Dhuni Soren is a man with a compelling life story. Born an impoverished tribal in colonial India, Soren became a doctor, acquired a commercial pilot’s licence and then travelled to London to settle down there.
At 87, and despite living in Manchester, he remains committed to tribal welfare, especially in his native Jharkhand, today.
Early Years
Soren was born in Boarijore block of Godda district. As a child, he walked 10–12 km daily to reach the nearest primary school in the Pathergawan village. Then he shifted to his elder sister’s home in Raja Bhitta, where a new middle school had recently started. Joining a middle school in Hazaribagh was, at the time, considered quite a feat for the poor tribal boy.
When he was in Class VIII, Soren was struck by Kala azar, the dreaded black fever. His brother-in-law, a schoolteacher who practiced herbal and indigenous medicines, cured him. Although the tribal boy had missed taking his exams, his headmaster Harish Tiwari promoted him because the tribal’s English was good.
Soren smiles at the memory. “I had a small essay book. I had thoroughly learnt all the lessons and used to give prompt answers. That is why everyone thought that my English was excellent,” he tells The Indian Tribal.
Soren’s elder brother worked at the civil court in Dumka and that’s where he attended the Zila School. In those days, senior officials of the district administration like the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Civil Surgeon frequented the school. Though these officials rarely interacted with students, the children were impressed by them.
“The civil surgeon fascinated me the most, because two letters (Dr) were prefixed before his real name and four letters (MBBS) were suffixed after his name. This is what initially motivated me to become a doctor,” Soren chuckles.
After his studies, Soren worked as a postmaster for a while. In 1955, he managed to get enrolled in the prestigious Prince of Wales Medical College in Patna, now known as Patna Medical College and Hospital.
This was also when Soren availed a scholarship to train as a commercial pilot. “Every day, I would pedal to the aerodrome from the college hostel,” he says. “Most of the days I returned without flying as trainer aircraft weren’t available. But somehow, I secured the pilot’s licence before completing my MBBS in 1960.”
Thereafter, Soren worked at various State-run hospitals and health centres in Santhal Parganas for three years. His first posting was at Jamtara Sadar block hospital. There, he learnt that the State (then Bihar) government intended to send a few tribal doctors abroad for higher studies.
“Bairar Hembrom was the Welfare Minister those days,” says the doctor. “He was from Dumka. He promptly agreed to send me and another girl from Ranchi to England.”
It was more than the tribal had imagined. “I had never thought about going to London even in my wildest dreams,” he reminisces. “During school days, we staged a play before the then Education Minister Badri Prasad Verma, where the rhyme ‘Pussy cat, pussy cat, …. I have been to London…’ was used. I too had participated in this play.”
Present Day Champion
The octogenarian continues to work for the betterment of his tribe and is a living legend for the Santhals.
Although settled in the UK, Dhuni Soren visits home every year. He has been in regular touch with JMM chief Shibu Soren and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, with the State Government giving serious attention to some of his suggestions.
“A few years ago, a tribal girl was granted a scholarship for higher studies in the UK, but the amount wasn’t sufficient for sustenance. Her father, a retired bank official, was helpless because the financial institutions were not granting loans against his property because of the tenancy (CNT/SPT) laws,” says Soren. “I spoke to Guruji. It is heartening that the State Government is now sponsoring higher studies abroad.”
The tribal elder also drives to schools and hostels located in far-flung areas of Santhal Pargana, to motivate children to study hard and do something good for society.
Abroad, he has launched intensive campaigns to unite tribals and Santhals based in various countries. Their children are being taught their mother tongue and native script. Every festival is being celebrated with fervour. His initiatives have also helped Hemant Soren to strengthen ties with Santhals and other tribals settled abroad.
Soren has also floated the Santhal International Association, headquartered in Texas, USA.
The doctor says he would like to call on President Droupadi Murmu and request her to safeguard tribal interests within the Constitutional framework.
“I met her several times when she was the Jharkhand Governor,” he says. “But my repeated emails to Rashtrapati Bhavan for an appointment with the President haven’t been answered yet. I have also approached a few influential persons on this issue, but to no avail.”
For Dhuni Soren, though, hope never dies.
