Ram Sutar, sculptor of the Statue of Unity, dies at 100
Why in the news
Veteran sculptor Ram Sutar, the creator of the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, died on 18 December 2025 aged 100, after age-related ailments.
Key facts
- Death: 18 December 2025 at his residence in Noida, aged 100.
- Birth: 19 February 1925, Gondur village, Dhule district, Maharashtra.
- Statue of Unity: the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat, described as the world’s tallest statue.
- Other works: a seated statue of Mahatma Gandhi and the equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Parliament complex.
- Education: gold medallist of the Sir JJ School of Art and Architecture, Mumbai.
| Honour | Year |
|---|---|
| Padma Shri | 1999 |
| Padma Bhushan | 2016 |
| Maharashtra Bhushan | State’s highest civilian award |
About Ram Sutar
- His career in sculpture and monumental art ran for more than seven decades.
- The Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar is the state’s highest civilian award.
- He is mainly remembered for monumental public statues.
Exam angle
- Obituary questions ask the person’s best-known work: the Statue of Unity.
- Remember the Padma years: Shri in 1999 and Bhushan in 2016.
- Note the age (100) and the birth year (1925).