I am navigating the most challenging period of my life.
The absence of my father’s guidance is deeply felt,
The very foundation of Jharkhand’s spirit has been shaken.
I did not simply address him as ‘Baba’.
He was my guiding light, the core of my beliefs,
And the sheltering presence like a forest
That shielded countless Jharkhandis
From hardship and inequity.
My Baba’s journey began in simplicity.
Born in a modest home in Nemra village,
Where challenges like poverty and hunger were met with unwavering resolve.
He experienced the loss of his father during his childhood.
The injustices inflicted by landlords ignited a fire within him,
Fueling a life of persistent struggle.
I witnessed him firsthand,
Toiling in the fields,
Engaging with the community,
He didn’t just deliver speeches,
He deeply understood the plight of the people.
As a child, I inquired,
“Baba, why are you known as Dishom Guru?”
He would respond with a smile:
“Because, my son, I empathized with their suffering,
And embraced their fight as my own.”
That title was not conferred by any book,
Nor by Parliament –
It arose from the hearts of the people of Jharkhand.
‘Dishom’ represents society,
‘Guru’ signifies the one who leads the way.
And in truth,
Baba not only showed us the path,
He taught us how to walk it.
In my youth, I observed his struggles, his battles against powerful adversaries.
I felt apprehensive.
But Baba remained undeterred.
He would declare:
“If standing up against injustice is a transgression,
Then I will willingly be guilty repeatedly.”
Baba’s legacy of struggle cannot be fully grasped through literature.
It resided in his sweat, his voice,
And in the worn soles of his sandals.
When the state of Jharkhand was established,
His vision materialized.
However, he never viewed authority as an accomplishment.
He articulated:
“This state is not a symbol of power for me,
It embodies the identity of my people.”
Today, Baba is physically absent,
Yet his voice resonates within me.
I learned from you, Baba, to persevere,
Not to yield.
I learned from you to cherish Jharkhand
Unconditionally.
Though you are no longer with us,
You are present in every path of Jharkhand.
In every rhythm of the Mandar drum,
In the soil of every field,
In the aspirations of every underprivileged person.
You envisioned the dream,
And now it is my solemn commitment.
I will not allow Jharkhand to be subdued,
Nor will I permit your legacy to fade.
Your struggle will not be in vain.
Baba, may you now find peace.
You fulfilled your duty.
We must now continue
In your footsteps.
Jharkhand will forever be indebted to you.
I, your son,
Will honor your promise.
Veer Shibu Zindabad – Zindabad, Zindabad
Dishom Guru Amar Rahen.
Jai Jharkhand, Jai Jai Jharkhand.