiny of millions....