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India mourns the demise of great sculptor Ram V SutarWhose monumental works, particularly the Statue of Unity, shaped the country’s public art landscape and earned global recognition.
Sutar died at the age of 100 at his residence in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, late on Wednesday, December 17, his family said.
President Draupadi Murmu expressed grief over the demise of the Padma Bhushan awardee and described his contribution to Indian art and culture as extraordinary.
“Saddened by the demise of Shri Ram Sutar ji, a Padma Bhushan recipient and an eminent sculptor whose extraordinary contributions have enriched India’s artistic and cultural heritage,” the President said in a post on Twitter.
Expressing condolences to his family and fans, he said, “His monumental works, including the Statue of Unity, stand as great symbols of India’s enduring heritage. His art will continue to inspire generations of artists.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute to Sutar, calling him an excellent sculptor whose works immortalized India’s history and collective spirit.
“Deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Ram Sutar ji, a remarkable sculptor whose mastery gave India some of its most iconic landmarks including the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya,” Modi said on Twitter.
Deeply saddened by the demise of Shri Ram Sutar Ji, a remarkable sculptor whose mastery gave India some of its most iconic landmarks including the Statue of Unity at Kevadiya. His works will always be appreciated as powerful expressions of India’s history, culture and collectivism… pic.twitter.com/xF9tNkCsp5
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 18 December 2025
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma noted Sutar’s contribution to Assam’s cultural heritage, saying the country had lost an “outstanding artist”.
“His personal involvement in breathing life into the statues of Assam’s heroes from two different eras showed the extent of his work and his extraordinary craftsmanship,” Sarma said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described Sutar’s death as an “irreparable loss to the art world”.
“The demise of the great sculptor, Padma Bhushan Ram V Sutar, creator of the world’s tallest statue ‘Statue of Unity’ is extremely saddening,” Adityanath said in a post in Hindi, praying for the departed soul.
Born on February 19, 1925 in Gondur village in Dhule district of Maharashtra, Sutar’s early inclination was towards sculpture. A gold medalist from the Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai, he enjoyed a career spanning over seven decades, creating some of India’s most iconic sculptures and monuments.
Often known as the ‘Statue Man’, Sutar rose to global fame as the chief sculptor of the 182-metre Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat, the world’s tallest statue dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. His other famous works include the statues of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament complex, Dr. BR Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and VD Savarkar in the Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Known for their lifelike expression and historical depth, Sutar’s sculptures blend realism with monumental scale. Despite international acclaim, he remained known for his simplicity and humility and continued to mentor generations of young artists.
For his contributions, Sutar was honored with several other honours, including the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016. He was also awarded the Maharashtra Bhushan.
His family also includes his son Anil Sutar, who collaborated with him on many major projects in his later years.