Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: The political journey of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been documented in two books by journalist, writer and researcher Dr. Somnath Arya, published in Hindi and English, tracing both Soren’s career and the deeper roots of tribal resistance and the Jharkhand statehood movement.
Two Books, Two Perspectives
The Hindi book is “Hool Se Hemant Tak: Adivasi Asmita, Satta Aur Sangharsh Ki Ankahi Dastan,” and the English book is “The Invisible Coup: Hemant Soren, Jharkhand and the Politics of Power.” The books examine events that shaped Soren’s public life, a career marked by dramatic changes in power, prolonged political confrontation and a remarkable electoral recovery.
From Tribal Resistance to Political Power
Unlike conventional political biographies, the works examine the circumstances that shaped Soren’s leadership. The Hindi volume emphasises the historical experiences of Adivasi communities, beginning with the Santhal Hool of 1855 and the resistance linked to Birsa Munda. It follows the evolution of political consciousness in the region, the struggle for a separate Jharkhand and the rise of Shibu Soren, and explores Hemant Soren’s career against this background, linking governance with long-standing demands for land rights, cultural recognition and political representation.
The Political Storm of 2024
The books give considerable attention to 2024, when Soren resigned as chief minister shortly before the Enforcement Directorate arrested him on January 31 in connection with an alleged land-related money-laundering case. Soren denied wrongdoing. His arrest led to a government under Champai Soren and intensified debate over central investigative agencies and the autonomy of elected state governments. After the Jharkhand High Court granted him bail in June, he returned as chief minister in July.
A Comeback Through the Ballot
In the November 2024 Assembly elections, the JMM-led alliance won 56 of the 81 seats, giving Soren a renewed mandate. Arya examines the result alongside the public response to the arrest, the role of regional identity and the strategies of rival parties.
The Man Behind the Office
The English book includes a chapter titled “When the Chief Minister Was Just a Son,” exploring Soren’s relationship with his father Shibu Soren and the personal responsibilities of a family steeped in Jharkhand’s politics. It also discusses Kalpana Soren’s growing public role during a period of political uncertainty.
Indigenous Struggles Beyond India
The Hindi book extends its discussion to Indigenous movements elsewhere in the world, covering land ownership, cultural identity and political representation, to place Jharkhand’s history in an international context. The English volume focuses more closely on contemporary politics and the relationship between regional governments and national institutions.
The Author
Dr. Somnath Arya has worked in journalism, writing and historical research for more than two decades, focusing on the social and cultural history of eastern India and Adivasi heritage. The Hindi book is published by Aur Ek Prayas, a social and cultural organisation.
