Remembering 'Statue Man' Ram Sutar, and How he Shaped Public Spaces of Independent India

Tejas Garge, the son of a sculptor and a gold medallist from the prestigious Sir J.J. School of Art in sculpture and modelling, recalls the early career of renowned sculptor Ram Sutar. When we approached him, he spoke of having seen Sutar closely while accompanying his father as a child, and remembers their “insightful conversations".

Ram Sutar, renowned for the gigantic Statue of Unity at Kevadia as well as the iconic Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Parliament complex, passed away on Wednesday night at his Noida residence. He was 100 and had been suffering from age-related illnesses, his son Anil Sutar said.

A popular name among sculptors and artists, he also came to be known as the “statue man” and reportedly remained active until the final phase of his life. His recent projects included the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial at Indu Mill in Mumbai, as well as Guwahati’s soon-to-be-unveiled statue of Gopinath Bardoloi.

“During my posting in Delhi, I interacted with him extensively along with my late father, Madan Garge, which made me a witness to profound discussions and insights into monumental art in India. A great void has been created by his sad demise,” says Tejas Garge, Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.

Born in February 1925 in Gondur village in Maharashtra’s Dhule district, Ram Sutar was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016. He was also recently conferred with the Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar, the state’s highest civilian award.

Sculpting his way to Indian cities, roundabouts, and abroad

In a career spanning over seven decades, he created some of the country’s most iconic statues and memorials, often blending history with artistic creativity. He earned immense respect both in India and abroad for his mastery of bronze and stone.

His career began with the restoration of ancient sculptures at the Ellora and Ajanta Caves, after which he established his own art studio in Noida. Early in his journey, he created a statue of Govind Ballabh Pant following Pant’s death in 1961. The statue, which was installed in the entrance hall of the Lok Sabha lobby, is now located at the roundabout on Pandit Pant Marg in New Delhi.

The bust of Mahatma Gandhi that he created has been installed in more than 450 cities around the world, including France and the United States.

Undoubtedly, the 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Kevadia, Gujarat—also known as the Statue of Unity—brought him global recognition, as it is the world’s tallest statue. He also designed the 108-foot-tall Kempe Gowda statue at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport.

The reason for this recognition lay in the lifelike quality of his work and the attention he paid to minute details. Reportedly, his creations have often been compared to the mastery of French sculptor Auguste Rodin and Italian sculptor Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, widely known as Michelangelo.

The only major controversy associated with his name concerned a bronze statue of Bhagat Singh, proposed to be installed in Parliament House in 2009, in which Bhagat Singh was depicted wearing a pagri (turban) rather than his more commonly recognised fedora hat.

Among his many other works, the statues of Mahatma Gandhi at the Parliament complex, Dr B. R. Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and several national leaders and historical figures across India and abroad are widely discussed in art circles.

However, what also made him popular in these circles was his guidance to young artists, which is remembered by many who came into contact with him, even if not in person. “I never met him, but I had the chance to speak to him on the phone when I was working on the sculptures of the Bombay School of Art. I remember he said that he had received an opportunity to assist a famous sculptor and the son of Rao Bahadur G. K. Mhatre, Shyamrao G. Mhatre, at his Vile Parle foundry,” says Sandeep Dahisarkar, art historian and author.

Dahisarkar further says that Shyamrao G. Mhatre also visited Sir J.J. School of Art and was looking for a “bright student” who could assist him with an assignment. “A car came to pick him up, and he worked with him. Ram Sutar admired sculptor G. K. Mhatre of Bombay and his works,” the historian adds.

As the artist takes his final breath, the last glimpses of his work will be visible at the grand memorial at Indu Mills in Mumbai, built to commemorate the architect of the Constitution. The memorial will now also stand as a testament to Sutar’s final body of work.