‘Statue of Unity’ designer and renowned sculptor Ram Sutar passes away at 100

Renowned sculptor Ram Sutar, the designer of the Statue of Unity – the world’s tallest statue located in Gujarat – has passed away. His son announced on Thursday (December 18) that Sutar breathed his last on Wednesday night (December 17) at his residence in Noida. He was 100 years old and had been suffering from age-related ailments for some time.

His son Anil Sutar said, “It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that my father, Shri Ram Vangi Sutar, passed away at our home at midnight on December 17.”

Born on February 19, 1925, in Gondur village of present-day Dhule district in Maharashtra, Sutar came from a humble background and developed an interest in sculpture at a young age. A gold medallist from Mumbai’s Sir J J School of Art, Ram Sutar went on to achieve numerous milestones in his illustrious career.

Among his most celebrated works are the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a meditative pose at the Parliament complex and the iconic statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on horseback. He also designed the Statue of Unity, dedicated to India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

In recognition of his contribution to art and culture, Ram Sutar was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016. More recently, he was also honoured with the Maharashtra Bhushan Award, the highest civilian honour of the state.