Ram Vanji Sutar is a famous Indian Sculptor who has carved more than 50 monumental sculptures around the World. He has been active in this field since the 1950s. He has gained popularity for his sculptures of Mahatma Gandhi. He will forever be remembered for his dedication to art and architecture.
Biography/Wiki
Ram V. Sutar was born on 19 February 1925 (Age 93; as on 2018) in a poor Vishwakarma family in Gondur village in Dhule district of Maharashtra. His father Vanji Hansraj was also a carpenter and sculptor. As a child, he developed his interest in this profession. In his childhood, he was motivated towards art by Shriram Krishna Joshi, whom he considers his mentor. It was Shriram Krishna Joshi who encouraged him to join the Sir JJ School of Art in Bombay (Now, Mumbai). In her final year of study, she topped her class and won the prestigious Mayo Gold medal for modeling (Sculpture).
Ram V Sutar made sculptures
Family
He was born to Vanji Hansraj and Sitabai. He is the only son of his parents.
In 1952, he married Pramila. He has a son, Anil Sutar who is also a professional sculptor.
Ram Sutar (left) with his son Anil (right)
Career
From 1954 to 1958, he worked in the Ajanta and Ellora caves in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. He restored the old statues of the cave. In 1958, Sutar became a Technical Assistant inside Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in New Delhi to provide a variety of models for the five-year plan. To become an Independent professional sculptor, he left his government job in 1959.
His first notable work was the 45-foot long sculpture of Goddess Chambal (Also known as the Chambal Monument) at the Gandhi Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh, India.
The statue of Mother Chambal was sculpted by Ram V Sutar
His most famous work is the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, which is recognized around the world. The Government of India presented it to Italy, France, Germany, Russia, England, Argentina, etc. He has also sculpted a 17 feet tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Meditation pose, which has been installed near Parliament House, Delhi and Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi on April 13, 2015 in Hannover, Germany
Another famous work of his is the 21 feet tall Equestrian statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh installed at Amritsar in Punjab.
The statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Amritsar was sculpted by Ram V Sutar
He also designed the Statue of Unity, a 182 meter tall iconic landmark statue (tallest in the world) dedicated to Sardar Patel, located near the Narmada Dam, Vadodara in Gujarat, India.
The Statue of Unity was designed by Ram V. Sutar
Award
In 1999, Sutar was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, and in 2016, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan Award.
Ram V. Sutar received the Padma Bhushan in 2016
Interesting fact
- In his childhood, he was also a carpenter. He used to help his father in carpentry.
- As a child, he had the privilege of seeing Mahatma Gandhi.
- PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Statue of Unity, a statue of India’s Iron Man, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Ram V. Sutar took almost three years to complete the Statue of Unity. The statue is worth more than $33 million and is made of bronze.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
