Ram V. Sutar

Ram Sutar
Sutar in 2018
Born
Ram Vanji Sutar

(1925-02-19)19 February 1925
Gondur, Khandesh District, Bombay Presidency, British India
Died18 December 2025(2025-12-18) (aged 100)
Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
EducationSir J. J. School of Art
OccupationSculptor
Notable work
SpousePramila Sutar
AwardsMaharashtra Bhushan (2024)
Padma Bhushan (2016)
Tagore Award (2016)
Padma Shri (1999)

Ram Vanji Sutar (19 February 1925 – 18 December 2025) was an Indian sculptor. He designed the Statue of Unity which is the world's tallest statue with a height of 182 metres (597 feet), exceeding the Spring Temple Buddha by 54 metres.[1]

Background

Sutar was born in a Viswakarma Brahmin family, on 19 February 1925, in the village of Gondur, in Khandesh district of Bombay Presidency. In 1952, he married Pramila.[2] He died on 18 December 2025, at the age of 100.[3][4]

Career

Sutar designed the Statue of Unity, the tallest statue of the world located in Gujarat. He also erected the 14 m-tall Chambal monument, as well as a bust of Mahatma Gandhi which has been replicated and sent to other nations.[5][6][7] He designed the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a seated position, located at the Parliament of India. A larger replica of the same was made by him at the Vidhana Soudha. He was also the designer of the 33 m-tall Kempe Gowda statue at the Bengaluru International Airport.[8]

Brisbane's Indian community commissioned a statue of Gandhi, created by Ram V. Sutar and Anil Sutar at Roma Street Parkland,[9][10] It was unveiled by Narendra Modi, then Prime Minister of India in 2014.

Awards

In 1999, he received the Padma Shri and later in 2016, Padma Bhushan from the Government of India.[11] In October 2018, Sutar received the Tagore Award for cultural harmony of 2016.[12] He was chosen for Maharashtra Bhushan, the state government's highest civilian award. Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the legislative assembly on 20 March 2025.[13][14][15]

Works

References

  1. ^ "India unveils world's tallest statue". BBC News. 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  2. ^ Ram Vanji Sutar's Biography Archived 24 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "आंतरराष्ट्रीय ख्यातीचे शिल्पकार राम सुतार यांचं वृद्धापकाळानं निधन, शिल्पकलेचा तेजस्वी दीप मालवला". Abp Live (in Marathi). 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  4. ^ "शिल्पकलेचा उपासक काळाच्या पडद्याआड! महाराष्ट्र भूषण राम सुतार यांचे निधन". Lokmat. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  5. ^ "'Statue of Unity' To Be Completed in 2 Years: Renowned Sculptor Ram Sutar". NDTV.com. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Meet the man who sculpted Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue of Unity – Monumental ambitions". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  7. ^ Sutar's studio Archived 24 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "PM Modi to inaugurate Terminal 2 of Bengaluru international airport in November". The News Minute. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  9. ^ Moore, Tony (16 November 2014). "Indian PM Narendra Modi unveils Gandhi statue". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi". Monument Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Tagore Awards for Cultural Harmony: Manipuri dancer, Bangladeshi sculptor among recipients". The Indian Express. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Sculptor Ram Sutar to get Maharashtra Bhushan award: CM Devendra Fadnavis". The Economic Times. 20 March 2025. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Sculptor Ram Sutar, designer of Statue of Unity and KIA's Kempegowda statue, to get Maharashtra Bhushan award". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Maharashtra: राम सुतार को मिलेगा महाराष्ट्र भूषण पुरस्कार, स्टैच्यू ऑफ यूनिटी समेत बना चुके हैं ये प्रतिमाएं". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 20 March 2025.