Dishom Guru's fight against injustice to continue: J'khand CM after Shibu Soren's demise
_vb_18.jpeg)
Ranchi (PTI): A day after veteran tribal leader Shibu Soren, fondly known as 'Dishom Guru', died, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that his father's fight against injustice would continue.
The CM also said he was passing through the most difficult phase of his life after the demise of his father.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) co-founder breathed his last at a Delhi hospital at the age of 81 after battling illness.
"I am passing through the most difficult phase of my life, a pillar of Jharkhand's soul gone. No book can explain Baba's struggle, but I vow to continue his fight against injustice," the Jharkhand CM posted on X.
Soren promised not to let Jharkhand "bow down" and vowed to work to realise his father's dreams by working for the oppressed and the poor.
The chief minister said he will put his foot in his father's shoes to wage a war against injustice.
"My father's shadow has disappeared...He was my guide, the root of my thoughts. He inspired thousands and millions of Jharkhandis, like a forest protecting them from sunlight," Soren asserted in the long social media post written in Hindi.
The chief minister also reminded that his father's beginning was "very simple".
Born in a small house in Nemra village, where there was poverty and hunger, but there was courage.
"He (elder Soren) lost his father in his childhood, but exploitation of the landlords ignited a fire that made him a fighter throughout his life," Soren posted.
"When I was a child, I used to ask him: Baba, why do people call you Dishom Guru? Then he used to smile and reply: Because I just understood their pain and made their fight my own," Soren penned.
The title was neither written in any book, nor provided by Parliament - it came from the hearts of the people of Jharkhand, the CM mentioned, adding that 'Dishom' means society and 'Guru' means the one who shows the path.
"And to tell the truth, Baba didn't just show us the path, he taught us to walk on this," he added.
The CM recounted that he saw his father only struggling and never afraid to wage a war against injustice.
"If standing up against injustice is a crime, then I will be guilty again and again. He used to say," Soren said in the social media post.
"No book can explain Baba's struggle. It was in his sweat, in his voice, and it was in his cracked heels covered by slippers." Hemant Soren said, adding that "when the Jharkhand state was formed, his dream came true, but he never considered power as an achievement".
"This state is not a chair for me...This is the identity of my people," Hemant Soren quoted Shibu Soren as saying.
"Baba (father) is not here today, but his voice echoes within me. I learnt to fight from you, Baba. I learnt to love Jharkhand from you without any selfish motive. Now you are no longer amongst us, but you are there in every path of Jharkhand. At every beat of the drum, in the soil of every field, you look through the eyes of every poor person. what you dreamt it is my promise to fulfil," Hemant Soren wrote on X.
The chief minister asserted that he will "not let Guruji's name be erased or his struggle remain incomplete".
"Baba, now you take rest. You have done your duty. Now we have to follow in your footsteps. Jharkhand will remain indebted to you. I, your son, will keep your promise. Long live the brave Shibu - Long live, Long live Dishom Guru!," the CM concluded.
In another post, the CM mentioned that Shibu Soren has embarked on an infinite journey.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
ALSO READ: Actress Shilpa Shetty's restaurant booked for breaching operating hours
The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
ALSO READ: MGNREGA rename: Gandhi made ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ national anthem, Kangana sparks row
"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
