Ram Sutar, legendary Indian sculptor behind Statue of Unity, no more

New Delhi: Renowned Indian sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, best known for designing the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, the world’s tallest statue, passed away late on Wednesday night at his residence in Noida, his family said. He was 100 and had been suffering from age-related ailments.

“It is with profound grief that we inform you of the passing of my father, Shri Ram Vanji Sutar, on December 17, midnight at our residence,” his son Anil Sutar said in a statement.

Born on February 19, 1925, in Gondur village of Dhule district in present-day Maharashtra, Sutar displayed a natural inclination towards sculpting from a young age. He later became a gold medallist from the JJ School of Art and Architecture, Mumbai, laying the foundation for a distinguished artistic career spanning several decades.

Among his most celebrated works are the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a meditative seated pose and the equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, both located on the Parliament premises in New Delhi. His most globally recognised creation, the Statue of Unity, honours Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.

In recognition of his contributions to Indian art and public sculpture, Sutar was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016. More recently, he was conferred the Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar, the highest civilian honour of the state.

Sutar’s passing marks the end of an era in Indian sculpture, with his monumental works continuing to define the country’s artistic and cultural landscape.

PTI