Mortal remains of Shibu Soren to be laid to rest at ancestral village with full state honours
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Ranchi (PTI): The mortal remains of veteran tribal leader and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) co-founder Shibu Soren, fondly known as 'Dishom Guru', will be laid to rest with full state honours at his ancestral village Nemra in Ramgarh district on Tuesday, officials said.
Guruji, as he was popularly known, breathed his last at a private hospital in Delhi on Monday and tall political figures and leaders like President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the departed soul there.
Preparations are in full swing for the last rites of the former chief minister and Rajya Sabha MP at his native place in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district, around 70 km from the state's capital Ranchi, the officials said.
Soren, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha co-founder, who was undergoing treatment at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi for over a month for kidney-related problems, died at the age of 81.
His last rites will be performed on Tuesday afternoon.
Senior administrative officials, including Ramgarh deputy commissioner and the SP, visited Nemra to take stock of the preparations.
Special traffic arrangements have been made for the funeral as several political leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and others are likely to participate.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom has descended on Nemra village after Guruji's demise.
Before his last rites, his body will be kept at the Jharkhand Assembly premises for people to pay their last respects at about 9 am.
His demise marks the end of a defining political era, one that brought the tribal movement from the grassroots of Jharkhand to the forefront of national politics.
Shibu Soren had been the leader of the JMM for the past 38 years.
As a mark of respect, the Jharkhand government declared a three-day state mourning till August 6.
Most of the schools in Jharkhand are closed on Tuesday, with many ensuring special prayers for peace to the departed soul.
Rajya Sabha proceedings were also adjourned for the day on Monday as a mark of respect, following the death of sitting MP Shibu Soren.
The ongoing monsoon session of the Jharkhand Assembly, which began on August 1, was adjourned sine die following the announcement of his death.
Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato said Soren's passing was an irreparable loss not only to Jharkhand but to the entire nation.
"He was known for his fight for the poor," Mahato had said, expressing grief on behalf of the House.
Shibu Soren's mortal remains were flown to Ranchi in a special aircraft from Delhi.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his legislator wife Kalpana Soren, and MLA brother Basant Soren also returned to Jharkhand.
A flower-decked open carriage carried the mortal remains from the airport to Soren's Morabadi residence in Ranchi, with the chief minister and his legislator brother seated beside his father's body throughout the procession.
CM Soren's wife was seen seated in the front of the vehicle, and remarked, "Everything has become desolate...Your struggle, your love, your convictions - this daughter of yours will never forget."
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'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".
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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".
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"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.
