The “guru” of many leaders, the grand old man of Jharkhand politics Niral Enem Horo is no more.

The second of teachers Abraham and Sulamit Horo’s five children, Horo was born in the Govindpur village of Khunti on March 31, 1925. A law graduate from the Chhotanagpur Law College, Horo has been an inspiration for several leaders of the state. The credit for reviving the All India Jharkhand Party after Jaipal Singh, a noted leader and friend of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, merged the party with the Congress in 1962, goes to him. And in 1967 it came to be known as the Jharkhand Party (JP).

Though Horo began his public life in the 1950s, he became an MLA in the Bihar Assembly for the first time in 1967. He was elected for the same several times and also became the minister in Bihar two times — once in the planning and public relations department and then as in the education sector

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wanted Horo as a cabinet minister if he agreed to give up the demands for a separate state. But no temptation could work, recalled Nelson Bhengra, a close associate of Horo, who is the general secretary of the JP.

“He wanted to end the socio-political and economic deprivation for the tribals and hence wanted a separate state,” said Chaibasa Congress MP Bagun Sumbrui, who was also responsible for the revival of JP. The two leaders worked together for over a decade before Sumbrui joined the Congress.

Horo was also the vice-presidential candidate of the Opposition and was supported by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1975. Recently, he had lodged a case rural development minister Anosh Ekka alleging him of supporting the NDA government though he was elected on a JP ticket.

The 83-year-old, who died of prolonged illness, will be remembered for his determination, his belief and his values.

The government has declared a four-day state mourning in the honour of the leader. Chief minister Shibu Soren visited his residence at GEL Church premises today.

A funeral ceremony would be organised at the GEL Church cemetery at 2pm tomorrow.