Ram Sutar passes away

Renowned sculptor Ram Sutar, known for designing the world’s tallest statue — Statue of Unity in Gujarat, iconic statues of Mahatma Gandhi seated in a meditating pose and of Chhatrapati Shivaji riding a horse on the Parliament premises — died late Wednesday night at his NOIDA residence. He was 100 and ailing with age-related illness. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and chief ministers of several States on Thursday expressed condolences on the demise of the famous sculptor. 

“It is with profound grief that we inform you of the passing of my father Shri Ram Vanji Sutar on 17th December midnight at our residence,” his son Anil Sutar said in a note shared with the press on Thursday.Born in a humble family in Gondur village under the Dhule district of present-day Maharashtra on February 19, 1925, Sutar is known to have been drawn to sculpting from his childhood.A gold medallist from JJ School of Art and Architecture, Mumbai, Sutar, has to his credit a long list of achievements.

The iconic statues of Mahatma Gandhi seated in a meditating pose and of Chhatrapati Shivaji riding a horse on the Parliament premises rank among his finest creations. The Statue of Unity honours Sardar Patel, country’s first deputy prime minister and home minister. Sutar was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016.