Renowned sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar passes away

Renowned sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, known for designing the world’s tallest statue, the ‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat, has passed away. He was 100.

His son, sculptor Anil Ram Sutar, confirmed the news, stating that his father breathed his last at his residence in Sector-19, Noida, around 1:30 AM on Wednesday after a prolonged illness.

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Anil Ram Sutar said that his father, Ram Sutar, had been unwell for several days. The last rites will be performed today in Sector-94.

The demise of Ram Sutar, a recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, has sent a wave of grief through the art world. His son, Anil Sutar, himself a skilled sculptor, has carried on his father’s legacy.

Ram Sutar made his mark not just as a sculptor but as an artist who brought the nation’s pride to life. From the 182-metre-tall Statue of Unity (of the country’s first deputy prime minister and home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) to the meditative statues of Mahatma Gandhi, every creation from his hands has become immortal in the nation’s memory.

Sculptor Ram Sutar has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan (2018), Padma Shri (1999), and the Tagore Award (2018).

Ram Sutar sculpted the Statue of Unity (Sardar Patel, 182 meters, Gujarat) and statues of Mahatma Gandhi in 450 cities, including the one at the Indian Parliament. He also created the 153-foot-tall statue of Lord Shiva in Bengaluru and the 100-foot-tall statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Moshi, Pune.