India mourns the loss of one of its greatest sculptors as Ram Vanji Sutar, the visionary artist behind the iconic Statue of Unity, passed away late on Wednesday night, December 17, 2025, at his residence in Noida. He was 100 years old.
Confirming the news, his son Anil Sutar shared a heartfelt message stating, “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.”
Born on February 19, 1925, in the small village of Gondur in Maharashtra’s Dhule district, Ram Sutar’s journey from humble beginnings to international acclaim is a story of talent, perseverance, and artistic devotion. Drawn to sculpting from a young age, he went on to become a gold medallist from the prestigious JJ School of Art and Architecture, Mumbai.
Over a career spanning several decades, Sutar shaped India’s visual identity through monumental works that celebrate leadership, sacrifice, and national pride. Among his most admired creations are the meditating statue of Mahatma Gandhi and the equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, both located within the Parliament premises.
His most celebrated masterpiece, the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, stands as the world’s tallest statue and honors Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. Rising 182 metres, the monument has become a global symbol of India’s unity, strength, and engineering excellence.
Ram Sutar’s legacy lives on not only through stone and bronze, but through the inspiration he offered generations of artists. His work transformed public spaces into sites of reflection, pride, and historical memory.
India remembers him not just as a sculptor, but as a storyteller in stone — whose art will continue to speak for centuries.
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