Ram V. Sutar, a Indian sculptor who crafted Statue of Unity which is the world's tallest statue, will be honored with the Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2024, announced Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state Assembly on Thursday, March 20 during the stater budget session.
Sutar had been also give to the work to craft 60-feet tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj after it was collapsed last year at the Rajkot fort in Malvan in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. The collapse of Maratha warrior king statue had triggered massive political slugfest in the state. Ram V Sutar run its firm named Ram Sutar Art Creations Pvt Ltd.
Who is Ram V Sutar?
Besides, Statue of Unity in Gujarat, Padma Bhushan awardee Ram Vanji Sutar, also created statue of Sri Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in Bengaluru which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is the “first and tallest bronze statue of a founder of a city”, as per ‘The World Book of Records’.
In his 60-year-old career, Sutar has built several sculptures, including the statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside the Parliament premises. He is one of the most prolific and showcased sculptors in the country and copies of his work have been gifted to other nations like England, France and Russia as well.
Ram Vanji Sutar was born on February 19, 1925 and in a poor family in Gondur village of Dhulia district in Maharashtra. Sutar was started his sculpting career under the guidance of Shriram Krishna Joshi and later enrolled at Sir JJ School of Art in Bombay.
After completing his studies, Sutar shifted to Delhi in 1959, where he worked in the information and broadcasting ministry. However, he soon quit his job to start a career as a freelance sculptor. He opened a studio in Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar and shifted to Noida in 1990. In 2004, he founded his studio and also established his casting factory in Sahibabad in 2006.