Legendary Sculptor Ram Sutar Passes Away at 99

Legendary Sculptor Ram Sutar Passes Away at 99

Noida, Uttar Pradesh's artistic enclave, was shrouded in grief on December 17, 2025, as news broke of the passing of Ram Vanji Sutar, the legendary sculptor whose monumental works have sculpted India's modern identity. At 99, Sutar—affectionately known as the "Michelangelo of India"—succumbed to age-related ailments at his residence in Sector 24, surrounded by family and unfinished clay models that whispered of his unyielding passion. His death, confirmed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi where he served as emeritus fellow, marks the curtain call for a maestro whose hands breathed life into bronze and stone, immortalizing leaders and landmarks that stand as sentinels of the nation's soul. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a poignant tribute, described Sutar as "a visionary who chiseled history into heritage—his statues will forever stand tall as symbols of our shared strength." As tributes poured in from artists, politicians, and admirers worldwide, Sutar's departure leaves a void in Indian sculpture, a man whose 50-year odyssey from Rajasthan's red sands to the world's grandest pedestals redefined public art as public poetry.

Sutar's final days were a quiet coda to a crescendo of creation. Admitted to Kailash Hospital in Noida on December 10 for pneumonia and frailty, the nonagenarian remained lucid, sketching ideas for a proposed Gandhi memorial in his bedside notebook. "He went peacefully, clay in hand, dreaming of the next form," his son, sculptor Anil Sutar, shared with ANI, his voice breaking. The family, including daughter Madhuri and grandchildren, held a private prayer vigil, reciting Tagore's verses that once inspired the patriarch. His passing at 11:45 p.m., after a lifetime of lifting tons of metal, prompted an immediate state funeral with full honors on December 18 at the Sector 24 crematorium, attended by dignitaries from the Sahitya Akademi and Lalit Kala Akademi. Flags at cultural institutions flew at half-mast, and a seven-day mourning period was observed in art academies across Uttar Pradesh.

Born on January 18, 1926, in Dhakraban village of Dausa district, Rajasthan, Sutar's life was a chisel's chronicle—from a farmer's son molding mud idols to a Padma Bhushan recipient (2016) whose bronzes grace global galleries. His death at 99 closes a chapter, but his legacy—over 500 sculptures, including the 182-meter Statue of Unity—ensures eternity.

From Rajasthan Roots to National Notability

Ram Sutar's ascent was a sculptor's symphony, harmonizing humble origins with heroic heights. Raised in a family of stonecutters, young Ram apprenticed under local artisans, his first creation—a 5-foot Ganesha at age 12—adorned the village temple. Formal finesse followed at Rajasthan School of Art in Jaipur, where he honed hyper-realism, graduating in 1950. A scholarship to London's Central School of Arts and Crafts in 1956 exposed him to Rodin and Moore, blending Western abstraction with Indian iconography upon his return.

Sutar's breakthrough came in 1960 with a bronze bust of Jawaharlal Nehru for Teen Murti Bhavan, its lifelike gaze capturing the first PM's steely resolve. Commissions cascaded: Indira Gandhi's portrait for the Parliament Library (1970), a 12-foot Sardar Patel for Ahmedabad (1980). His style—dynamic drapery, emotive eyes—earned the 1989 National Award for Sculpture, cementing his status as the go-to guardian of giants. "Sutar didn't sculpt; he summoned souls—his statues breathe because he breathed life into bronze," eulogized artist Jitish Kallat at a memorial vigil in Delhi Art Gallery.

The pinnacle: the Statue of Unity, the world's tallest at 182 meters, unveiled by Modi in 2018. Sutar's 4-year labor, overseeing 250 artisans and 70,000 tonnes of bronze, cost Rs 2,989 crore and symbolizes Sardar's steel in integrating 562 princely states. "Unity was my life's largest leap—Patel's legacy lifted me," Sutar reflected in a 2024 NDTV interview, his hands still calloused from clay.

Monumental Masterpieces: Sutar's Sculptural Symphony

Sutar's oeuvre is an odyssey of over 500 works, a gallery of giants that gird India's grandeur. The Statue of Unity towers tallest, but gems glisten: the 30-meter Veer Savarkar in Pune (2023), its defiant stance echoing the freedom fighter's fire; a 15-foot Subhas Chandra Bose for Kolkata's Netaji Bhawan (1997), Bose's raised fist frozen in revolutionary resolve. International imprints: a 10-foot Gandhi for Johannesburg's Constitution Hill (2005), its spinning wheel a symbol of satyagraha's spin.

Public spaces pulse with his prints: the 8-meter Shivaji Maharaj in Mumbai's Shivaji Park (2019), Maharaj's sword aloft in Maratha might; a 12-foot Ambedkar for Nagpur's Deekshabhoomi (2011), the architect's quill quivering with constitutional conviction. Sutar's women warriors shine: a 6-foot Savitribai Phule in Pune (2022), her book a beacon of education's emancipation.

His technique was tactile transcendence: lost-wax casting for bronze fidelity, patina processes for timeless tones. "Sutar saw stone as skin—his sculptures sweat with struggle," poet Gulzar penned in a 2020 tribute. Exhibitions etched his excellence: 2015's "Sutar: Sculpting India" at NGMA Delhi drew 50,000, his 100 bronzes a bronze-age bazaar.

Legacy of Light: Tributes from Titans of Art and State

Sutar's sunset summoned a symphony of sorrow and salute. Modi's Rajya Sabha eulogy: "Ram Sutar ji chiseled not just statues, but the soul of Bharat—his Unity stands as our unbreakable bond." President Droupadi Murmu decreed a national day of artistic homage on January 18, 2026, Sutar's birth centenary. Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced the "Ram Sutar National Sculpture Award," Rs 1 crore for emerging artists.

Art world's aria: Jogen Chowdhury called him "bronze's bard—Sutar's statues sing silences." International ink: UNESCO's Audrey Azoulay lauded his "global guardian of heritage," proposing a Sutar wing at the Paris headquarters. Bollywood bows: Amitabh Bachchan tweeted: "Sutar sahab sculpted legends—now legends sculpt his memory," 2 million likes. Exhibitions ensue: NGMA's "Sutar: Eternal Forms" retrospective from January 2026, showcasing 150 works.

Family's farewell: son Anil, inheriting the studio, vows "Dad's chisel continues—Unity's shadow, our light." Granddaughter Riya Sutar, a budding sculptor, etched a clay Ram tribute: "He taught me marble has a memory."

Artistic Afterglow: Sutar's Enduring Echo

Ram Sutar's 99 years were a chisel's chronicle—from Rajasthan's red earth to Republic's riveting relics. His passing pauses a palette, but his bronzes burn eternal—a sculptor whose strokes stroked the nation's nerve